Mitzvah —
160
Not to have sexual relations with a married woman
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וְאֶל־אֵ֙שֶׁת֙ עֲמִֽיתְךָ֔ לֹא־תִתֵּ֥ן שְׁכׇבְתְּךָ֖ לְזָ֑רַע לְטׇמְאָה־בָֽהּ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
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Leviticus 18:20 - "You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, to become defiled by her."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Family – מִשְׁפָּחָה
Forbidden to have sexual relations with another man’s wife.
This mitzvah prohibits adultery — a man engaging in sexual relations with another man’s wife. Such an act is described as defilement, corrupting both the individuals involved and the sanctity of the community. Adultery is one of the most severe sexual transgressions in the Torah, carrying capital punishment. It undermines the sacred institution of marriage and destroys trust, family, and holiness in Israel.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 1:1): Establishes adultery as a core erva (forbidden relation) with the penalty of strangulation.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 212): The root is to preserve the sanctity of marriage and to prevent the breakdown of family integrity and societal morality.
- Talmud (Sanhedrin 52b): Identifies adultery as one of the gravest sins, forbidden to both Jews and non-Jews, included in the seven Noahide laws.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
