Focused Passage

Leviticus 20:17-21

Holiness, Judgment, and the LORD Who Sanctifies His People

The chapter begins with penalties for Molek worship and warnings against tolerating child sacrifice, then forbids turning to mediums and spiritists. It calls Israel to consecrate themselves because the LORD sanctifies them. It then gives penalties for cursing parents and for multiple sexual sins, including adultery, incest, same-sex intercourse, and bestiality. The chapter closes by commanding Israel to distinguish clean and unclean, reject the nations' practices, and live as the LORD's separated possession.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

17If 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.

18If 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.

19You 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.

20If 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.

21If 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.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 17

Cross-references

Leviticus 18:9Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 13:12Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 27:22Classic cross-references Ezekiel 22:11Classic cross-references Leviticus 18:6Classic cross-references

Original words

If a manוְאִ֣ישׁH376Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativemarriesיִקַּ֣חH3947Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhis sisterאֲחֹת֡וֹH269Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularwhether the daughterבַּת־H1323Noun - feminine singular constructof his fatherאָבִ֣יוH1Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularorא֣וֹH176Conjunctionof his motherאִ֠מּוֹH517Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular-בַת־H1323Noun - feminine singular constructand they have sexual relationsוְרָאָ֨הH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular. . .אֶת־H853Direct object marker. . .עֶרְוָתָ֜הּH6172Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular. . .וְהִֽיא־H1931Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person feminine singular. . .תִרְאֶ֤הH7200Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular. . .אֶת־H853Direct object marker. . .עֶרְוָתוֹ֙H6172Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularitה֔וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularis a disgraceחֶ֣סֶדH2617Noun - masculine singularThey must be cut offוְנִ֨כְרְת֔וּH3772Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralin the sightלְעֵינֵ֖יH5869Preposition-l | Noun - cdcofבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructtheir peopleעַמָּ֑םH5971Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralHe has uncoveredגִּלָּ֖הH1540Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe nakednessעֶרְוַ֧תH6172Noun - feminine singular constructof his sisterאֲחֹת֛וֹH269Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularhe shall bearיִשָּֽׂא׃H5375Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularhis iniquityעֲוֺנ֥וֹH5771Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

Literally and he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness

Verse 18

Cross-references

Leviticus 15:24Classic cross-references Leviticus 18:19Classic cross-references Mark 5:29Classic cross-references Ezekiel 18:6Classic cross-references

Original words

If a manוְ֠אִישׁH376Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeliesיִשְׁכַּ֨בH7901Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularwithאֶת־H853Prepositiona menstruatingדָּוָ֗הH1739Adjective - feminine singularwomanאִשָּׁ֜הH802Noun - feminine singularand has sexual relations with herוְגִלָּ֤הH1540Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object marker-עֶרְוָתָהּ֙H6172Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhe has exposedהֶֽעֱרָ֔הH6168Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe source of her flowמְקֹרָ֣הּH4726Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularand sheוְהִ֕יאH1931Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person feminine singularhas uncoveredגִּלְּתָ֖הH1540Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe sourceמְק֣וֹרH4726Noun - masculine singular constructof her bloodדָּמֶ֑יהָH1818Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularBothשְׁנֵיהֶ֖םH8147Number - masculine dual construct | third person masculine pluralof them must be cut offוְנִכְרְת֥וּH3772Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralfrom amongמִקֶּ֥רֶבH7130Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructtheir peopleעַמָּֽם׃H5971Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural

BSB notes

Literally uncovers her nakedness; similarly in verse 19

Verse 19

Cross-references

Leviticus 18:12Classic cross-references Leviticus 18:6Classic cross-references

Original words

You must notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlehave sexual relations withוְעֶרְוַ֨תH6172Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct. . .תְגַלֵּ֑הH1540Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singularthe sisterאֲח֧וֹתH269Noun - feminine singular constructof your motherאִמְּךָ֛H517Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularor your fatherאָבִ֖יךָH1Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular-וַאֲח֥וֹתH269Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular constructforכִּ֧יH3588Conjunction-אֶת־H853Direct object markerit is exposingהֶעֱרָ֖הH6168Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularone’s own kinשְׁאֵר֛וֹH7607Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularboth shall bearיִשָּֽׂאוּ׃H5375Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraltheir iniquityעֲוֺנָ֥םH5771Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural

Verse 20

Cross-references

Leviticus 18:14Classic cross-references Luke 20:29Classic cross-references

Original words

If a manוְאִ֗ישׁH376Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativeliesיִשְׁכַּב֙H7901Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularwithאֶת־H853Prepositionhis uncle’s wifeדֹּ֣דָת֔וֹH1733Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularhe has uncoveredגִּלָּ֑הH1540Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe nakednessעֶרְוַ֥תH6172Noun - feminine singular constructof his uncleדֹּד֖וֹH1730Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularThey will bearיִשָּׂ֖אוּH5375Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraltheir sinחֶטְאָ֥םH2399Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralthey shall dieיָמֻֽתוּ׃H4191Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralchildlessעֲרִירִ֥יםH6185Adjective - masculine plural

Verse 21

Cross-references

Matthew 14:4Classic cross-references Leviticus 18:16Classic cross-references Mark 6:18Classic cross-references Matthew 14:3Classic cross-references

Original words

If a manוְאִ֗ישׁH376Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativemarriesיִקַּ֛חH3947Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhis brother’sאָחִ֖יוH251Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularwifeאֵ֥שֶׁתH802Noun - feminine singular constructitהִ֑ואH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singularis an act of impurityנִדָּ֣הH5079Noun - feminine singularHe has uncoveredגִּלָּ֖הH1540Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe nakednessעֶרְוַ֥תH6172Noun - feminine singular constructof his brotherאָחִ֛יוH251Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularthey shall beיִהְיֽוּ׃H1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralchildlessעֲרִירִ֥יםH6185Adjective - masculine plural

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