Exodus 22:19

19 "1Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.

Exodus 22:19 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 19 Whosoever lieth with a beast
In like manner as a man and woman, by carnal copulation; this is a crime so detestable and abominable, so shocking and dishonourable to human nature, that one would think it could never be committed by any of the human species, and that there was no occasion for making a law against it; but, such is the depravity and corruption of mankind, that divine wisdom saw it necessary, and, to deter from it, made it death, as follows; such an one

shall surely be put to death;
no mercy shown him, no pardon or respite given him by the civil magistrate: according to the Targum of Jonathan, the death of such a person was by stoning, for it paraphrases the words,

``he shall be killed with the casting of stones.''

Exodus 22:19 In-Context

17 "If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the dowry for virgins.
18 "You shall not allow a sorceress to live.
19 "Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.
20 "He who sacrifices to any god, other than to the LORD alone, shall be utterly destroyed.
21 "You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Leviticus 18:23; Leviticus 20:15, 16; Deuteronomy 27:21
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