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  • Leviticus Chapter 18

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Rules about sex

18 The Lord said to Moses, 2 ‘Tell Israel's people that I am the Lord their God. 3 They were living in Egypt, but they must not do as the people in Egypt do. Now I am bringing them to live in Canaan. They must not live in the way that the people in Canaan live. They must not do the things that those people do. 4 They must obey my rules. I am the Lord their God. 5 If they obey my rules and my laws, they will continue to live safely. I am the Lord .

6 Tell them this:

A person must not have sex with anyone who belongs to his own family. I am the Lord .

7 Do not have sex with your mother. That would cause your father to be ashamed.

8 Do not have sex with any wife of your father. Your father would be ashamed.

9 Do not have sex with your sister. Do not have sex with a sister who is your mother's daughter or your father's daughter. It does not matter if she was born in your house or in another house. Do not have sex with any sister.

10 Do not have sex with any granddaughter. That would make you ashamed.

11 Do not have sex with the daughter of your father and his wife. She is your sister.

12 Do not have sex with your father's sister. She is his near relative.

13 Do not have sex with your mother's sister. She is her near relative.

14 Do not have sex with the wife of your father's brother. That would make your uncle ashamed. His wife is your aunt.

15 Do not have sex with your son's wife.

16 Do not have sex with your brother's wife. That would make your brother ashamed.

17 Do not have sex with both a woman and her daughter. Do not have sex with her son's daughter or with her daughter's daughter. They are her near relatives. It would be an evil thing to do.

18 Do not marry your wife's sister as a second wife. If your wife is still alive, do not have sex with her sister.

19 Do not have sex with a woman at the time when she bleeds each month. She is unclean during that time.

20 Do not have sex with the wife of another man. You would become unclean.

21 Do not offer your child as a sacrifice to the false god, Molech. This would spoil God's honour. He is the Lord .

22 A man must not have sex with another man. That is an evil thing to do.

23 Do not have sex with an animal. That would make you unclean. A woman must not offer herself to an animal to have sex with it. She would be doing a disgusting thing.

24 Do not do any of these things. They would make you unclean. The people who live in Canaan do these things. It made them unclean. God will send those people out of their country. 25 Canaan is unclean because the people did these things. This is why God pushed the people out of that land. 26 But you and the foreigners with you must not do these wrong things. 27 The people in Canaan did these bad things and the land became unclean. 28 If you do these bad things, I will push you out of Canaan's land. I will send you away, like the people before you.

29 You must send away any person who does any of these bad things. 30 All the people must obey my rules. They must not do the bad things that the people in Canaan did. If they did them, my people would become unclean. I am the Lord your God.’

Rules About Sexual Relations

18 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites: I am the Lord your God. 3 You must not follow the customs of Egypt where you lived, and you must not follow the customs of the Canaanites where I am leading you. You must not live the way they do. 4 You must obey my rules and follow my laws. Be sure to follow my rules because I am the Lord your God. 5 You must obey my rules and my laws, because whoever obeys them will live. I am the Lord .

6 “You must never have sexual relations with [ a ] your close relatives. I am the Lord .

7 “You must never have sexual relations with your father or mother. She is your mother, so you must not have sexual relations with her. 8 You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife, even if she is not your mother, because that is like having sexual relations with your father. [ b ]

9 “You must not have sexual relations with your sister. It doesn’t matter if she is the daughter of your father or your mother. And it doesn’t matter if your sister was born in your house [ c ] or at some other place.

10 “You must not have sexual relations with your granddaughter. It doesn’t matter whether she is the daughter of your son or the daughter of your daughter—they are all a part of you!

11 “If your father and his wife [ d ] have a daughter, she is your sister. You must not have sexual relations with her.

12 “You must not have sexual relations with your father’s sister. She is your father’s close relative. 13 You must not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister. She is your mother’s close relative. 14 You must not have sexual relations with the wife of your father’s brother. You must not go near your uncle’s wife for sexual relations. She is your aunt.

15 “You must not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife, so you must not have sexual relations with her.

