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Leviticus 18:1-3
New Catholic Bible
Leviticus 18:1-3
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 18[a]
Sexual Conduct. 1 The Lord spoke again to Moses saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: ‘I am the Lord, your God.[b] 3 You shall not do things like they did in Egypt, where you dwelt, nor shall you do things like they do in Canaan, where I am bringing you. You shall not do these things, nor shall you follow their ordinances.[c]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Leviticus 18:1 Marriage and sexual union with a close relative, adultery, homosexual activity, and bestiality are prohibited, with an emphasis not only on the human motives but also on the religious motive for the prohibition: such actions are an abomination to God. The law also condemns sacrifices of children; the latter were offered to win the protection of the divinities of Canaan (v. 21).
- Leviticus 18:2 I am the Lord, your God: lest the children of Israel forget who is behind the extensive laws and regulations, this phrase occurs almost fifty times in chapters 18–26.
- Leviticus 18:3 The Lord’s call to holiness explicitly and repeatedly admonishes the children of Israel from any type of pagan behavior.
