Leviticus 20 21

Leviticus 20:21 kjv

And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.

Leviticus 20:21 nkjv

If a man takes his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing. He has uncovered his brother's nakedness. They shall be childless.

Leviticus 20:21 niv

"?'If a man marries his brother's wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless.

Leviticus 20:21 esv

If a man takes his brother's wife, it is impurity. He has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.

Leviticus 20:21 nlt

"If a man marries his brother's wife, it is an act of impurity. He has violated his brother, and the guilty couple will remain childless.

Leviticus 20 verses

Leviticus 20 21 Meaning

Leviticus 20:21 establishes a clear prohibition against a man taking his brother’s wife, categorizing such an act as profound defilement or impurity. This forbidden union is explicitly stated as "uncovering his brother’s nakedness," a euphemism for sexual intimacy, and it carries the severe divine consequence that the couple "shall be childless." This verse underscores the sacredness of marital bonds within Israelite society and the sanctity of lineage.

Leviticus 20 21 Context

Leviticus chapter 20 reiterates and expands upon the sexual prohibitions introduced in chapter 18, detailing the severe penalties, often including the death penalty or divine cutting off (karet), for various forms of sexual immorality. The preceding verses in chapter 20 address forbidden relations with one's daughter-in-law, sister, half-sister, and other close relatives. Verse 21, specifically addressing a man taking his brother's wife, is part of this comprehensive list that defines what constitutes unholy and defiling behavior within God’s covenant people, distinguishing them from the surrounding pagan nations. Historically and culturally, such prohibitions aimed to preserve the purity of family lines, ensure social order, and set Israel apart as a holy nation dedicated to Yahweh. The concept of "nakedness" refers to illicit sexual relations, and "childless" reflects the severity of God's judgment against actions that defile the sacred marital covenant. This specific prohibition had a vital exception: the levirate marriage law in Deuteronomy 25:5-10, which required a brother to marry his deceased brother's childless widow to raise offspring for the deceased, thereby preserving his name and lineage. This distinction clarifies that Leviticus 20:21 applies to a union under normal circumstances, not the levirate duty.

Leviticus 20 21 Word analysis

• And if a man: Introduces a specific case among the legal statutes. Highlights individual accountability before the law.
• takes (`yīqqaḥ` - יִקַּח): From the root `laqaḥ`, meaning "to take, seize, acquire." In this context, it refers to taking someone as a wife through a sexual relationship, whether by marriage or illicit cohabitation.
• his brother’s wife (`'ēshet 'aḥīw` - אֵשֶׁת אָחִיו): Explicitly identifies the forbidden relationship. The prohibition implies the brother is alive, or the situation falls outside the specific provision for levirate marriage where the brother has died without an heir.
• it is an impurity (`nidāh hî'` - נִדָּה הִוא): `Nidah` signifies ritual and moral defilement, often associated with menstruation, symbolizing uncleanness or pollution that separates one from the holy. Here, it denotes profound moral corruption and defilement that renders the act abominable in God’s eyes.
• He has uncovered his brother’s nakedness (`'erwat 'aḥīw gillah` - עֶרְוַת אָחִיו גִּלָּה): `Erwah` (nakedness) is a euphemism for sexual intimacy, particularly illicit or shameful. `Gillah` (uncovered) refers to the act of sexual intercourse. The phrase emphasizes the grave violation of boundaries and intimate spaces established by God, causing severe disrespect and dishonor to the brother.
• they shall be childless (`'arîrîm yihyū` - עֲרִירִים יִהְיוּ): `Arirîm` means "childless," "destitute of offspring." This is a direct divine punishment, not merely a natural consequence. In ancient Israelite society, children, especially sons, were seen as a divine blessing and crucial for lineage and inheritance. Childlessness was often considered a curse, signifying divine disfavor or the "cutting off" (`karet`) from the community and covenantal blessings. This penalty highlights that such unions are fruitless in God’s eyes, bringing no blessing of progeny.

• "takes his brother’s wife": This phrase precisely defines the prohibited relationship. It highlights the familial boundary crossing, distinct from adultery with any woman. The brother's marriage covenant is breached, violating family honor and divinely ordained marital sanctity.
• "impurity" and "uncovered his brother’s nakedness": These terms together emphasize the moral and ritual defilement of the act. The language of "nakedness" makes it deeply personal and shaming to the offended party (the brother). This sin is not merely a social misstep but a violation of a holy standard before God, impacting the entire community.
• "they shall be childless": This phrase presents the divine judgment. It’s not just a societal consequence but God’s direct intervention. This severe outcome speaks to the Lord's high regard for marital sanctity and the sanctity of lineage. It ensures no lasting legacy comes from such an unlawful union, serving as a powerful deterrent.

Leviticus 20 21 Bonus section

The concept of "karet" (being cut off), while not explicitly mentioned with the Hebrew term here, is the underlying theological consequence of childlessness in many biblical prohibitions. This term implies separation from the covenant community, both in this life and the afterlife, suggesting a deprivation of divine blessing and a loss of identity within God's chosen people. In a society where family and lineage were paramount, childlessness was a profoundly devastating judgment. This law was crucial in preventing complex family entanglements, inheritance disputes, and the dilution of bloodlines. It served as a divine firewall against cultural practices that viewed sexual relationships primarily for personal gratification, contrasting sharply with the divine intent for procreation within established, sanctified marital bonds.

Leviticus 20 21 Commentary

Leviticus 20:21 strictly prohibits a man from marrying or engaging in sexual relations with his brother's wife under normal circumstances. This command reinforces the sanctity of marriage and family lines within the covenant community. The use of "impurity" (nidah) highlights the defiling nature of the act, impacting the spiritual purity of the individuals and the community. The phrase "uncovered his brother’s nakedness" is a common biblical euphemism for sexual intercourse, underscoring the severe violation of both marital trust and familial boundaries. The prescribed consequence of "childlessness" (aririm) serves as a potent divine judgment. It signifies more than merely not having offspring from that specific illicit union; it often implies a complete cessation of their lineage or a severe curse upon their procreation. This spiritual and physical barrenness indicates divine displeasure, rendering such a union cursed and unfruitful in God's sight. The verse forms part of God’s comprehensive moral law designed to set Israel apart as a holy people, free from the depravities common in surrounding cultures, by safeguarding the integrity of family units and upholding a high standard of sexual purity. The only divine allowance for a man taking his brother’s wife was under the specific provision of the levirate marriage, for the distinct purpose of raising an heir for the deceased brother, which does not apply to the general prohibition here.