Leviticus 18:15 kjv
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:15 nkjv
You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law?she is your son's wife?you shall not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:15 niv
"?'Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son's wife; do not have relations with her.
Leviticus 18:15 esv
You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son's wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:15 nlt
"Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law; she is your son's wife, so you must not have sexual relations with her.
Leviticus 18 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 18:6 | None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness... | General prohibition against incestuous relationships. |
| Lev 18:14 | Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife... | Another affinity prohibition involving an aunt by marriage. |
| Lev 18:16 | Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife... | Parallel prohibition, involving sister-in-law (unless levirate marriage). |
| Lev 20:12 | And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death... | Prescribed punishment for this specific transgression. |
| Deut 27:23 | Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law... and all the people shall say, Amen. | A related curse pronounced against similar forbidden acts (mother-in-law example given). |
| Gen 38:26 | And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son... | The narrative of Judah and Tamar, highlighting family obligations related to marriage and procreation (implicitly, not directly on prohibition, but kinship issues). |
| Ruth 4:1-12 | Boaz went up to the gate... | Narrative illustrating levirate marriage and the careful observance of kinship laws concerning property and procreation, contrasting typical sexual prohibitions. |
| Ex 20:14 | Thou shalt not commit adultery. | The broader commandment against sexual immorality which underlies many specific prohibitions. |
| Lev 20:10 | And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife... the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. | Penalty for general adultery, reflecting the sanctity of marital bonds. |
| Ezek 22:11 | And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law... | Prophetic indictment condemning Israel's disregard for such laws, showing their importance. |
| Matt 5:28 | But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. | New Testament expansion on sexual purity, condemning lust itself. |
| 1 Cor 5:1 | It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. | A clear New Testament condemnation of incest within the church, demonstrating continuity of principles. |
| 1 Cor 6:18 | Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. | Exhortation to avoid sexual immorality due to its unique nature of defiling the body. |
| Eph 5:3 | But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints... | Exhortation for believers to live in purity, reflecting God's holy character. |
| Col 3:5 | Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence... | Call to put away sins of the flesh, including sexual sins. |
| 1 Thes 4:3-5 | For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God. | Emphasizes sexual purity as part of God's sanctifying will for believers. |
| Heb 13:4 | Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. | Upholds the sanctity of marriage and warns against sexual impurity. |
| Gal 5:19-21 | Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness... | Sexual immorality is listed as a clear work of the flesh, opposing the fruit of the Spirit. |
| Rom 1:24-27 | Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves... | Description of God giving people over to unnatural and impure sexual practices as a consequence of rejecting Him. |
| Lev 11:44 | For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy... | General command to holiness, which provides the overarching motivation for these ethical laws. |
Leviticus 18 verses
Leviticus 18 15 Meaning
Leviticus 18:15 forbids a man from engaging in sexual relations with his daughter-in-law. The verse clarifies that this prohibition exists because she is the wife of his son, thereby establishing an unbreakable family bond through marriage that must not be violated by a relationship with the father. This law upholds the sanctity of marital and familial relationships and reinforces the clear boundaries necessary for a righteous community.
Leviticus 18 15 Context
Leviticus chapter 18 outlines a series of prohibitions against unlawful sexual relationships, serving as a cornerstone for the moral purity and distinctiveness of the Israelite community. The chapter begins by warning Israel not to follow the detestable practices of Egypt and Canaan but to obey the Lord's statutes and judgments, emphasizing the theme of holiness (Lev 18:3-5). The laws specified, including the prohibition in verse 15, protect the sanctity of family structures and lineage by forbidding incest, adultery, and other sexual abominations. Historically and culturally, these commands provided a clear moral boundary for Israel, separating them from the polytheistic and often morally permissive societies around them, where various forms of incest, ritual prostitution, and child sacrifice were practiced. The regulations serve as a direct polemic against such pagan practices, establishing a standard of ethical behavior rooted in covenant loyalty to God.
Leviticus 18 15 Word analysis
- Thou shalt not: A strong and unequivocal divine command, expressing absolute prohibition. This legal formula asserts God's authority over human conduct, particularly in intimate matters.
- uncover the nakedness (Hebrew: וְאֵת עֶרְוַת, wəʾēṯ ʿerwaṯ): This is a well-established euphemism throughout Leviticus 18 and 20 for sexual intercourse, specifically illicit or incestuous acts. ʿErwāh (nakedness) implies not just physical nudity, but shame, disgrace, and indecency. To "uncover" it signifies defilement and violation of sacred boundaries, demonstrating extreme intimacy that is forbidden.
- of thy daughter in law (Hebrew: כַּלָּתְךָ֔, kallāṯḵā): Refers to the wife of one's son. This relationship is one of affinity, established through marriage, rather than consanguinity (blood). The prohibition extends the sacred family boundaries beyond immediate blood relatives to those who become "one flesh" with direct kin.
- she is thy son's wife: This phrase is not merely descriptive but provides the underlying legal and moral justification for the prohibition. It emphasizes the pre-existing marital bond between the woman and the man's son. Her legal and social status as his son's wife creates a bond to the father that prohibits any direct sexual relationship with him. To violate this would undermine the son's marriage, dishonor the family, and cause profound confusion in generational and familial roles.
- thou shalt not uncover her nakedness: The repetition of the prohibition serves as a rhetorical device for emphatic reinforcement. It stresses the absolute and unwavering nature of the command. This reiteration ensures clarity and leaves no room for misinterpretation regarding the severity of the forbidden act.
Leviticus 18 15 Bonus section
The laws in Leviticus 18 define degrees of kinship by affinity (marriage) as equally binding as those by consanguinity (blood) in establishing sexual prohibitions. This comprehensive approach emphasizes that marriage creates sacred and permanent family bonds that must not be transgressed, demonstrating the high regard for marital union within God's law. Furthermore, this statute, alongside others, reinforces the concept that purity is not merely an external act but begins with internal adherence to God's moral order for all aspects of life, especially those as intimate and foundational as family relationships. The penalty for violating this particular law (death in Lev 20:12) underscores its extreme gravity and societal defilement.
Leviticus 18 15 Commentary
Leviticus 18:15 establishes a crucial boundary within the family structure, prohibiting sexual relations between a man and his daughter-in-law. This law, like others in the chapter, is foundational to God's standard of holiness for Israel, demanding a radical departure from the lax sexual ethics of surrounding cultures. It guards against genealogical confusion, protects the integrity of marriage —specifically the son's marriage covenant— and upholds the moral fabric of society. The very purpose of these prohibitions is to preserve proper order, dignity, and purity within families and the broader community, reflecting the righteous character of God who calls His people to be set apart. Such boundaries are vital for human flourishing, preventing internal family conflicts, power abuses, and social breakdown, all stemming from a disregard for God-given roles and relationships.