Leviticus 20:19
17 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.
18 And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.
20 And if a man shall lie with his uncle’s wife, he hath uncovered his uncle’s nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
21 And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless.
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 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.
- KJV
- And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.
- WEB
- “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, nor of your father’s sister, for he has made his close relative naked. They shall bear their iniquity.
- ASV
- And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother`s sister, nor of thy father`s sister; for he hath made naked his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.
- DARBY
- And the nakedness of thy mother's sister, and of thy father's sister shalt thou not uncover; for he hath laid naked his near relation: they shall bear their iniquity.
- BLB
- And the nakedness of the sister of your mother or the sister of your father you shall not uncover, because he would uncover his close relative. They shall bear their guilt.
- ÅB
- Din mors eller din fars søster skal du ikke ha omgang med, for den som gjør dette, vanærer sin nærmeste slekt; de skal lide for sin misgjerning.
- OTB
- ‘Du skal ikke avdekke nakenheten til din mors søster eller din fars søster, for det ville vanære en nær slektning; begge skal bære sin skyld.
- B1930
- Din mors eller din fars søster skal du ikke ha omgang med, for den som gjør dette, vanærer sin nærmeste slekt; de skal lide for sin misgjerning.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Leviticus 18:6
None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.
Read in contextExodus 6:20
And Amram took him Jochebed his father’s sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.
Read in contextLeviticus 18:12–30
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister: she is thy father’s near kinswoman.
Read in context