Leviticus 18:1-8

Laws on Immoral Relations

1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, '¹I am the LORD your God.

3 'You shall not do what is ²done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is ³done in the land of Canaan where * I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes.

4 'You are to perform My judgments and keep My statutes, to live in accord with them; ⁴I am the LORD your God.

5 'So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, ⁵by which a man may live if he does them; I am the LORD.

6 'None * of you shall approach any blood relative of his to uncover nakedness; I am the LORD.

7 '⁶You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, that is, the nakedness of your mother. She is your mother; you are not to uncover her nakedness.

8 '⁷You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is your father's nakedness.

Leviticus 18:1-8 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

• 1. Exodus 6:7; Leviticus 11:44; Ezekiel 20:5
• 2. Ezekiel 20:7, 8
• 3. Leviticus 18:24-30; Leviticus 20:23
• 4. Leviticus 18:2
• 5. Nehemiah 9:29; Ezekiel 18:9; Ezekiel 20:11; Luke 10:28; Romans 10:5; Galatians 3:12
• 6. Leviticus 20:11; Deuteronomy 27:20; Ezekiel 22:10
• 7. Leviticus 20:11; Deuteronomy 22:30; Deuteronomy 27:20; 1 Corinthians 5:1

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "according to the deed of"
• [b]. Lit "according to the deed of"
• [c]. Lit "to walk in them"
• [d]. Lit "of his flesh"