Leviticus 20:12

And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.

Leviticus 20:12 (KJV)

Context

This verse stands within Leviticus 20, a chapter that gathers severe sexual offenses and their punishments, showing that such acts defile both the individual and the land. Here God addresses a specific incestuous relationship: a man lying with his daughter-in-law, that is, his son’s wife.

Meaning

The act forbidden is sexual relations between a man and his son’s wife. The law applies whether the son is alive or dead, and whether the woman is espoused or married. The prescribed punishment is death for both parties. The reason given is that they have wrought confusion—a deliberate violation of God’s established order for the family. The Hebrew phrase indicates a severe moral disorder, a perversion of the proper relationships that sustain the household.

The phrase “their blood shall be upon them” means the offenders bear full responsibility for their own deaths. The community executes justice; it is not guilty of murder. Their guilt is justly deserved, and the severity of the penalty underscores the holiness God requires of His people and the importance of preserving the integrity of the family unit.

Biblical connections

This penalty is attached to the prohibition in Leviticus 18:15, which forbids uncovering the nakedness of a daughter-in-law. Together these passages show that such a relationship is not merely a private sin but a public violation of God’s covenant order. The law’s demand for capital punishment points to the gravity of the offense and the need for atonement; the sacrificial system provided for unintentional sins, but this deliberate, high-handed sin did not.

Application

While the specific civil penalties of the Old Testament covenant were fulfilled and superseded by the coming of Jesus Christ, the moral principles remain. This verse reminds us of the seriousness of sexual immorality and the importance of maintaining proper family relationships. It calls us to honor God’s design for the family and to recognize the disorder that sexual sin brings into human life. As Christians, we look to the New Testament for guidance on how to live in accordance with God’s will today, while still learning from the holiness and order that the law upheld.

Reflection

God’s laws were given to protect His people and to reflect His holy character. This verse challenges us to consider how we uphold the sanctity of marriage and family in our own lives, and to take seriously the call to obedience and purity.