Leviticus 18
Expanded Bible
Rules About Sexual Relations
18 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the ·people [L sons; children] of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God. 3 In the past you lived in Egypt, but you must not do what was done in that country. And you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their ·customs [statutes; ordinances; requirements]. 4 You must obey my ·rules [regulations] and ·follow [guard; keep] ·them [L my statutes/ordinances/requirements]. I am the Lord your God. 5 ·Obey [Guard; Keep] my ·laws [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·rules [regulations]; a person who obeys them will live because of them. I am the Lord.
6 “‘You must never ·have sexual relations with [L expose/uncover the nakedness of] your close relatives. I am the Lord.
7 “‘You must not ·shame [L expose/uncover the nakedness of] your father by ·having sexual relations with [L exposing/uncovering the nakedness of] your mother. She is your mother; do not ·have sexual relations with her [L expose/uncover her nakedness]. 8 You must not ·have sexual relations with [L expose/uncover the nakedness of] your father’s wife; ·that would shame [L it is the nakedness of] your father.
9 “‘You must not ·have sexual relations with [L expose/uncover the nakedness of] your sister, either the daughter of your father or your mother. It doesn’t matter if she was born in your house or somewhere else.
10 “‘You must not ·have sexual relations with [L expose/uncover the nakedness of] your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; ·that would bring shame on you [L their nakedness is your nakedness].
11 “‘If your father and his wife have a daughter, she is your sister. You must not ·have sexual relations with her [L expose/uncover her nakedness].
12 “‘You must not ·have sexual relations with [L expose/uncover the nakedness of] your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative. 13 You must not ·have sexual relations with [L expose/uncover the nakedness of] your mother’s sister; she is your mother’s close relative. 14 You must not ·have sexual relations with [L expose/uncover the nakedness of] the wife of your father’s brother, ·because this would shame him [L you should not approach his wife]. She is your aunt.
15 “‘You must not ·have sexual relations with [L expose/uncover the nakedness of] your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife. ·Do not have sexual relations with her [L You must not expose/uncover her nakedness].
16 “‘You must not ·have sexual relations with [L expose/uncover the nakedness of] your brother’s wife. ·That would shame [L It is the nakedness of] your brother.
17 “‘You must not ·have sexual relations with [L expose/uncover the nakedness of] both a woman and her daughter. And do not ·have sexual relations with [L expose/uncover the nakedness of] this woman’s granddaughter, either the daughter of her son or her daughter; they are her close relatives. It is evil to do this.
18 “‘While your wife is still living, you must not take her sister as ·another wife [L a rival]. Do not ·have sexual relations with her [L expose/uncover her nakedness].
19 “‘You must not go near a woman to ·have sexual relations with her [L expose/uncover her nakedness] during her monthly period, when she is unclean [C in a ritual sense; 15:19–33].
20 “‘You must not have ·sexual relations [intercourse] with your neighbor’s wife and make yourself unclean with her.
21 “‘You must not give any of your children to ·be sacrificed [L pass them over; C an allusion to passing them through fire] to Molech [C probably an Ammonite god; 20:3–5; 2 Kin. 23:10; Jer. 32:35], ·because this would show that you do not respect [L and so profane the name of] your God. I am the Lord.
22 “‘You must not ·have sexual relations [L lie] with a man as you would a woman. That is ·a hateful sin [an abomination].
23 “‘You must not have ·sexual relations [intercourse] with an animal and make yourself unclean with it. Also a woman must not ·have sexual relations with an animal [L stand in front of an animal for copulation]; it is ·not natural [perverted].
24 “‘Don’t make yourself unclean by any of these wrong things. I am forcing nations out of their countries because they did these sins, and I am giving their land to you. 25 The land has become unclean [C in a ritual sense], and I punished it for its sins, so the land is ·throwing [vomiting] out those people who live there.
26 “‘You must ·obey [guard; keep] my ·laws [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·rules [regulations], and you must not do any of these ·hateful sins [abominations]. ·These rules [L They] are for ·the citizens of Israel and for the people who live with you [natives and resident aliens]. 27 The people who lived in the land before you did all these ·hateful [abominable] things and made the land unclean. 28 If you do these things, you will also make the land unclean, and it will ·throw [vomit] you out as it ·threw [vomited] out the nations before you. 29 Anyone who does these ·hateful sins [abominations] must be cut off from the people. 30 ·Keep [Guard] my command not to do these ·hateful sins [abominations] that were done by the people who lived in the land before you. Don’t make yourself unclean by doing them. I am the Lord your God.’”
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