What is the meaning of Leviticus 20:14? If a man marries both a woman and her mother “If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is depraved.” (Leviticus 20:14a) • Scripture identifies this union as incestuous (see Leviticus 18:17; Deuteronomy 27:23). • Marriage was intended to reflect God’s order—one man, one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6). Crossing generational lines within the same family blurs those boundaries and corrupts the picture of covenant fidelity. • The word “depraved” underscores moral perversion, showing that such a relationship is not a minor misstep but a direct assault on God’s design. • By naming the sin, God protects vulnerable family members from exploitation (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:1, where Paul condemns a similar incestuous situation). it is depraved • “Depraved” conveys extreme moral corruption (Romans 1:28-32). • This warning served as a fence around Israel’s holiness; the same principle applies today as believers are called to flee sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5). • The seriousness of the label confronts any attempt to normalize such unions in culture, reminding us that God, not society, defines purity (Hebrews 13:4). Both he and they must be burned in the fire “Both he and they must be burned in the fire.” (Leviticus 20:14b) • The prescribed penalty was capital punishment, underscoring the gravity of the sin (compare Leviticus 20:10; 21:9). • Fire symbolized complete removal of evil from the community (Joshua 7:25-26). • Under the New Covenant, Christ has borne the penalty for sin (Galatians 3:13), yet the church still practices disciplinary separation to preserve holiness (1 Corinthians 5:5, 13). • This verse reminds us that God’s justice is uncompromising, while His mercy in Christ is equally real (Romans 3:23-26). so that there will be no depravity among you • The ultimate goal is communal purity—“so that there will be no depravity among you.” • Israel was called to be distinct from surrounding nations (Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Peter 2:9). • Removing the offense kept sin from spreading like leaven (Galatians 5:9). • Today, believers heed the same principle by upholding biblical standards and restoring the fallen through repentance and accountability (James 5:19-20; Galatians 6:1). summary Leviticus 20:14 confronts an incestuous union, labels it “depraved,” assigns a severe penalty, and explains the purpose: preserving covenant holiness. While Christ’s atoning work removes the need for civil execution within the church, the passage still warns us to honor God’s design for family, uphold moral boundaries, and guard the community of faith from corruption. |
    |