Leviticus 20:16
If a woman approaches any animal to mate with it, you must kill both the woman and the animal. They must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
If a woman approaches any animal to mate with it,
This phrase addresses the act of bestiality, which is explicitly condemned in the Mosaic Law. The prohibition against such acts is rooted in the creation order established in Genesis, where God created humans distinct from animals. The act of bestiality is seen as a violation of the natural order and an affront to the sanctity of human sexuality. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such practices were sometimes associated with pagan rituals and fertility rites, which Israel was commanded to avoid. This command underscores the call for Israel to be holy and separate from the surrounding nations.

you must kill both the woman and the animal.
The prescribed punishment of death for both the woman and the animal highlights the severity of the offense. In the context of the Old Testament, capital punishment was a means to maintain the purity and holiness of the community. The inclusion of the animal in the punishment may reflect the need to remove any trace of the act from the community, as well as to prevent the animal from being used in further transgressions. This reflects the broader biblical principle that sin has consequences not only for the individual but also for the community.

They must surely be put to death;
The repetition of the death penalty emphasizes the seriousness with which God views this sin. The phrase "must surely be put to death" is a legal formula used throughout Leviticus to denote the certainty and necessity of the punishment. This reflects the holiness code's role in setting Israel apart as God's chosen people, who are to live according to His statutes. The certainty of the punishment serves as a deterrent and a means of upholding the moral and spiritual integrity of the nation.

their blood is upon them.
This phrase indicates that the responsibility for the sin and its consequences lies with the offenders. The concept of "blood being upon them" signifies that they bear the guilt and the resulting punishment for their actions. In the broader biblical narrative, blood often symbolizes life and atonement, but here it represents guilt and the forfeiture of life due to sin. This underscores the biblical principle of personal responsibility and the justice of God, who holds individuals accountable for their actions. The phrase also foreshadows the ultimate atonement through Jesus Christ, whose blood would be shed to cover the sins of humanity, offering redemption and reconciliation with God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The original audience of the Levitical laws, the Israelites were God's chosen people, set apart to live according to His statutes and commandments.

2. Moses
The prophet and leader through whom God delivered the laws to the Israelites, including the laws in Leviticus.

3. The Wilderness
The setting where the Israelites received the Levitical laws, as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land.

4. God
The divine lawgiver who established these laws to maintain holiness and purity among His people.

5. The Animal
Represents the object of the prohibited act, highlighting the severity of the transgression against God's created order.
Teaching Points
Holiness and Separation
God calls His people to be holy and separate from the practices of surrounding nations. This law underscores the importance of maintaining purity in all aspects of life.

Respect for God's Created Order
The prohibition against bestiality highlights the need to respect the boundaries God has set within creation. It serves as a reminder to honor the distinct roles and purposes He has established.

Seriousness of Sin
The severe penalty for this sin reflects the seriousness with which God views violations of His law. It serves as a warning to avoid actions that defile both the individual and the community.

Consequences of Disobedience
The phrase "their blood is upon them" indicates personal responsibility for sin and its consequences. It reminds believers of the importance of obedience to God's commands.

Redemption and Forgiveness
While the Old Testament law prescribed death for certain sins, the New Testament offers redemption through Christ. Believers are called to seek forgiveness and transformation through Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the command in Leviticus 20:16 reflect God's desire for His people to be distinct from other nations?

2. In what ways does this passage emphasize the importance of respecting God's created order, and how can we apply this principle today?

3. How does the severity of the punishment in Leviticus 20:16 inform our understanding of the seriousness of sin in God's eyes?

4. What are some modern-day practices or beliefs that might parallel the transgression described in this verse, and how should Christians respond?

5. How can the concept of redemption through Christ provide hope and transformation for those who have violated God's laws, as seen in the New Testament?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 1:27-28
This passage establishes the created order and the distinct roles of humans and animals, emphasizing the sanctity of human relationships.

Exodus 22:19
Reinforces the prohibition against bestiality, underscoring the consistency of God's law across different books of the Bible.

