Leviticus 20 17

Leviticus 20:17 kjv

And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.

Leviticus 20:17 nkjv

'If a man takes his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, and sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a wicked thing. And they shall be cut off in the sight of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness. He shall bear his guilt.

Leviticus 20:17 niv

"?'If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They are to be publicly removed from their people. He has dishonored his sister and will be held responsible.

Leviticus 20:17 esv

"If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace, and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness, and he shall bear his iniquity.

Leviticus 20:17 nlt

"If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a shameful disgrace. They must be publicly cut off from the community. Since the man has violated his sister, he will be punished for his sin.

Leviticus 20 verses

Leviticus 20 17 Meaning

Leviticus 20:17 outlines a severe prohibition against sexual relations between a man and his sister, whether a full sister or a half-sister (from the same father or same mother). Engaging in such an act, euphemistically described as "seeing her nakedness," is deemed an exceptionally disgraceful and unnatural offense. The divine consequence for both parties involved is to be "cut off" from the covenant community, implying a profound separation and loss of status, often understood as a penalty leading to death or severe divine judgment. The verse concludes by stating that the man has exposed his sister's nakedness and shall "bear his iniquity," emphasizing personal responsibility and the spiritual weight of his transgression. This commandment reinforces the sanctity of familial relationships and the moral purity required of God's holy people.

Leviticus 20 17 Context

Leviticus 20 forms part of the Holiness Code (chapters 17-26), emphasizing God's command for Israel to be a holy nation, distinct from the defiling practices of surrounding Canaanite nations. Following Chapter 18, which lists forbidden sexual unions, Chapter 20 re-states some of these prohibitions but adds the specific legal penalties, primarily the death penalty or being "cut off." The immediate context of verse 17 details various capital offenses, including child sacrifice, cultic prostitution, adultery, and other forms of incest (Lev 20:10-21). This underscores the severe nature of violating God's sexual ethics and the call for Israel's moral purity as a reflection of His holiness. Culturally, while sibling marriage might have been present in certain royal families or pagan contexts (e.g., ancient Egypt), it was explicitly forbidden for the Israelites, highlighting God's distinct standards for His covenant people.

Leviticus 20 17 Word analysis

• If a man takes his sister: The verb "takes" (יִקַּח, yiqqach) often denotes marriage or formal union, but here it implies a sexual relationship, whether within an informal cohabitation or outright incest. This emphasizes a deliberate act. The word for "sister" (אֲחֹתוֹ, ʾăḥōtô) explicitly includes both full and half-sisters, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the prohibition.
• a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother: This phrase clarifies and explicitly reiterates the meaning of "sister" from the preceding phrase, leaving no ambiguity regarding the biological relationship—it prohibits sexual relations with a half-sister from either parental line, in addition to a full sister. This comprehensive definition ensures all close sibling relationships are covered under the ban.
• and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness: This is a biblical idiom (וְרָאָה אֶת-עֶרְוָתָהּ, wĕrāʾâ ʾeṯ-ʿerwāṯāh) for engaging in sexual intercourse. "Nakedness" (ʿerwâ) in the Mosaic Law refers not merely to nudity but to the sexual organs or, more broadly, to acts of sexual defilement. The reciprocal phrasing "and she sees his nakedness" implies a mutual act, though the male is primarily addressed as the initiator or responsible party, typical in these laws.
• it is a shameful thing: The Hebrew here is "חֶסֶד הוא" (ḥesed hûʾ). This is a unique and challenging translation. While ḥesed typically means "steadfast love," "kindness," or "loyalty," in this very specific context, especially concerning forbidden sexual acts, it functions idiomatically to mean "disgrace," "reproach," "infamy," "monstrous indecency," or "vile sin." This paradoxical usage profoundly emphasizes the perversion of natural, familial love into something utterly abominable and abhorrent to God. It highlights the unnatural and deeply offensive nature of the act.
• and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: The phrase "cut off" (וְנִכְרְתוּ, wĕnikrĕtû) is a strong penal term in the Pentateuch, indicating separation from the covenant community. Depending on the offense, this could mean expulsion, premature death by divine judgment, or in severe cases alongside capital crimes in this chapter, execution by the community. "In the sight of the children of their people" underscores the public nature of the judgment, serving as a deterrent and a visible reaffirmation of God's holy standards.
• He has uncovered his sister's nakedness: This reiterates the nature of the offense and emphasizes the man's responsibility in violating the sanctity of the familial bond. The active verb "uncovered" points to the volitional and deliberate nature of the sinful act.
• he shall bear his iniquity: "Bear his iniquity" (עֲוֺנוֹ יִשָּׂא, ʿăwōnô yiśśāʾ) means he is personally accountable for his sin and will suffer its consequences. This is a common phrase implying divine judgment, which might include the "cutting off" (physical death or excommunication) as the ultimate earthly consequence. It highlights that the individual must face the direct repercussions of their transgression before God and the community.

Leviticus 20 17 Bonus section

The repeated emphasis on "nakedness" and its "uncovering" throughout the Levitical laws serves as a strong reminder that God's moral code often addresses the root of sin in the inner person's heart and intentions. Sexual sin, particularly incest, defiles not only the body but also the sacredness of family bonds, which are fundamental units in God's created order. The public consequence, "in the sight of the children of their people," serves as a stark pedagogical lesson, teaching the community about the gravity of violating God's statutes and reinforcing corporate responsibility for holiness. This principle finds resonance in the New Testament's call for believers to "flee from sexual immorality" and to live in a way that honors God with their bodies (1 Cor 6:18).

Leviticus 20 17 Commentary

Leviticus 20:17 vividly portrays God's absolute abhorrence of incest, specifically involving siblings. By framing the prohibition of "seeing nakedness" in familial terms, the Law upholds the sanctity of kinship, preventing the sexualization and ultimate defilement of bonds intended for nurture, not procreation or carnal pleasure. The stark penalty of being "cut off" reflects the severe spiritual and communal implications of such a transgression; it's an act that contaminates the community and disrupts God's intended order for family and society. The striking use of ḥesed (typically "love") to describe the sin underscores its monstrous perversion—a corruption of what should be loyalty and affection into something deeply unholy. This commandment transcends mere legalism; it forms a cornerstone of divine ethics, calling God's people to a profound level of moral purity that separates them from the degrading practices of surrounding cultures and aligns them with the holiness of God Himself.