Leviticus 18:13

13 You are not to have sexual relations with your mother's sister, because she is your mother's close relative.

Leviticus 18:13 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 18:13

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister,
&c.] Which is the same relation as before, an aunt by the mother's side; wherefore, if such a marriage was unlawful, this must also, and for the same reason: for she [is] thy mother's near kinswoman;
the same phraseology is used here as in the preceding verse; (See Gill on Leviticus 18:12); and by the same rule a woman might not marry her uncle, whether by father or mother's side, the relation being the same, and this reaches to great-uncle and great-aunt; instances of women marrying their uncles, and men their aunts, among the Heathens, have been given, as among the Persians and Lacedaemonians by Herodotus F12, and among the Romans by Tacitus F13, but were, in his time, new things with the latter.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 Erato, sive, l. 6. c. 71. Polymnia, sive, l. 7. c. 224, 239.
F13 Annal. l. 12. c. 5, 6, 7.

Leviticus 18:13 In-Context

11 You are not to have sexual relations with your father's wife's daughter, born to your father, because she is your sister; do not have sexual relations with her.
12 You are not to have sexual relations with your father's sister, because she is your father's close relative.
13 You are not to have sexual relations with your mother's sister, because she is your mother's close relative.
14 You are not to disgrace your father's brother by having sexual relations with his wife, because she is your aunt.
15 You are not to have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law; because she is your son's wife. Do not have sexual relations with her.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.