New International Version
Leviticus 19:20
20“ ‘If a man sleeps with a female slave who is promised to another man but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed.
Leviticus 19:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"If a man lies sexually with a woman who is a slave, assigned to another man and not yet ransomed or given her freedom, a distinction shall be made. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free;
- New King James Version (NKJV)‘Whoever lies carnally with a woman who is betrothed to a man as a concubine, and who has not at all been redeemed nor given her freedom, for this there shall be scourging; but they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“If a man has sex with a slave girl whose freedom has never been purchased but who is committed to become another man’s wife, he must pay full compensation to her master. But since she is not a free woman, neither the man nor the woman will be put to death.
Context of Leviticus 19:20
18“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. 19“ ‘Keep my decrees. “ ‘Do not mate different kinds of animals. “ ‘Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. “ ‘Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material. “ ‘If a man sleeps with a female slave who is promised to another man but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed. 21The man, however, must bring a ram to the entrance to the tent of meeting for a guilt offering to the Lord. 22With the ram of the guilt offering the priest is to make atonement for him before the Lord for the sin he has committed, and his sin will be forgiven.
Read all of Leviticus 19Leviticus 19:20 word by word
וְ֠אִישׁ כִּֽי־יִשְׁכַּ֨ב אֶת־אִשָּׁ֜ה שִׁכְבַת־זֶ֗רַע וְהִ֤וא שִׁפְחָה֙ נֶחֱרֶ֣פֶת לְאִ֔ישׁ וְהָפְדֵּה֙ לֹ֣א נִפְדָּ֔תָה א֥וֹ חֻפְשָׁ֖ה לֹ֣א נִתַּן־לָ֑הּ בִּקֹּ֧רֶת תִּהְיֶ֛ה לֹ֥א יוּמְת֖וּ כִּי־לֹ֥א חֻפָּֽשָׁה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And whosoeverאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- liethשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: have sexH7901
- carnallyשְׁכָבָהshekâbâh · semenH7902
- carnallyזֶ֫רַעzera‛ · seed: semenH2233
- with a womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- a bondmaidשִׁפְחָהshiphchâh · maidservantH8198
- betrothedחָרַףchâraph · to acquireH2778
- and not at allפָּדָהpâdâh · to ransomH6299
- nor freedomחֻפְֿשָׁהchûphshâh · freedomH2668
- givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- her; she shall be scourgedבִּקֹּ֫רֶתbiqqôreth · punishmentH1244
- they shall not be put to deathמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- because she was not freeחָפַשׁchâphash · be freeH2666
Cross-references for Leviticus 19:20
Commentaries on Leviticus 19:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20A woman that is a bondmaid - Had she been free, the law required that she should be put to death; (see Deuteronomy 22:24;); but as she was a slave, she is supposed to have less self-command, and therefore less guilt: but as it is taken for granted she did not make resistance, or did consent, she is to be scourged, and the man is to bring a ram for a trespass-offering.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Betrothed to an husband - Rather, who has been betrothed to a man. The reference appears to be to a bondwoman who has been betrothed to a fellow-servant by her master. Death was the punishment for unfaithfulness in a betrothed woman in other cases. Compare Deuteronomy 22:23-24. She shall be scourged - Or, They shall be chastized (see the margin). The trespass-offering was especially due from the man as having not only sinned with the woman, but inflicted…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-22In the biblical world, betrothal (engagement) was viewed as equal to marriage. Having sexual relations with a betrothed woman who was not a slave brought the same punishment as adultery. The punishment was death (Deuteronomy 22:22; see Leviticus 18:20). The situation was less clear if the woman was a slave, since she might not be able to refuse. Slaves in Israel had more rights than those in Mesopotamia or Egypt, but they were still not free. They could…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-372. Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel--Many of the laws enumerated in this chapter had been previously announced. As they were, however, of a general application, not suited to particular classes, but to the nation at large, so Moses seems, according to divine instructions, to have rehearsed them, perhaps on different occasions and to successive divisions of the people, till "all the congregation of the children of Israel" were…Read the comment
Topics related to Leviticus 19:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Leviticus 19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries