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Leviticus 20:17

15 If a man lies carnally with an animal, he must be put to death. And you are also to kill the animal.

16 If a woman approaches any animal to mate with it, you must kill both the woman and the animal. They must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

If a man marries his sister, whether the daughter of his father or of his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off in the sight of their people. He has uncovered the nakedness of his sister; he shall bear his iniquity.

18 If a man lies with a menstruating woman and has sexual relations with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has uncovered the source of her blood. Both of them must be cut off from among their people.

19 You must not have sexual relations with the sister of your mother or your father, for it is exposing one’s own kin; both shall bear their iniquity.

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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
If a man marries his sister, whether the daughter of his father or of his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off in the sight of their people. He has uncovered the nakedness of his sister; he shall bear his iniquity.
KJV
And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
WEB
“‘If a man takes his sister—his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter—and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a shameful thing. They shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness. He shall bear his iniquity.
ASV
And if a man shall take his sister, his father`s daughter, or his mother`s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: he hath uncovered his sister`s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
DARBY
And if a man take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness, that is a disgrace; and they shall be cut off before the eyes of the children of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
BLB
And a man, if he takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it [is] a wicked thing, and they shall be cut off in the eyes of their people. He has uncovered the nakedness of his sister; he shall bear his guilt.
ÅB
Når en mann tar sin søster, sin fars eller sin mors datter, til ekte og har omgang med henne, og hun med ham, da er det skammelig ferd, og de skal utryddes for sitt folks øyne; han har hatt omgang med sin søster, han skal lide for sin misgjerning.
OTB
‘Hvis en mann gifter seg med sin søster, datteren til enten sin far eller sin mor, og de har seksuell omgang, er det en skam. De skal utryddes i sitt folks åsyn. Han har avdekket sin søsters nakenhet og skal bære sin skyld.
B1930
Når en mann tar sin søster, sin fars eller sin mors datter, til ekte og har omgang med henne, og hun med ham, da er det skammelig ferd, og de skal utryddes for sitt folks øine; han har hatt omgang med sin søster, han skal lide for sin misgjerning.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Leviticus 18:9

    You must not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.

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  • Deuteronomy 27:22

    ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

    Read in context

  • Genesis 20:12

    Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.

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  • Ezekiel 22:11

    One man commits an abomination with his neighbor’s wife; another wickedly defiles his daughter-in-law; and yet another violates his sister, his own father’s daughter.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 13:12

    “No, my brother!” she cried. “Do not humiliate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing!

    Read in context