Leviticus 20:10
New International Version
“’If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

New Living Translation
“If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the man and the woman who have committed adultery must be put to death.

English Standard Version
“If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Berean Standard Bible
If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.

New American Standard Bible
‘If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

NASB 1995
If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

NASB 1977
‘If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Legacy Standard Bible
‘If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Amplified Bible
‘The man who commits adultery with another’s wife, even his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall most certainly be put to death.

Christian Standard Bible
“If a man commits adultery with a married woman—if he commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If a man commits adultery with a married woman—if he commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

American Standard Version
And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Contemporary English Version
If any of you men have sex with another man's wife, both you and the woman will be put to death.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"If a man commits adultery with another man's wife or with his neighbor's wife, both he and the woman must be put to death for their adultery.

Good News Translation
If a man commits adultery with the wife of an Israelite, both he and the woman shall be put to death.

International Standard Version
"If anyone commits adultery with another man's wife, including when someone commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress are to die.

Majority Standard Bible
If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death.

NET Bible
If a man commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

New Heart English Bible
"'The man who commits adultery with another man's wife shall surely be put to death, both the adulterer and the adulteress.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

World English Bible
“‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And a man who commits adultery with a man’s wife—who commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor—the adulterer and the adulteress are surely put to death.

Young's Literal Translation
'And a man who committeth adultery with a man's wife -- who committeth adultery with the wife of his neighbour -- the adulterer and the adulteress are surely put to death.

Smith's Literal Translation
And a man who shall commit adultery with a man's wife, who shall commit adultery with his friend's wife, dying, he shall die, the adulterer and the adulteress.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If any man commit adultery with the wife of another, and defile his neighbour's wife, let then: be put to death, both the adulterer and the adulteress.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If anyone will have committed sexual acts with the wife of another, or will have perpetrated adultery with his neighbor’s spouse, they shall die a death, both the adulterer and the adulteress.

New American Bible
If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death.

New Revised Standard Version
If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the man who commits adultery with another man's wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And a man who commits adultery with the wife of a man and will commit adultery with the wife of his neighbor, the adulterer and the adulteress shall certainly be killed.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Whatever man shall commit adultery with the wife of a man, or whoever shall commit adultery with the wife of his neighbour, let them die the death, the adulterer and the adulteress.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Punishments for Sexual Immorality
10If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife— with the wife of his neighbor— both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death. 11If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 22:22
If a man is found lying with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

John 8:3-5
The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them / and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. / In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?”

Exodus 20:14
You shall not commit adultery.

Matthew 5:27-28
You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ / But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Proverbs 6:32
He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Romans 7:2-3
For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

2 Samuel 11:2-5
One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. / So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” / Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home. ...

Matthew 19:9
Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

Mark 10:11-12
So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. / And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

Luke 16:18
Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Jeremiah 29:23
For they have committed an outrage in Israel by committing adultery with the wives of their neighbors and speaking lies in My name, which I did not command them to do. I am He who knows, and I am a witness, declares the LORD.”

Hosea 4:14
I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.

Ezekiel 16:38
And I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and those who shed blood; so I will bring upon you the wrath of your bloodshed and jealousy.


Treasury of Scripture

And the man that commits adultery with another man's wife, even he that commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

the adulterer

Deuteronomy 22:22-24
If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel…

2 Samuel 12:13
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

Ezekiel 23:45-47
And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands…

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Leviticus 20
1. Of him who gives his seed to Moloch
4. Of him who favors such an one
6. Of going to wizards
7. Of sanctification
9. Of him who curses his parents
11. Of incest
13. Of sodomy
15. Of bestiality
18. Of uncleanness
22. Obedience is required with holiness
27. Wizards must be put to death














If a man commits adultery
The Hebrew root for "commits adultery" is "na'aph," which signifies a breach of the marital covenant. In ancient Israel, marriage was not only a personal commitment but a societal one, reflecting the covenant relationship between God and His people. Adultery was seen as a grave sin because it violated this sacred bond, symbolizing unfaithfulness to God Himself. The act of adultery disrupted the social fabric and was considered a direct affront to the divine order established by God.

with another man's wife
The phrase underscores the sanctity of marriage and the exclusive nature of the marital relationship. In the cultural and historical context of ancient Israel, marriage was a foundational institution, and the family unit was central to societal stability. The phrase "another man's wife" highlights the personal and communal betrayal involved in adultery, as it not only affects the individuals directly involved but also the broader community.

with the wife of his neighbor
The term "neighbor" in Hebrew is "rea," which can mean friend, companion, or fellow citizen. This emphasizes the communal aspect of the commandment. Adultery was not just a private sin but a public offense that could lead to discord and distrust within the community. The use of "neighbor" reminds the Israelites of their interconnectedness and the importance of maintaining trust and integrity within the community.

both the adulterer and the adulteress
This phrase indicates the equal responsibility and culpability of both parties involved in the act of adultery. In a patriarchal society, this equality in judgment is significant, as it underscores the moral agency and accountability of both men and women. The law does not discriminate based on gender, reflecting the divine justice that holds all individuals to the same standard of righteousness.

must surely be put to death
The severity of the punishment reflects the seriousness with which God views the sin of adultery. The phrase "must surely be put to death" is a translation of the Hebrew "mot yumat," a legal formula indicating the certainty and necessity of the penalty. This underscores the holiness of God and the need for His people to reflect that holiness in their lives. The death penalty for adultery served as a deterrent and a means of purging evil from the community, preserving the sanctity of marriage and the moral integrity of the nation.

(10) Shall be surely put to death--That is, by stoning. (See Leviticus 20:2.) This precept is also to be found in Exodus 21:17; Proverbs 20:20, and is referred to by our Lord (Matthew 15:14; Mark 7:10).

His blood shall be upon him--That is, he has brought it upon himself to be killed. (See Joshua 2:19.) This phrase, which occurs seven times either in the singular or plural, is only to be found in this chapter (See Leviticus 20:9; Leviticus 20:11-13; Leviticus 20:16; Leviticus 20:27). According to the authorities during the second Temple, it carried with it death by lapidation. . . .

Verse 10. - The Hebrew punishment for adultery is more severe than that of most other nations. Death is again pronounced as the penalty of both adulterer and adulteress in Deuteronomy 22:22. The crime is that of a man with a married woman, whether the man be married or not; it is not that of a married man with an unmarried woman, which, in a country where polygamy was allowed, could not be regarded in the same light.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If a man
וְאִ֗ישׁ (wə·’îš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

commits adultery
יִנְאַף֙ (yin·’ap̄)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5003: To commit adultery, to apostatize

with
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

[another] man’s
אִ֔ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

wife—
אֵ֣שֶׁת (’ê·šeṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

with
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

the wife
אֵ֣שֶׁת (’ê·šeṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

of his neighbor—
רֵעֵ֑הוּ (rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

both the adulterer
הַנֹּאֵ֖ף (han·nō·’êp̄)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5003: To commit adultery, to apostatize

and the adulteress
וְהַנֹּאָֽפֶת׃ (wə·han·nō·’ā·p̄eṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 5003: To commit adultery, to apostatize

must surely
מֽוֹת־ (mō·wṯ-)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

be put to death.
יוּמַ֥ת (yū·maṯ)
Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill


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OT Law: Leviticus 20:10 The man who commits adultery with another (Le Lv Lev.)
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