Leviticus 20:19

19 1You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister or of your father's sister, for that is to make naked 2one's relative; they shall bear their iniquity.

Leviticus 20:19 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 20:19

And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's
sister, nor of thy father's sister
An aunt either by mother or father's side, against which the law is, ( Leviticus 18:13 ) ; for he uncovereth his near kin;
as an aunt is to a man, and so an uncle to a woman, and both equally criminal; for it is a rule that holds good in all those cases, though not expressed, that what is binding upon one sex is upon the other, being in the same degree of relation, whether of consanguinity or affinity: they shall bear their iniquity;
"both" of them, as the Vulgate Latin version, the man and his aunt, and so a woman and her uncle; the guilt of their sin shall be upon them,
and the punishment of it be inflicted on them; either they should be cut off from their people, as before, or be childless, as in the following instances.

Leviticus 20:19 In-Context

17 "If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace, and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness, and he shall bear his iniquity.
18 If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and uncovers her nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
19 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister or of your father's sister, for that is to make naked one's relative; they shall bear their iniquity.
20 If a man lies with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness; they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
21 If a man takes his brother's wife, it is impurity. He has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Leviticus 18:12, 13
  • 2. Leviticus 18:6
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.