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Leviticus 20:21

¹⁹ 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.

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.

²² Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.

²³ And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore 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
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness.
Read in context
Matthew 14:3–4
For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.
Read in context