Leviticus 20:13 Meaning and Explanation
“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A verse that shows how seriously God's covenant treated sin, and how far Jesus would go to bear that seriousness for us.
The Context of Leviticus 20:13
Leviticus 20 sets out penalties for the holiness laws given earlier in the book. It is part of the civil and covenant code God gave Israel as a nation through Moses, a chapter where many offenses carry the gravest consequences under that ancient law.
What Does Leviticus 20:13 Mean?
Leviticus 20 is the chapter of consequences. Where chapter 18 drew the lines, chapter 20 attaches penalties, and the penalties are severe across the chapter, naming death for many offenses (verses 9, 10, 11, and more). This was the law of Israel as a covenant nation, given through Moses for that people in that time, and the gravity of the language tells us something true: under God's holiness, sin is never small. The chapter as a whole presses one weight onto the conscience, that to break covenant with a holy God is a matter of life and death. It is sobering to read, and it is meant to be.
Here the gospel shines all the more startling. The law said the guilty shall surely die, and Jesus, who was without sin, stepped into that place. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us" (Galatians 3:13). He took the death the law named, so that all of us who have broken God's holiness anywhere might be met with mercy instead. The same severity that makes this verse hard to read is the measure of His love: He bore the full weight of it, and opens His arms to everyone who comes.
Leviticus 20:13 in the Original Language
to'evah (תּוֹעֵבָה), 'abomination' -- something detestable, a thing that violates covenant order before God.
How to Apply Leviticus 20:13 Today
Read slowly, this verse confronts us with how seriously God takes sin, and how none of us could stand under the full weight of His law. That is exactly the weight Jesus carried to the cross. We come to Him not with our record but with our need, and find mercy that the law alone could never give.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 20:13
What does Leviticus 20:13 mean?
A verse that shows how seriously God's covenant treated sin, and how far Jesus would go to bear that seriousness for us.
What is the context of Leviticus 20:13?
Leviticus 20 sets out penalties for the holiness laws given earlier in the book. It is part of the civil and covenant code God gave Israel as a nation through Moses, a chapter where many offenses carry the gravest consequences under that ancient law.
How can I apply Leviticus 20:13 today?
Read slowly, this verse confronts us with how seriously God takes sin, and how none of us could stand under the full weight of His law. That is exactly the weight Jesus carried to the cross. We come to Him not with our record but with our need, and find mercy that the law alone could never give.