Leviticus 18 7

Leviticus 18:7 kjv

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.

Leviticus 18:7 nkjv

The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness.

Leviticus 18:7 niv

"?'Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her.

Leviticus 18:7 esv

You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness.

Leviticus 18:7 nlt

"Do not violate your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.

Leviticus 18 verses

Leviticus 18 7 Meaning

Leviticus 18:7 prohibits sexual intercourse between a man and his biological mother. The phrase "the nakedness of your father" refers to the violation of the father's marital bed and relationship with his wife, your mother. It underscores that such an act is an affront to the head of the household and a fundamental breach of the sacred bond with one's own mother, who is a source of life and nurture, not a sexual partner. The repeated emphasis highlights the severity and absolute nature of this prohibition.

Leviticus 18 7 Context

Leviticus 18 is a pivotal chapter within the book, setting forth a comprehensive list of forbidden sexual relationships for the Israelites. These prohibitions are foundational to the covenant of God with His people, emphasizing their distinctiveness and holiness compared to the surrounding pagan nations of Egypt and Canaan (Lev 18:3). The chapter establishes strict boundaries for sexual conduct within the family and community, intended to prevent the moral and social chaos that results from incestuous or other unlawful unions. It also ties the purity of the people directly to the land itself, indicating that defilement through such practices leads to expulsion (Lev 18:24-28). The chapter defines what "uncovering nakedness" (a consistent euphemism for sexual intimacy) entails, moving from immediate family members to increasingly distant relations, establishing degrees of kinship prohibitions. This verse, regarding the mother, is the very first specific sexual prohibition following the general introductory warning, indicating its paramount importance.

Leviticus 18 7 Word analysis

• You shall not uncover: This phrase is a legal and religious prohibition, stated as an absolute command. The Hebrew verb is galah (גָּלָה), which means "to uncover," "to expose," or "to reveal." In the context of Leviticus 18, it consistently functions as a euphemism for sexual intercourse or intimate sexual exposure. The negation "not" (לֹא - lo') renders it an explicit divine injunction.
• the nakedness ('ervah עֶרְוָה): This is the core term. 'Ervah means "nakedness," "shame," "private parts," or "indecency." In these laws, it refers specifically to the private areas involved in sexual intercourse, and by extension, the act itself or the intimacy thereof. It highlights the vulnerability and sacredness of marital relations when properly consecrated, and the deep defilement when improperly transgressed.
• of your father: This is crucial for understanding the verse. It does not mean sexually violating one's literal father. Rather, it refers to the 'ervah of the father in relation to his wife, your mother. Engaging sexually with one's mother is a direct affront to the father's marital covenant, his conjugal rights, and his authority as head of the household. It constitutes a defilement of his marital bed and thereby, an assault on the very structure of the family unit of which he is the patriarch.
• which is the nakedness of your mother: This clause directly clarifies and explicitly identifies the forbidden partner as the mother. It equates the "nakedness of your father" in this context with the sexual accessibility to one's own mother. This legal style emphasizes absolute clarity.
• she is your mother: This simple, yet powerful, declaration provides the fundamental theological and social justification for the prohibition. It appeals to the natural and divine order of family relations. A mother-child relationship is one of dependence, nurturing, and unconditional care, not of sexual intimacy. To transgress this bond is a violation of the deepest and most sacred kinship.
• you shall not uncover her nakedness: This repetition of the prohibition directly addressing the mother reinforces the command. The legal repetition ensures absolute clarity and underscores the profound wickedness and abhorrence of such an act in God's eyes, emphasizing that there is no ambiguity or exception.

Leviticus 18 7 Bonus section

• The structure of Leviticus 18 reveals a meticulous legal taxonomy, where the closest relations (mother) are addressed first, establishing a fundamental baseline for sexual boundaries.
• The emphasis on "nakedness" being "of your father" rather than simply "your mother's nakedness" (which comes after) suggests a strong emphasis on the sanctity of the paternal household and the marital covenant from the father's perspective. It highlights the son's obligation not to violate his father's domain.
• This prohibition, along with others in the chapter, highlights God's concern for societal order and human flourishing. When these boundaries are transgressed, family structures crumble, lineage becomes confused, and society descends into moral decay.
• While this specific verse is a literal prohibition, its underlying principles speak to respecting established relationships, boundaries, and the God-given order of creation, which includes the proper context for sexual expression exclusively within the bounds of a monogamous marriage between a man and a woman.

Leviticus 18 7 Commentary

Leviticus 18:7 is the cornerstone of the prohibited sexual relationships, unequivocally forbidding incest with one's mother. The careful phrasing, first stating "the nakedness of your father" and then clarifying "which is the nakedness of your mother," signifies a layered transgression. It is not merely a physical act but a profound violation of the father's marital sanctuary, undermining his authority and honor. Simultaneously, it is a gross perversion of the foundational bond with the mother, severing the natural filial relationship from its intended bounds and reducing a figure of nurture and authority to an object of sexual gratification. This act tears at the very fabric of kinship and community, introducing chaos and confusion where divine order is commanded. The law reflects God's design for sexual purity, the sanctity of marriage as an exclusive covenant between husband and wife, and the imperative for clearly defined and honored family roles within the covenant community, sharply contrasting with the promiscuity and incestuous practices of pagan neighbors.