Leviticus 18:1-9

1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

2 Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: I am the Lord your God.

3 You shall not do according to the custom of the land of Egypt, in which you dwelt: neither shall you act according to the manner of the country of Chanaan, into which I will bring you. Nor shall you walk in their ordinances.

4 You shall do my judgments, and shall observe my precepts, and shall walk in them. I am the Lord your God.

5 Keep my laws and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them, I am the Lord.

6 No man shall approach to her that is near of kin to him, to uncover her nakedness. I am the Lord.

7 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother: she is thy mother, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

8 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s wife: for it is the nakedness of thy father.

9 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy sister by father or by mother: whether born at home or abroad.

Leviticus 18:1-9 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.