Leviticus 20:21
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.
20 If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered the nakedness of his uncle. They will bear their sin; they shall die childless.
If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.
22 You are therefore to keep all My statutes and ordinances, so that the land where I am bringing you to live will not vomit you out.
23 You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.
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 brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- “‘If a man takes his brother’s wife, it is an impurity. He has uncovered his brother’s nakedness. They shall be childless.
- ASV
- And if a man shall take his brother`s wife, it is impurity: he hath uncovered his brother`s nakedness; they shall be childless.
- DARBY
- And if a man take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness: they shall be childless.
- BLB
- And a man, if he takes the wife of his brother, it [is] an unclean thing. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother. They shall be childless.
- ÅB
- Når en mann tar sin brors hustru, da er det skamløs ferd; han har vanæret sin bror, de skal være barnløse.
- OTB
- ‘Hvis en mann gifter seg med sin brors kone, er det en handling av urenhet; han har avdekket sin brors nakenhet. De skal være barnløse.
- B1930
- Når en mann tar sin brors hustru, da er det skamløs ferd; han har vanæret sin bror, de skal være barnløse.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Leviticus 18:16
You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.
Read in contextMatthew 14:3–4
Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,
Read in context