Leviticus 18:1-5

Unlawful Sexual Relations

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 1I am the LORD your God.
3 2You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and 3you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes.
4 4You shall follow my rules[a] and keep my statutes and walk in them. 5I am the LORD your God.
5 6You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; 7if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 18:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 18

In this chapter the Israelites are directed in general not to imitate the customs and practices of the Egyptians and Canaanites, but to keep the ordinances, statutes, and judgments of the Lord, Le 18:1-5; and they are instructed particularly to avoid incestuous marriages, Le 18:6-18; carnal copulation with a menstruous woman, Le 18:19; adultery, Le 18:20; letting any of their seed pass through the fire to Molech, Le 18:21; sodomy, Le 18:22; and bestiality, Le 18:23; and they are deterred from these things by observing to them the pollution and destruction which they brought on the inhabitants of Canaan, and would bring the same on them should they commit them, Le 18:24-30.

Cross References 7

  • 1. Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 19:4; Leviticus 20:7; Exodus 6:6, 7
  • 2. Ezekiel 20:7, 8; Ezekiel 23:8
  • 3. Exodus 23:24; Deuteronomy 12:30, 31
  • 4. ver. 26; Leviticus 19:19, 37; Leviticus 20:8, 22; Deuteronomy 5:18">2Deuteronomy 5:18; Deuteronomy 4:1, 6; Deuteronomy 5:1; Deuteronomy 6:1; Deuteronomy 12:1; Ezekiel 20:19
  • 5. [See ver. 2 above]
  • 6. [See ver. 4 above]
  • 7. Ezek. 20:11, 13, 21; Cited Romans 10:5; Galatians 3:12; [Luke 10:28]

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or my just decrees; also verse 5
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.