Leviticus 18:10-20

10 Thou shalt not show the filthhood of the daughter of thy son, either of thy niece, that is, the daughter of thy daughter, for it is thy filthhood. (Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy son's daughter, or thy daughter's daughter, for it is thy own nakedness, that is, they be of thy own flesh.)
11 Thou shalt not show the filthhood of the daughter of the wife of thy father, which she childed to thy father, and she is thy sister. (Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of the daughter of thy father's wife, whom she bare for thy father, for she is thy sister.)
12 Thou shalt not open the filthhood of thy father's sister, for she is the flesh of thy father. (Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister, for she is of thy father's flesh.)
13 Thou shalt not show the filthhood of the sister of thy mother, for she is the flesh of thy mother. (Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, for she is of thy mother's flesh.)
14 Thou shalt not show the filthhood of the brother of thy father, neither thou shalt nigh to his wife, that is joined to thee by affinity. (Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, that is, thou shalt not come near to his wife, for she is joined to thee by affinity.)
15 Thou shalt not show the filthhood of thy son's wife, for she is the wife of thy son, neither thou shalt discover her shame; and no man take his brother's wife. (Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy son's wife, for she is thy son's wife, so thou shalt not uncover her nakedness; and no man shall take his brother's wife to bed.)
16 Thou shalt not show the filth(hood) of thy brother's wife, for it is the filthhood of thy brother. (Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife, for her nakedness is for thy brother alone.)
17 Thou shalt not show the filth(hood) of a woman, and of her daughter; thou shalt not take the daughter of her son, and the daughter of her daughter, that thou show her shame; they be the flesh of her, and such lechery is incest, that is, lechery of them that be kin. (Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of both a woman, and her daughter; thou shalt not take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, and uncover their nakedness; for they be of her flesh, and such lechery is incest, that is, lechery of them who be kin.)
18 Thou shalt not take the sister of thy wife, to (the) anguish of her, neither thou shalt show the filth(hood) of her, while thy wife liveth yet. (Thou shalt not take thy wife's sister to bed, and so cause thy wife anguish, nor shalt thou uncover her sister's nakedness, while thy wife yet liveth.)
19 Thou shalt not nigh to a woman that suffereth the running of blood of month, neither thou shalt show her filthhood. (Thou shalt not come near to a woman who suffereth the running of the blood of the month, nor shalt thou uncover her nakedness.)
20 Thou shalt not do lechery with thy neighbour's wife, neither thou shalt be defouled with mixing [together] of seed. (Thou shalt not do fleshly coupling with thy neighbour's wife, and so be defiled with her.)

Leviticus 18:10-20 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.