Leviticus 20:12
New International Version
“’If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, both of them are to be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads.

New Living Translation
“If a man has sex with his daughter-in-law, both must be put to death. They have committed a perverse act and are guilty of a capital offense.

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

Berean Standard Bible
If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both must surely be put to death. They have acted perversely; their blood is upon them.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have committed perversion. Their blood shall be upon them.

New American Standard Bible
If there is a man who sleeps with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. They have committed incest, and have brought their own deaths upon themselves.

NASB 1995
If there is a man who lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have committed incest, their bloodguiltiness is upon them.

NASB 1977
‘If there is a man who lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have committed incest, their bloodguiltiness is upon them.

Legacy Standard Bible
If there is a man who lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have committed perversion. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.

Amplified Bible
If a man lies [intimately] with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall most certainly be put to death; they have committed incest; their blood is on them.

Christian Standard Bible
If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. They have acted perversely; their death is their own fault.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. They have acted perversely; their blood is on their own hands.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
It isn't natural to have sex with your daughter-in-law, and both of you will be put to death, just as you deserve.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If a man has sexual intercourse with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. They have done a disgusting thing and deserve to die.

Good News Translation
If a man has intercourse with his daughter-in-law, they shall both be put to death. They have committed incest and are responsible for their own death.

International Standard Version
"If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, the two are to be put to death. They've committed a repulsive act. Their guilt will remain their responsibility.

Majority Standard Bible
If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both must surely be put to death. They have acted perversely; their blood is upon them.

NET Bible
If a man has sexual intercourse with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. They have committed perversion; their blood guilt is on themselves.

New Heart English Bible
"'If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have committed a perversion; their blood shall be upon them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And if a man shall 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.

World English Bible
“‘If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have committed a perversion. Their blood shall be upon themselves.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And a man who lies with his daughter-in-law—both of them are certainly put to death; they have done perversion; their blood [is] on them.

Young's Literal Translation
And a man who lieth with his daughter-in-law -- both of them are certainly put to death; confusion they have made; their blood is on them.

Smith's Literal Translation
And a man who shall lie with his daughter-in-law, dying, they shall die, they two: they did profanation; their blood is upon them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If any man lie with his daughter in law, let both die, because they have done a heinous crime: their blood be upon them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If any man will have slept with his daughter-in-law, both shall die, for they have acted according to wickedness. So let their blood be upon them.

New American Bible
If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to death; they have done what is perverse; their bloodguilt is upon them.

New Revised Standard Version
If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to death; they have committed perversion, their blood is upon them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And if a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death, because they have committed a sin; their blood shall be upon them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And a man who will copulate with his daughter in law, both shall certainly be killed because they have committed sin; their blood will be upon them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have wrought corruption; their blood shall be upon them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if any one should lie with his daughter-in-law, let them both be put to death; for they have wrought impiety, they are guilty.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Punishments for Sexual Immorality
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. 12If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both must surely be put to death. They have acted perversely; their blood is upon them. 13If a man lies with a man as with a woman, they have both committed an abomination. They 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.

Leviticus 18:8
You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; it would dishonor your father.

Leviticus 18:29
Therefore anyone who commits any of these abominations must be cut off from among his people.

Deuteronomy 27:20
‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

1 Corinthians 5:1
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.

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.

Romans 1:26-27
For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. / Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:5
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Colossians 3:5-6
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. / Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.

Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

Revelation 22:15
But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

1 Timothy 1:9-10
We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, / for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching

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

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.


Treasury of Scripture

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

lie

Leviticus 18:15
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

Genesis 38:16,18
And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me? …

Deuteronomy 27:23
Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.

confusion

Leviticus 18:23
Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

Jump to Previous
Blood Bloodguiltiness Committed Confusion Corruption Daughter Daughter-In-Law Death Heads Lies Lieth Perversion Relations Sex Sleeps Son's ss Surely Wife Wrought
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Blood Bloodguiltiness Committed Confusion Corruption Daughter Daughter-In-Law Death Heads Lies Lieth Perversion Relations Sex Sleeps Son's ss Surely Wife Wrought
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 sleeps with his daughter-in-law
This phrase addresses a specific sexual sin that was considered a grave violation of family integrity and societal norms in ancient Israel. The Hebrew word for "sleeps" (שָׁכַב, shakab) implies a sexual relationship, indicating an act that breaches the sanctity of familial bonds. The daughter-in-law, being part of the extended family, was to be respected and protected, not exploited. This command underscores the importance of maintaining purity and respect within family structures, reflecting God's design for family relationships.

both of them must surely be put to death
The phrase "must surely be put to death" (מוֹת יוּמָתוּ, mot yumat) is a legal formula indicating the severity of the crime. In the context of ancient Israel, this was a capital offense, reflecting the seriousness with which God viewed the sanctity of family and marriage. The death penalty served as a deterrent and a means of purging evil from the community, emphasizing the holiness required of God's people. It highlights the principle that sin has serious consequences and that God's justice is both righteous and uncompromising.

They have acted perversely
The term "perversely" (תֶּבֶל, tebel) suggests a violation of natural order and moral corruption. This word conveys the idea of confusion and disorder, which is contrary to God's design for human relationships. The act described is not just a personal sin but a disruption of the divine order, reflecting a heart that has turned away from God's statutes. This serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning one's life with God's will and the destructive nature of sin when left unchecked.

their blood is upon them
This phrase indicates personal responsibility for the sin committed. "Their blood is upon them" (דָּמָם בָּם, damam bam) means that the guilt and consequences of their actions rest solely on the individuals involved. It underscores the biblical principle of individual accountability before God. In a broader theological context, it points to the need for atonement and the seriousness of sin, which ultimately requires a remedy that only God can provide through His redemptive plan. This phrase serves as a sobering reminder of the weight of sin and the justice of God, while also pointing forward to the hope of forgiveness and restoration through Christ.

(12) With his daughter in law.--See Notes on Leviticus 18:15.



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

lies
יִשְׁכַּב֙ (yiš·kaḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7901: To lie down

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

his daughter-in-law,
כַּלָּת֔וֹ (kal·lā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3618: Daughter-in-law, bride

both
שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם (šə·nê·hem)
Number - mdc | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

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

be put to death.
יוּמְת֖וּ (yū·mə·ṯū)
Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

They have acted
עָשׂ֖וּ (‘ā·śū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

perversely;
תֶּ֥בֶל (te·ḇel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8397: Mixture, unnatural bestiality

their blood
דְּמֵיהֶ֥ם (də·mê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

[is] upon them.
בָּֽם׃ (bām)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Law: Leviticus 20:12 If a man lies with his daughter-in-law (Le Lv Lev.)
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