Leviticus 19:20 (GNV)

Passage

Whosoeuer also lyeth and medleth with a woman that is a bonde mayde, affianced to a husband, and not redeemed, nor freedome giuen her, she shalbe scourged, but they shall not die, because she is not made free.

Nearby Context

Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not auenge, nor be mindful of wrong against ye childre of thy people, but shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe: I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:19 Yee shall keepe mine ordinances. Thou shalt not let thy cattel gender with others of diuers kindes. Thou shalt not sowe thy fielde with mingled seede, neyther shall a garment of diuers thinges, as of linen and wollen come vpon thee.

Leviticus 19:20 Whosoeuer also lyeth and medleth with a woman that is a bonde mayde, affianced to a husband, and not redeemed, nor freedome giuen her, she shalbe scourged, but they shall not die, because she is not made free.

Leviticus 19:21 And he shall bring for his trespasse offring vnto the Lord, at the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, a ramme for a trespasse offering.

Leviticus 19:22 Then the Priest shall make an atonement for him with the ramme of the trespasse offering before the Lord, concerning his sinne which he hath done, and pardon shalbe giuen him for his sinne which he hath committed.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "whosoeuer", "lyeth", "medleth", "woman", "bonde", "mayde", "affianced", and "husband". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "whosoeuer" and "lyeth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "Yee shall keepe mine ordinances Thou shalt..." into verse 21's "And he shall bring for his trespasse...", so "whosoeuer" and "lyeth" belong inside that flow. In Leviticus context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "whosoeuer" and "lyeth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.