16 “You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife. That would be like having sexual relations with your brother. [ e ]

17 “You must not have sexual relations with a mother and her daughter or her granddaughter. It doesn’t matter if this granddaughter is the daughter of this woman’s son or daughter. Her granddaughters are her close relatives. It is wrong to do this.

18 “While your wife is still living, you must not take her sister as another wife. This will make the sisters become enemies. You must not have sexual relations with your wife’s sister.

19 “You must not go near a woman to have sexual relations with her during her monthly time of bleeding. She is unclean during this time.

20 “You must not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife. This will only make you filthy. [ f ]

21 “You must not give any of your children through the fire to Molech. If you do this, you will show that you don’t respect the name of your God. I am the Lord .

22 “Men, you must not have sexual relations with another man as with a woman. That is a terrible sin!

23 “Men, you must not have sexual relations with any animal. This will make you filthy. And women, you must not have sexual relations with any animal. It is against nature!

24 “Don’t make yourself unclean by doing any of these wrong things! I am throwing nations off their land and giving it to you because they did those terrible sins. 25 They made the land filthy. Now the land is sick of those things, and it will vomit out the people who live there.

26 “So you must obey my laws and rules. You must not do any of these terrible sins. These rules are for the citizens of Israel and the people living among you. 27 Those who lived in the land before you have done all these terrible things. So the land became filthy. 28 If you do these things, you will make the land filthy. And it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were there before you. 29 Whoever does any of these terrible sins must be separated from their people! 30 Other people have done these terrible sins, but you must obey my laws. You must not do any of these terrible sins. Do not make yourself filthy with these terrible sins. I am the Lord your God.”

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 18:6 have sexual relations with Literally, “uncover the nakedness of.” Also in verses 7, 9-12, 15-19.
  2. Leviticus 18:8 sexual relations … father Literally, “She is the nakedness of your father.” Husband and wife are like one person. See Gen. 2:24.
  3. Leviticus 18:9 sister was born in your house Or “household.” If a man had many wives, each wife and her children had their own tent or part of the house. So this probably means a man was not supposed to have sexual relations with any of his father’s daughters, whether sister or half-sister.
  4. Leviticus 18:11 his wife This probably means “your stepmother.”
  5. Leviticus 18:16 sexual relations … brother Literally, “She is the nakedness of your brother.”
  6. Leviticus 18:20 filthy Or “polluted” or “unclean.” Also in verses 23, 25, 27.

18 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the Lord your God.

3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.

4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God.

5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord .

6 None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the Lord .

7 The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

8 The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.

9 The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.

10 The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.

11 The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

12 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.

13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.

14 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.

15 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.

17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.

18 Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.

19 Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.

20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.

21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord .

22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:

25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:

27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)

28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.

29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.

30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the Lord your God.

Laws on Immoral Relations

18 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘ ( A ) I am the Lord your God. 3 You shall not do [ a ] what is ( B ) done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do [ b ] what is ( C ) done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes. 4 You are to perform My judgments and keep My statutes, [ c ] to live in accord with them; ( D ) I am the Lord your God. 5 So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, ( E ) which, if [ d ] a person [ e ] follows them, then he will live by them; I am the Lord .

6 ‘None of you shall approach any blood relative [ f ] of his to uncover nakedness; I am the Lord . 7 ( F ) You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, that is, the nakedness of your mother. She is your mother; you are not to uncover her nakedness. 8 ( G ) You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness. 9 As for ( H ) the nakedness of your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether born in the household or born outside the household , you shall not uncover their nakedness. 10 The nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for [ g ] their nakedness is yours. 11 The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, born to your father, she is your sister; you shall not uncover her nakedness. 12 ( I ) You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is your father’s blood relative. 13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s blood relative. 14 ( J ) You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt. 15 ( K ) You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; you shall not uncover her nakedness. 16 ( L ) You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness. 17 ( M ) You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are blood relatives. It is an outrageous sin. 18 And you shall not [ h ] marry a woman in addition to her sister [ i ] as a second wife while she is alive, to uncover her nakedness.

