Leviticus 20:10

And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Leviticus 20:10 (KJV)

Context

Leviticus is part of the Mosaic Law, given to Israel through Moses. This chapter lists serious offences and their punishments. The verse stands within a section about sexual sins, showing that God treated such matters as matters of the whole community. The law was given to a covenant people, called to be holy because God is holy. Sexual sin was not a private matter; it affected the entire nation and its relationship with God.

Meaning

Adultery means a married person having sexual relations with someone who is not their spouse. The verse names both the man and the woman as guilty, and both receive the same penalty. The phrase “his neighbour’s wife” shows that the offence harms a fellow Israelite and breaks the trust of the community. It is a violation of the marriage covenant, which God established as a sacred bond. The death penalty served to purge evil from Israel and to deter such violations, reflecting God’s holiness and the high value He places on marital fidelity.

Biblical connections

This law connects directly to the seventh commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). It also reflects the high value God places on marriage as a faithful covenant. In the New Covenant, Jesus did not lower this standard. He taught that even lustful desire is adultery of the heart (Matthew 5:27-28), and He allowed divorce only in cases of sexual immorality (Matthew 19:9). The moral standard remains, even though the civil penalty is no longer applied. The New Testament calls believers to flee sexual immorality and to honour God with their bodies.

Application

Christians today are not under the civil penalty of the Mosaic Law, but the moral command remains. Believers are called to honour marriage, to remain faithful to their spouses, and to guard their hearts from lust. This includes both outward actions and inward thoughts. The church should also offer grace and restoration to those who repent, because all have sinned and need God’s mercy. No sin is beyond forgiveness when a person turns back to God in faith.

Reflection

The death penalty in this verse shows how seriously God views the breaking of the marriage covenant. It was meant to protect the purity of Israel and to deter such sin. Under the New Covenant, the punishment is no longer carried out, but the seriousness of adultery has not changed. Christians are called to uphold the sanctity of marriage and to extend forgiveness to those who turn back to God. This verse reminds us that God’s standards are high, but His mercy is also great. We can trust Him to help us live faithfully and to restore us when we fail.