Leviticus 20 18

Leviticus 20:18 kjv

And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

Leviticus 20:18 nkjv

If a man lies with a woman during her sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has exposed her flow, and she has uncovered the flow of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from their people.

Leviticus 20:18 niv

"?'If a man has sexual relations with a woman during her monthly period, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has also uncovered it. Both of them are to be cut off from their people.

Leviticus 20:18 esv

If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and uncovers her nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

Leviticus 20:18 nlt

"If a man has sexual relations with a woman during her menstrual period, both of them must be cut off from the community, for together they have exposed the source of her blood flow.

Leviticus 20 verses

Leviticus 20 18 Meaning

Leviticus 20:18 strictly prohibits sexual intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period. This act is identified as a defilement of the woman, and by extension, the man, as well as the holy space of the community. It explicitly states that both individuals involved will be "cut off" from among their people, indicating a severe penalty for violating this fundamental purity law that guards the sanctity of life and the covenant relationship with God.

Leviticus 20 18 Context

This verse is part of Leviticus chapter 20, which reiterates and escalates many of the moral and purity laws found in chapter 18 by adding specific penalties, particularly for various sexual transgressions. Leviticus 18 introduced a broad range of illicit sexual relationships to Israel, defining boundaries for acceptable behavior. Chapter 20 then focuses on the consequences for violating these laws, underscoring the severe implications of such actions for both the individual and the covenant community's relationship with a holy God. Historically and culturally, these laws set Israel apart from the surrounding nations whose practices often included such acts within their pagan worship or social norms. The prohibition of sexual relations during menstruation served to emphasize the sanctity of life (blood as life), uphold ritual purity vital for approaching God, and safeguard against potential health risks, though the primary emphasis is spiritual and communal defilement. The command to be holy (Qadosh - set apart) permeates these laws.

Leviticus 20 18 Word analysis

• "If a man lies with": This phrase, 'ish 'asher yishkav et-ishshah (אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁכַּב אֶת-אִשָּׁה), uses yishkav, which is a common biblical idiom for sexual intercourse. In this context, it describes the act itself, setting the stage for the specific circumstances that make it prohibited.
• "a woman during her menstrual period": The crucial phrase here is niddah (נִדָּה), meaning 'separated', 'impure', or 'menstruous woman'. It refers to the state of ritual uncleanness during menstruation. This uncleanness was not sinful in itself (Lev 15), but willful disregard of the purity separation, especially sexual intercourse during this time, was a serious violation with moral consequences.
• "and uncovers her nakedness": Gillah 'ervatah (גִּלָּה עֶרְוָתָהּ). This is a euphemism for sexual intimacy or intercourse. The word 'ervah (עֶרְוָה) means nakedness, disgrace, or shame, often linked to sexual impropriety. Its usage here emphasizes the prohibited exposure and the shamefulness of the act in the given state of ritual separation.
• "he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood": 'et-meqorah hichsar u-hi' qishphah 'et-meqor dameyhah (אֶת-מְקוֹרָהּ הֶעֱרָה וְהִיא קִשְׁפָה אֶת-מְקוֹר דָּמֶיהָ).
  • Meqorah (מְקוֹרָהּ): "her fountain" or "source." This refers euphemistically to the source of menstrual flow, thus highlighting the biological context. It signifies the place where life (blood) originates within the female body, making its violation during impurity particularly egregious.
  • The verbs hichsar (הֶעֱרָה, "he has made naked/emptied out") and qishphah (קִשְׁפָה, "she has uncovered/revealed") indicate a mutual act of defilement. This phrasing underscores that both parties are complicit and responsible. The act itself directly pollutes the 'fountain of blood,' which is central to the Levitical understanding of life and purity.
• "both of them shall be cut off from among their people": shneiyhem yikaret (שְׁנֵיהֶם יִכָּרֵתוּ).
  • Karet (כָּרַת): "to cut off." This is a severe divine judgment or administrative punishment. While sometimes implying execution (e.g., for certain sins of idolatry or murder), it often meant expulsion from the community, social ostracization, or spiritual excommunication, effectively removing the person from the covenant family and its blessings, leading to potential premature death or no descendants. It denotes the absolute separation of the offender from the covenant privileges and community of Israel, placing them outside divine protection and blessing.

Leviticus 20 18 Bonus section

The strictness regarding menstrual impurity (niddah) extends beyond sexual intercourse. The Levitical law outlines various objects or individuals that become impure through contact with a menstruating woman, requiring ritual cleansing (Lev 15:19-24). This elaborate system aimed to create a palpable sense of separation and respect for what was ritually clean and what was not, thereby emphasizing the profound holiness of God and the seriousness of sin that leads to impurity. While the New Testament emphasizes a transformed heart over external ritual purity (Mk 7:15, Acts 10:15), the underlying principle of reverence for God's holiness and sexual integrity remains fundamental (1 Cor 6:18-20, Heb 13:4). The Old Covenant purity laws, including that of niddah, served as vivid teaching tools foreshadowing the comprehensive spiritual cleansing offered by Christ, making us truly clean and acceptable to a holy God.

Leviticus 20 18 Commentary

Leviticus 20:18 unequivocally forbids sexual intercourse during a woman's menstrual period, deeming it an act of profound defilement. This prohibition is rooted deeply in the ancient Israelite understanding of ritual purity, the sanctity of life (as blood represented life), and the imperative for the covenant community to maintain holiness before God. The phrase "fountain of her blood" highlights the direct affront to the body's natural processes of purity and the misuse of the very source of procreation in an unclean state. The mutual nature of the transgression, with both parties "uncovering" and "making naked," assigns shared guilt. The specified consequence, "both of them shall be cut off from among their people," signifies a dire penalty. It implies removal from the social, religious, and covenantal fellowship of Israel, resulting in the forfeiture of communal identity and spiritual heritage. This could manifest as physical death, but more often implies a comprehensive ostracization and exclusion from the life-giving presence of God among His people. It's a stark reminder that personal acts of impurity could defile the entire congregation and imperil its standing with the Holy One. This law contributed to Israel's distinct identity and reverence for life and divine commands compared to surrounding cultures.