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Leviticus 18:18

16 You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.

17 You must not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. You are not to marry her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter and have sexual relations with her. They are close relatives; it is depraved.

You must not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is still alive.

19 You must not approach a woman to have sexual relations with her during her menstrual period.

20 You must not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.

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This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
You must not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is still alive.
KJV
Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.
WEB
“‘You shall not take a wife in addition to her sister, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is still alive.
ASV
And thou shalt not take a wife to her sister, to be a rival [to her], to uncover her nakedness, besides the other in her life-time.
DARBY
And thou shalt not take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness beside her, during her life.
BLB
And a woman to her sister you shall not take, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness beside her in her life.
ÅB
Du skal ikke ta din hustrus søster til ekte mens din hustru lever, så du vekker fiendskap mellom dem ved å ha omgang med dem begge.
OTB
Du skal ikke ta din kones søster som en rivaliserende kone for å avdekke hennes nakenhet mens din kone lever.
B1930
Du skal ikke ta din hustrus søster til ekte mens din hustru lever, så du vekker fiendskap mellem dem ved å ha omgang med dem begge.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Malachi 2:15

    Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 29:28

    And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 30:15

    But Leah replied, “Is it not enough that you have taken away my husband? Now you want to take my son’s mandrakes as well?” “Very well,” said Rachel, “he may sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”

    Read in context

  • Genesis 4:19

    And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 1:6–8

    Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her and taunt her viciously.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 26:3

    Five of the curtains are to be joined together, and the other five joined as well.

    Read in context