A man is not to marry his father’s wife, so that he will not dishonor his father’s marriage bed.
Parallel translations
- WEB A man shall not take his father’s wife, and shall not uncover his father’s skirt.
- KJV A man shall not take his father’s wife, nor discover his father’s skirt.
- NKJV “A man shall not take his father’s wife, nor uncover his father’s bed.
- NASB “A man shall not take his father’s wife in marriage, so that he does not uncover his father’s garment.
- NLT “A man must not marry his father’s former wife, for this would violate his father.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A man must not marry or have relations with his father's wife, a violation of the family bond. Incestuous unions are strictly forbidden.
Overview
This prohibits taking a stepmother as a wife, a grave dishonoring of one's father and a violation of family order (cf. Lev 18:8). Paul condemns exactly this sin in the Corinthian church (1 Cor 5:1). The law guards the integrity and sanctity of the family, which God established and which His people are to honor.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Deut 27:20‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
- 1 Cor 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.
- Lev 18:8You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; it would dishonor your father.
- Lev 20:11If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
- Ruth 3:9“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.”
- Ezek 16:8Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD.
- 1 Cor 5:13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 22:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.