Leviticus 18:1-11

1 The Lord told Moses

2 to say to the people of Israel, "I am the Lord your God.

3 Do not follow the practices of the people of Egypt, where you once lived, or of the people in the land of Canaan, where I am now taking you.

4 Obey my laws and do what I command. I am the Lord your God.

5 Follow the practices and the laws that I give you; you will save your life by doing so. I am the Lord." ¹

6 The Lord gave the following regulations. Do not have sexual intercourse with any of your relatives.

7 Do not disgrace your father by having intercourse with your mother. You must not disgrace your own mother.

8 Do not disgrace your father by having intercourse with any of his other wives. ²

9 Do not have intercourse with your sister or your stepsister, whether or not she was brought up in the same house with you. ³

10 Do not have intercourse with your granddaughter; that would be a disgrace to you.

11 Do not have intercourse with a half sister; she, too, is your sister.

Leviticus 18:1-11 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.

Cross References

• 1. 18.5Nehemiah 9.29;Ezekiel 18.9; 20.11-13;Luke 10.28;Romans 10.5;Galatians 3.12.
• 2. 18.8Leviticus 20.11;Deuteronomy 22.30; 27.20.
• 3. 18.9Leviticus 20.17;Deuteronomy 27.22.