Leviticus 18:1-9

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2 Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, I am Yahweh your God.

3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, in which you lived, you shall not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, where I bring you, you shall not do; neither shall you walk in their statutes.

4 My ordinances shall you do, and my statutes shall you keep, to walk therein: I am Yahweh your God.

5 You shall therefore keep my statutes, and my ordinances; which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am Yahweh.

6 None of you shall approach to any who are close relatives to him, to uncover [their] nakedness: I am Yahweh.

7 The nakedness of your father, even the nakedness of your mother, you shall not uncover: she is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness.

8 The nakedness of your father's wife you shall not uncover: it is your father's nakedness.

9 The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness you shall not uncover.

Leviticus 18:1-9 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.