Romans 1:24-27
Discusses the consequences of abandoning natural relations, which can be seen as a broader context for understanding the gravity of such sins.
Punishments Assigned to Presumptuous SinsR.A. Redford Leviticus 20:1-27
Sin unto DeathJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 20:1-27
LapidationM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Leviticus 20:2-27
Penal SanctionsS. H. Kellogg, D. D.Leviticus 20:2-27
People
Molech, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Animal, Approach, Approaches, Beast, Blood, Bloodguiltiness, Certainly, Death, Draweth, Gender, Goes, Hast, Heads, Kill, Lie, Lies, Mate, Relations, Sex, Sexual, Slain, Surely, Thereto, Therewith
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 20:1-17

     6026   sin, judgment on

Leviticus 20:10-16

     7346   death penalty

Leviticus 20:10-21

     6188   immorality, sexual
     7525   exclusiveness

Leviticus 20:15-19

     6237   sexual sin, nature of

Leviticus 20:16-21

     6750   sin-bearer

Library
Tenth Day. Holiness and Separation.
I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people. And ye shall be holy unto me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from other people that ye should be Mine.'--Lev. xx. 24, 26. 'Until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy.... All the days of his separation he is holy unto the Lord.'--Num. vi. 5, 8. 'Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered without the
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Seventh Day. Holiness and Obedience.
Ye have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: ye shall be unto me an holy nation.'--Ex. xix. 4-6. Israel has reached Horeb. The law is to be given and the covenant made. Here are God's first words to the people; He speaks of redemption and its blessing, fellowship with Himself: 'Ye have seen how I brought
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Annunciation to Joseph of the Birth of Jesus.
(at Nazareth, b.c. 5.) ^A Matt. I. 18-25. ^a 18 Now the birth [The birth of Jesus is to handled with reverential awe. We are not to probe into its mysteries with presumptuous curiosity. The birth of common persons is mysterious enough (Eccl. ix. 5; Ps. cxxxix. 13-16), and we do not well, therefore, if we seek to be wise above what is written as to the birth of the Son of God] of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed [The Jews were usually betrothed ten or twelve months
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Self-Denial.
"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."--Matt. xvi. 24. Good works are not the saint's sanctification, any more than drops of water are the fountain; but they spring as crystal drops from the fountain of sanctification. They are good, not when the saint intends them to be good, but when they conform to the divine law and proceed from a true faith. Yet the intention is of great importance; the Church has always taught that a work could not be called
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Epistle Lxiv. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli .
To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli [174] . Here begins the epistle of the blessed Gregory pope of the city of Rome, in exposition of various matters, which he sent into transmarine Saxony to Augustine, whom he had himself sent in his own stead to preach. Preface.--Through my most beloved son Laurentius, the presbyter, and Peter the monk, I received thy Fraternity's letter, in which thou hast been at pains to question me on many points. But, inasmuch as my aforesaid sons found me afflicted with the
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Eleventh Day. The Holy one of Israel.
I am the Lord that brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God; ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. I the Lord which make you holy, am holy.'--Lev. xi. 45, xxi. 8. 'I am the Lord Thy God, the Holy One of Israel, Thy Saviour. Thus saith the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.'--Isa. xliii. 3, 14, 15. In the book of Exodus we found God making provision for the Holiness of His people. In the holy
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Jesus Fails to Attend the Third Passover.
Scribes Reproach Him for Disregarding Tradition. (Galilee, Probably Capernaum, Spring a.d. 29.) ^A Matt. XV. 1-20; ^B Mark VII. 1-23; ^D John VII. 1. ^d 1 And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judæa, because the Jews sought to kill him. [John told us in his last chapter that the passover was near at hand. He here makes a general statement which shows that Jesus did not attend this passover. The reason for his absence is given at John v. 18.] ^a 1 Then there
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Holiness of God
The next attribute is God's holiness. Exod 15:51. Glorious in holiness.' Holiness is the most sparkling jewel of his crown; it is the name by which God is known. Psa 111:1. Holy and reverend is his name.' He is the holy One.' Job 6:60. Seraphims cry, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.' Isa 6:6. His power makes him mighty, his holiness makes him glorious. God's holiness consists in his perfect love of righteousness, and abhorrence of evil. Of purer eyes than
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Call of Matthew - the Saviour's Welcome to Sinners - Rabbinic Theology as Regards the Doctrine of Forgiveness in Contrast to the Gospel of Christ
In two things chiefly does the fundamental difference appear between Christianity and all other religious systems, notably Rabbinism. And in these two things, therefore, lies the main characteristic of Christ's work; or, taking a wider view, the fundamental idea of all religions. Subjectively, they concern sin and the sinner; or, to put it objectively, the forgiveness of sin and the welcome to the sinner. But Rabbinism, and every other system down to modern humanitarianism - if it rises so high in
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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