Leviticus 18

King James Version

Full text for Leviticus Chapter 18

1¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.

3After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.

4Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I [am] the LORD your God.

5Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I [am] the LORD.

6¶ None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover [their] nakedness: I [am] the LORD.

7The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she [is] thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

8The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it [is] thy father's nakedness.

9The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, [whether she be] born at home, or born abroad, [even] their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.

10The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, [even] their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs [is] thine own nakedness.

11The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she [is] thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

12Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she [is] thy father's near kinswoman.

13Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she [is] thy mother's near kinswoman.

14Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she [is] thine aunt.

15Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she [is] thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

16Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it [is] thy brother's nakedness.

17Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; [for] they [are] her near kinswomen: it [is] wickedness.

18Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex [her], to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life [time].

19¶ Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.

20Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.

21And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through [the fire] to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I [am] the LORD.

22Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it [is] abomination.

23Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it [is] confusion.

24Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:

25And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

26Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit [any] of these abominations; [neither] any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:

27(For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which [were] before you, and the land is defiled;)

28That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that [were] before you.

29For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit [them] shall be cut off from among their people.

30Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that [ye] commit not [any one] of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I [am] the LORD your God.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Leviticus 18 outlines God's commands to Israel regarding sexual purity and other abominable practices. The LORD instructs them not to follow the customs of Egypt or Canaan, but to obey His statutes. The chapter specifically prohibits various forms of incest, adultery, child sacrifice, homosexual acts, and bestiality, warning that such defilement will cause the land to expel its inhabitants.

Medium Summary

Leviticus 18 begins with the LORD commanding the children of Israel to distinguish themselves from the practices of Egypt and Canaan, emphasizing obedience to His judgments for life. The core of the chapter details a series of prohibitions concerning sexual relations. It strictly forbids various forms of incest, including relations with parents, step-parents, siblings, grandchildren, aunts, uncles' wives, daughters-in-law, and sisters-in-law. Further, the chapter prohibits marrying a woman and her daughter or granddaughter, or taking a wife's sister during her lifetime. Additional laws prohibit sexual relations during a woman's menstrual uncleanness, adultery with a neighbor's wife, and the horrific practice of child sacrifice to Molech. The chapter also explicitly condemns male homosexual acts and bestiality for both men and women. God warns that these abominations defile both the people and the land, leading to expulsion, just as the land "vomited out" the nations before them.

Long Summary

Leviticus chapter 18 opens with the LORD addressing Moses, instructing him to command the children of Israel to adhere strictly to divine statutes and judgments. God explicitly forbids them from adopting the customs and ordinances of the lands they have left (Egypt) or are about to enter (Canaan), asserting His identity as "the LORD your God" and promising life to those who obey. The chapter then details a comprehensive list of prohibited sexual relationships, primarily focusing on incestuous unions. It strictly forbids uncovering the nakedness of close kin, including one's mother, stepmother, sister (whether full or half-sister), granddaughter (both son's and daughter's), step-sister, father's sister, mother's sister, father's brother's wife, daughter-in-law, and brother's wife. These prohibitions underscore the sanctity of family relationships and the avoidance of defilement. Furthermore, the LORD prohibits taking a woman and her daughter or granddaughter as wives, or marrying a wife's sister while the first wife is still alive, to prevent vexation and defilement. Beyond incest, the chapter addresses other sexual transgressions, forbidding sexual intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period of uncleanness. Adultery with a neighbor's wife is also explicitly prohibited, as it leads to defilement. The law then extends to other severe abominations: the sacrifice of children to Molech, which profanes God's name, and homosexual acts between men, which are declared an abomination. Lastly, bestiality for both men and women is condemned as "confusion" and defilement. The chapter concludes with a stern warning: committing any of these acts defiles the people and the land. God states that the nations previously inhabiting Canaan were expelled because of these very abominations, and Israel faces the same consequence—the land "vomiting out" its inhabitants—if they engage in such practices. Therefore, Israel is commanded to diligently keep God's ordinances to avoid defilement and being cut off from their people.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Authority and ObedienceThe LORD repeatedly identifies Himself as "the LORD your God," emphasizing His supreme authority and the necessity for Israel to obey His statutes and judgments rather than the customs of other nations.
  • Prohibited Sexual Relations (Incest)The chapter details numerous specific prohibitions against uncovering the "nakedness" of close relatives, including parents, siblings, grandchildren, aunts, uncles' wives, and in-laws, establishing clear boundaries for family purity.
  • Sexual Purity and DefilementVarious sexual acts, such as incest, adultery, relations during menstruation, homosexuality, and bestiality, are explicitly forbidden as they lead to personal and communal defilement.
  • Child Sacrifice to MolechThe practice of "passing any of thy seed through the fire to Molech" is condemned as an abomination that profanes the name of God, highlighting the sanctity of human life and exclusive worship of the LORD.
  • Consequences of AbominationThe chapter warns that engaging in these forbidden practices defiles the land, causing it to "vomit out" its inhabitants, just as it did with the nations previously dwelling there, underscoring the severe repercussions of disobedience.
  • Distinction from Other NationsIsrael is commanded not to follow the "doings of the land of Egypt" or "the land of Canaan," emphasizing their unique covenant relationship with God and their call to live by a higher moral standard.
  • "Nakedness" as a MetaphorThe repeated phrase "uncover their nakedness" serves as a KJV euphemism for engaging in sexual intercourse, particularly in forbidden or illicit contexts, highlighting the intimate and often transgressive nature of the acts described.