Leviticus 18 9

Leviticus 18:9 kjv

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.

Leviticus 18:9 nkjv

The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover.

Leviticus 18:9 niv

"?'Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.

Leviticus 18:9 esv

You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether brought up in the family or in another home.

Leviticus 18:9 nlt

"Do not have sexual relations with your sister or half sister, whether she is your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether she was born into your household or someone else's.

Leviticus 18 verses

Leviticus 18 9 Meaning

Leviticus 18:9 sternly prohibits sexual relations with one's sister, encompassing both paternal half-sisters ("your father's daughter") and maternal half-sisters ("your mother's daughter"). The law emphasizes that this prohibition applies regardless of where the half-sister was born or raised, whether within the household or outside of it. The phrase "uncover the nakedness" is a common biblical euphemism for engaging in sexual intercourse, and its repetition in the verse underscores the absolute nature and severity of this command, making it an emphatic ban on all forms of incest with a sister. This law is foundational to establishing Israel's sexual ethics and preventing familial corruption.

Leviticus 18 9 Context

Leviticus 18 serves as a comprehensive divine command detailing forbidden sexual relations and abominable practices for the Israelites. Situated within the Holiness Code (chapters 17-26), this chapter explicitly delineates sexual boundaries, forming a foundational part of Israel's covenant relationship with God. The immediate preceding verses (18:3-5) establish the premise: Israel is not to emulate the defiling customs of Egypt, where they came from, or Canaan, into which they were going. Instead, they are to follow Yahweh's statutes and rules to maintain their distinct holiness. Verses 6-18 then list specific forbidden sexual relationships, ranging from close family members (like in 18:9 concerning sisters) to in-laws, and bestiality, all falling under the broad prohibition of "uncovering nakedness." Historically and culturally, these laws directly countered practices common in surrounding polytheistic nations, where various forms of incest, ritual prostitution, and child sacrifice were sometimes tolerated or even interwoven with their religious cults. Leviticus 18:9, therefore, is not merely a legalistic restriction but a foundational element of God's command for Israel to live set apart as a holy nation, safeguarding societal integrity and purity.

Leviticus 18 9 Word analysis

• לֹא (lo): "not," an emphatic negative particle, indicating an absolute prohibition. It signifies that this act is strictly forbidden without exception.
• תְּגַלֶּה (t'galleh): "you shall uncover/reveal." From the verb גלה (gala), meaning "to uncover, reveal, disclose." In this context, combined with 'ervah, it serves as a euphemism for engaging in sexual intercourse.
• עֶרְוָה ('ervah): "nakedness," "shame," "disgrace," "genitals." This term, consistently used in Leviticus 18, signifies not merely visual nakedness but rather the act of sexual exposure that is illicit and inherently shameful or morally wrong, typically implying sexual defilement.
• אֲחוֹתְךָ ('akhōt'kha): "your sister." Refers to a female sibling.
• בַּת-אָבִיךָ (bat-'āvîkhā): "daughter of your father." Specifically indicates a paternal half-sister, sharing the same father but a different mother. This explicitly covers one type of half-sibling relationship.
• אוֹ ('o): "or." Connective.
• בַּת-אִמֶּךָ (bat-'immekha): "daughter of your mother." Refers to a maternal half-sister, sharing the same mother but a different father. This completes the explicit coverage of half-sibling relationships.
• מוּלֶדֶת בַּיִת (mûledet bayit): "born at home," or literally "one born of the house/household." This refers to a sister (full or half) who was born and raised within the same immediate household or family setting, emphasizing kinship connection through shared upbringing.
• אוֹ ('o): "or."
• מוּלֶדֶת חוּץ (mûledet chûtz): "born abroad" or "one born outside." This broadens the scope to include half-sisters born outside the immediate marital home (e.g., from a concubine, another marriage of the parent, or even possibly through adoption or integration into the family from a foreign source), ensuring no loopholes for incest are exploited based on birth circumstance or upbringing outside the "main" household.
• לֹא תְגַלֶּה אֶת־עֶרְוָתָן (lo t'galleh 'et-'ervātān): "you shall not uncover their nakedness." This final phrase serves as a reiteration and emphatic summation of the prohibition. The repetition, common in legal texts, emphasizes the seriousness and inclusiveness of the command, applying it absolutely to all categories of sisters just listed.

Leviticus 18 9 Bonus section

The repetitive use of the phrase "uncover nakedness" (fifteen times in Lev 18) indicates not just a ban on viewing, but specifically a prohibition against sexual intercourse within forbidden degrees of kinship, marking such acts as deeply shameful and polluting. The careful enumeration of familial relationships in this chapter, progressing from closer kin (like a full sister or half-sister as in v.9) to more distant relations and in-laws, creates a comprehensive web of protection for the family structure. The law against marrying one's half-sister might seem stringent to some modern eyes, especially given that figures like Abraham married his half-sister (Gen 20:12) before the Mosaic Law. This highlights the progressive revelation of God's moral standards; what might have been permissible or overlooked in earlier times became explicitly forbidden as God's people were sanctified for covenant relationship. The gravity of breaking such laws is underscored by the dire consequences mentioned elsewhere in the Torah, including being "cut off" from the people (Lev 20:17). This indicates either excommunication or divine judgment, emphasizing the serious theological implications of these social laws.

Leviticus 18 9 Commentary

Leviticus 18:9 provides a crystal-clear prohibition against incestuous relationships involving any form of sister, whether full, paternal half-sister, or maternal half-sister. The meticulously detailed language, especially specifying "your father's daughter or your mother's daughter," aims to leave no room for ambiguity or circumvention based on technicalities of lineage. The additional clause "whether born at home or born abroad in another place" further cements the comprehensiveness of the law, ensuring that even if siblings were raised separately or had unconventional origins within the extended family, the biological kinship still rendered the sexual act an abomination. This law protects the sanctity of familial bonds, societal order, and is a pillar against practices prevalent in pagan cultures of that time. Its core purpose is to preserve holiness within the Israelite community, preventing the moral and spiritual defilement that such transgressions would bring upon the individuals, the family unit, and the land itself, making the Israelites distinct as God's chosen people.