Deuteronomy 22:30

30 A man is not to marry his father’s wife; he must not dishonor his father’s bed.^[a]

Deuteronomy 22:30 in Other Translations

30 A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his father's skirt.

30 "A man shall not take his father's wife, so that he does not uncover his father's nakedness.

30 “A man must not marry his father’s former wife, for this would violate his father.

30 A man may not marry his father's ex-wife - that would violate his father's rights.

30 A man shall not take his father's wife, and shall not uncover his father's skirt.

30 A man must never marry his father's wife because this would disgrace his father.

30 "A man is not to marry his father's wife; he must not violate his father's marriage bed.

30 A man must not get married to his stepmother. He must not bring shame on his father by having sex with her.

Deuteronomy 22:30 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:30

A man shall not take his father's wife
Not marry her, whether his own mother, or a stepmother; or even, as Aben Ezra thinks, anyone that was deflowered by his father. Jarchi interprets it of his father's brother's wife, which he was obliged to marry by virtue of the law in ( Deuteronomy 25:5 )

nor discover his father's skirt;
or lie with her his father had thrown his skirt over, or married; and which being the first, is mentioned here as a sample to all the rest forbidden ( Leviticus 18:7 ) or, as Bishop Patrick expresses it, is a "short memorandum", to make them careful to observe all the other laws respecting incestuous marriages and copulations there delivered.

Deuteronomy 22:30 In-Context

28 If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered,

29 he shall pay her father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.

30 A man is not to marry his father’s wife; he must not dishonor his father’s bed.

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 29:29; S Leviticus 18:8; Leviticus 20:11; S Leviticus 20:9; Deuteronomy 27:20; 1 Corinthians 5:1

Footnotes

• [a]. In Hebrew texts this verse (22:30) is numbered 23:1.