Leviticus 20:11

11 The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall be put to death, their blood is upon them.

Leviticus 20:11 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 20:11

And the man that lieth with his father's wife
Whether she be his mother, or another woman, as the Targum of Jonathan; that is, whether she is his own mother, or a stepmother, or whether he did this in the lifetime of his father, or after his death, or whether she was betrothed or married, it mattered not; according to the Jewish tradition ^F4, this is a breach of the law, ( Leviticus 18:8 ) ; and a man guilty of this

hath uncovered his father's nakedness;
and which is a foul and shameful piece of wickedness; the penalty follows:

both of them shall be put to death;
by casting stones on them, as the Targum of Jonathan adds; for, as before observed, wherever the following phrase,

their blood [shall be] upon them,
is used, stoning is meant; and so, according to the Misnah ^F5, all those were to be stoned, after mentioned, of whom this phrase is used.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F4 Misn. ut supra, (Sanhedrin, c. 7.) sect. 4.
F5 lbid.

Leviticus 20:11 In-Context

9 For every one who curses his father or his mother shall be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother, his blood is upon him.

10 "If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death.

11 The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall be put to death, their blood is upon them.

12 If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to death; they have committed incest, their blood is upon them.

13 If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them.