Question: For what crimes does the Old Testament call for capital punishment?

Answer: There are many. Whatever you think about capital punishment, understand that the Bible portrays everything on the following list as a serious offense.

Here is a list of most of them.

A. Murder (Exod 21:12; Lev 24:17).

B. Adultery (Lev 20:10).

C. Homosexuality (Lev 20:13).

D. Bestiality (Exod 22:19; Lev 20:15-16).

E. A woman being found to be a non-virgin on her wedding

night (Deut 22:13-17).

F. Rape (Deut 22:25).

G. Incest (Lev 20:11, etc.).

H. Idolatry (Deut 17:1-5).

I. Sorcery, etc. (Exod 22:18).

J. False prophecy (Deut 18:20).

K. Violating the Sabbath (Num 15:32-36).

L. Blaspheming God's name (Lev 24:10-16).

M. Kidnapping (Exod 21:16).

N. Cursing a parent (Exod 21:17; Lev 20:9).

O. Striking a parent (Exod 21:15).

P. Being a consistently rebellious child (Deut 21:18-21).

Q. Having your ox gore someone when you knew your ox would

gore (Exod 21:28-32).

R. Disobeying a judge's order (Deut 17:12)  

William P. Griffin, Ph.D.