It is a stern warning that any violation of God’s holy design for marriage was taken with the utmost seriousness by the Israelite community.
When the LORD gives the statutes of holiness to Israel in Leviticus 20, He addresses various prohibited relationships. Here, the Scripture warns, “If there is a man who marries a woman and her mother, it is immorality; both he and they shall be burned with fire, so that there will be no immorality in your midst.” (v.14) By describing this forbidden union—one man marrying both a woman and her mother—the passage highlights the seriousness of such an act, viewing it as a direct offense against God’s divinely ordered family structure. This instruction emphasizes that spiritual purity and moral boundaries were foundational to the covenant relationship between God and His people.
“If there is a man who marries a woman and her mother, it is immorality; both he and they shall be burned with fire, so that there will be no immorality in your midst.” (v.14) explains that this practice is so egregious that it demands a severe punishment. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, upholding holiness helped distinguish the Israelite community from surrounding nations. By prescribing such serious consequences, the law acted as a strong deterrent and guarded families from practices that could break relational bonds. This echoes the broader biblical emphasis on sexual purity, which finds repeated affirmation in the New Testament (e.g. 1 Corinthians 6:18).
Finally, “both he and they shall be burned with fire” (v.14) underscores that this sin affects not just one person but everyone involved. Although the text does not name specific geographical locations or individuals in this command, it remains tied to God’s covenant people who lived in the land of promise—identified as Canaan in earlier portions of Scripture—and their responsibility to reflect God’s holiness to the nations (Leviticus 18:3). This holiness standard ultimately points towards the need for a transformed heart, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who calls believers to honor God fully in every aspect of life (e.g. John 14:15).
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Leviticus 20:14 meaning
When the LORD gives the statutes of holiness to Israel in Leviticus 20, He addresses various prohibited relationships. Here, the Scripture warns, “If there is a man who marries a woman and her mother, it is immorality; both he and they shall be burned with fire, so that there will be no immorality in your midst.” (v.14) By describing this forbidden union—one man marrying both a woman and her mother—the passage highlights the seriousness of such an act, viewing it as a direct offense against God’s divinely ordered family structure. This instruction emphasizes that spiritual purity and moral boundaries were foundational to the covenant relationship between God and His people.
“If there is a man who marries a woman and her mother, it is immorality; both he and they shall be burned with fire, so that there will be no immorality in your midst.” (v.14) explains that this practice is so egregious that it demands a severe punishment. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, upholding holiness helped distinguish the Israelite community from surrounding nations. By prescribing such serious consequences, the law acted as a strong deterrent and guarded families from practices that could break relational bonds. This echoes the broader biblical emphasis on sexual purity, which finds repeated affirmation in the New Testament (e.g. 1 Corinthians 6:18).
Finally, “both he and they shall be burned with fire” (v.14) underscores that this sin affects not just one person but everyone involved. Although the text does not name specific geographical locations or individuals in this command, it remains tied to God’s covenant people who lived in the land of promise—identified as Canaan in earlier portions of Scripture—and their responsibility to reflect God’s holiness to the nations (Leviticus 18:3). This holiness standard ultimately points towards the need for a transformed heart, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who calls believers to honor God fully in every aspect of life (e.g. John 14:15).