Capital Crimes in The Bible
GOD is the author of the death penalty and His laws are righteous and perfect. It does not matter what the world says is “legal”, it’s ultimately God who has the final judgment. Just because the laws of your particular country do not call for righteous judgment, it does not make it legal in the eyes of the LORD. Any and all sin is an affront to a holy God and even the smallest of willful sins will cast someone into an eternal outer darkness forever. God hates all sin and the sinner yet His love is available to the most wretched, however, one must truly repent. To receive His perfect love, one must be truly repentant, live holy and endure ’til the end to be saved, finally.
If a nation was truly righteous, it would enforce God’s laws. Many nations do enforce some sins with the death penalty, like murder & rape, but do not execute righteous judgment on other damnable sins. Sadly, because the governments in days past have not executed righteous judgment, it’s now past the point of no return and it’s impractical to reinstate the righteous laws God set under the current circumstances as it would cause great instability and chaos. For example, the majority of Americans would have to be put to death for their vile, unrepentant sins as they were in the Old Testament.
Jesus only fulfilled the ceremonial law, the moral law stands from the beginning. Jesus is the same yesterday, to day and forever. If a country makes a righteous law to administer the death penalty for homosexuality, treason, adultery, etc. It’s righteous in God’s eyes. With that said, most reading this live in a country where God’s laws are not the law of the land. This does not excuse the fact that true Christians are to warn the wicked by witnessing to them as commanded. If you are silent, you are just as guilty. PLEASE NOTE: we are not to take the law into our own hands, the government administers the judgment.
Romans 1:32 “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
Remain silent in front of evil (sin)? You are guilty so says a Holy God.
Ezekiel 33:8-9 “When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”
List of Sins Resulting in the Death Penalty
1. Murder (Ex 21:12,14)(Lev 24:17,21)(Num 35:16-21,30-31)
Genesis 9:6 “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”
Exodus 21:12: “He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.”
Leviticus 24:17 “And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death; 21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.”
2. Kidnapping (Ex 21:16)(Deut 24:7)
Exodus 21:16 “And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.”
Deuteronomy 24:7 “If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.”
3. Child sacrifice (Lev 20:2)
Leviticus 20:2 “Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.”
4. Both the man and woman who commit adultery (Lev 20:10)(Deut 22:22-24)
Leviticus 20:10 “And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”
Deuteronomy 22:22-24 “If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. 23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.”
5. Rape (Deut 22:25)
Deuteronomy 22:25 “But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:”
6. Daughter of a priest who became a prostitute (Lev 21:9)
Leviticus 21:9 “And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.”
7. An idolater (Ex 22:20)(Deut 17:2-5)(Num 25:1-5)
Exodus 22:20 “He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.”
8. Breaking the Sabbath [Saturday Sabbath is part of the Ceremonial Law for the OT only – Teaching Here] (Ex 31:14)(Ex 35:2)(Num 15:32-36)
Exodus 31:14 “Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.”
Exodus 35:2 “Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.”
9. A woman having sex before marriage (Deut 22:21-22)
Deuteronomy 22:21-22 “Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you. 22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.”
10. Homosexuality (Lev 20:13)
Leviticus 20:13 “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
11. A man and his father’s wife who have sex (Lev 20:11)
Leviticus 20:11 “And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
12. A man and daughter-in-law who have sex (Lev 20:12)
Leviticus 20:12 “And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.”
13. A man who marries a woman and her mother [all 3 must be put to death] (Lev 20:14)
Leviticus 20:14 “And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.”
14. Bestiality [Sex with an animal] (Ex 22:19)(Lev 20:15-16)
Exodus 22:19 “Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.”
Leviticus 20:15-16 “And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. 16 And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
15. A false prophet (Deut 13:5)(Deut 18:20)
Deuteronomy 13:5 “And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.”
Deuteronomy 18:20 “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.”
16. A false witness (Deut 19:16-21)
Deuteronomy 19:16-21 “If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; 17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; 18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; 19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. 20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you. 21 And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
17. A disobedient son (Deut 21:18-21)
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 “If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.”
18. A child who strikes his father or mother (Ex 21:15)
Deuteronomy 21:15 “If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:”
19. A child who curses his father or mother (Ex 21:17)(Lev 20:9)
Exodus 21:17 “And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.”
20. Men who are fighting and hit a pregnant woman, causing her lose her baby (Ex 21:22-25) ***Note: A great verse to use against those who are pro-abortion
Exodus 21:22-25 “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, 24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”
21. A man whose ox kills someone after previously goring other people (Ex 21:28-29)
Exodus 21:28-29 “If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit. 29 But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.”
22. A sorceress (witch, medium, fortune teller, etc) (Ex 22:18)
Exodus 22:18 “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”
23. A medium or spiritist (Lev 20:27)
Leviticus 20:27 “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.”
24. A brother, son, daughter, wife, or friend who entices you to go after other gods (Deut 13:6-11)
Deuteronomy 13:6-11 “If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; 7 Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; 8 Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: 9 But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. 10 And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 11 And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.”
25. Everyone in any town that entices people to go after other gods (Deut 13:12-15)
Deuteronomy 13:12-15 “If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
Deu 13:13 Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; 14 Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you; 15 Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.”
26. A blasphemer [One who blasphemes; one who speaks of God in impious and irreverent terms] (Lev 24:10-16,23)
Leviticus 24:10-16, 24 “And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; 11 And the Israelitish woman’s son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) 12 And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them. 13 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. 16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death. 23 And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.”
27. Anyone who failed to abide by a decision of the court (Deut 17:8-12)
Deuteronomy 17:8-12 “If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose; 9 And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment: 10 And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: 11 According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. 12 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.”
28. Any non-Levite who tried to set up or take down the Tabernacle (Num 1:51)
Numbers 1:51 “And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.”
29. Afflicting any widow, or fatherless child (Exo 22:22-24)
Exodus 22:22-24 “Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.”