19 ( N ) Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness during her ( O ) menstrual impurity. 20 And ( P ) you shall not have sexual intercourse with your neighbor’s wife, to be defiled with her. 21 You shall not give any of your children ( Q ) to [ j ] offer them to Molech, nor shall you ( R ) profane the name of your God; I am the Lord . 22 ( S ) You shall not sleep with a male as [ k ] one sleeps with a female; it is an abomination. 23 ( T ) Also you shall not have sexual intercourse with any animal to be defiled with it, nor shall any woman stand before an animal to [ l ] mate with it; it is a perversion.

24 ‘Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these things ( U ) the nations which I am driving out from you have become defiled. 25 For the land has become defiled, ( V ) therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so the land ( W ) has vomited out its inhabitants. 26 But as for you, you are to keep My statutes and My judgments, and you shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native, nor the stranger who resides among you 27 (for the people of the land who were there before you did all these abominations, and the land has become defiled), 28 so that the land will not vomit you out should you defile it, as it has vomited out the nation which was there before you. 29 For whoever does any of these abominations, those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people. 30 So you are to keep ( X ) your [ m ] commitment to Me not to practice any of the abominable customs which have been practiced before you, so that you do not defile yourselves with them; ( Y ) I am the Lord your God.’”

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 18:3 Lit according to the deed of
  2. Leviticus 18:3 Lit according to the deed of
  3. Leviticus 18:4 Lit to walk in them
  4. Leviticus 18:5 Lit the person
  5. Leviticus 18:5 Lit does them
  6. Leviticus 18:6 Lit of his flesh
  7. Leviticus 18:10 Lit they are your nakedness
  8. Leviticus 18:18 Lit take
  9. Leviticus 18:18 Lit to be
  10. Leviticus 18:21 Lit make them pass over
  11. Leviticus 18:22 Lit a woman’s bed
  12. Leviticus 18:23 Or lie
  13. Leviticus 18:30 Lit obligation

Unlawful Sexual Relations

18 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. ( A ) 3 You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. ( B ) 4 You must obey my laws ( C ) and be careful to follow my decrees. ( D ) I am the Lord your God. ( E ) 5 Keep my decrees and laws, ( F ) for the person who obeys them will live by them. ( G ) I am the Lord .

6 “‘No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the Lord .

7 “‘Do not dishonor your father ( H ) by having sexual relations with your mother. ( I ) She is your mother; do not have relations with her.

8 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; ( J ) that would dishonor your father. ( K )

9 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your sister, ( L ) either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere. ( M )

10 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; that would dishonor you.

11 “‘Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister.

12 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; ( N ) she is your father’s close relative.

13 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, ( O ) because she is your mother’s close relative.

14 “‘Do not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt. ( P )

15 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. ( Q ) She is your son’s wife; do not have relations with her. ( R )

16 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; ( S ) that would dishonor your brother.

17 “‘Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. ( T ) Do not have sexual relations with either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter; they are her close relatives. That is wickedness.

18 “‘Do not take your wife’s sister ( U ) as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.

19 “‘Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness ( V ) of her monthly period. ( W )

20 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife ( X ) and defile yourself with her.

21 “‘Do not give any of your children ( Y ) to be sacrificed to Molek, ( Z ) for you must not profane the name of your God. ( AA ) I am the Lord . ( AB )

22 “‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; ( AC ) that is detestable. ( AD )

23 “‘Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion. ( AE )

24 “‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you ( AF ) became defiled. ( AG ) 25 Even the land was defiled; ( AH ) so I punished it for its sin, ( AI ) and the land vomited out its inhabitants. ( AJ ) 26 But you must keep my decrees and my laws. ( AK ) The native-born and the foreigners residing among you must not do any of these detestable things, 27 for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. 28 And if you defile the land, ( AL ) it will vomit you out ( AM ) as it vomited out the nations that were before you.

29 “‘Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people. 30 Keep my requirements ( AN ) and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God. ( AO ) ’”