Tyndale Open Study NotesLeviticus 20

The people of the land are to stone him: This was the usual method for carrying out the death penalty (see also Leviticus 20:27; 24:14, 16, 23; Exodus 19:13; Numbers 15:35–36; Deuteronomy 17:2–7; Joshua 7:25–26; John 8:1–11).

Pagan worship influenced ethics, so God has family rules follow those about pagan religious practices. Some laws in this section repeat parts from Leviticus 18:6–30, which come before the section on proper expressions of holiness (19:1–37). These issues connect. Proper worship of God leads to good behavior toward others, while improper worship leads to moral violations.

The Hebrew word for curses means "to make light of, treat with contempt." It is traditionally translated as "curse," meaning to call someone a vulgar or profane name. Parental authority was given by God, not chosen by the child (see Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 21:18–21).

See study note on Leviticus 18:20. See also Exodus 20:14.

See study note on Leviticus 18:7–8. This rule made it clear that this act was both incest and adultery.

• a disgrace: Proper behavior brings honor to individuals and their families. Improper behavior brings shame.

• Both parties are cut off, but they will punish the man (see Leviticus 7:20–21; 5:1; 18:6).

Being childless brought public shame in society. People considered it a judgment from God (see Genesis 30:1–2; Deuteronomy 7:14).

What situation do these verses describe? Leviticus 18:14,16 already discuss sexual relations with an uncle’s wife or sister-in-law. Deuteronomy 22:22 addresses adultery that results in death for both involved. If the woman was a widow without a male heir, the law of levirate marriage could apply (Deuteronomy 25:5–6; see study note on Leviticus 18:16).

Since those situations do not seem to apply, this law probably refers to marrying an aunt or a sister-in-law after her divorce. John the Baptist apparently used this law to condemn Herod Antipas’s marriage to Herodias (see Mark 6:17–29).

The phrase flowing with milk and honey appears often in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It means that there is plenty of food and it easy to get. This contrasts with Egypt, where everything depended on the flooding of the Nile and irrigation (Deuteronomy 11:9–12).