“A man shall not take his father’s wife, nor uncover his father’s 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.
- BSB A man is not to marry his father’s wife, so that he will not dishonor his father’s marriage 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 lies with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
- 1 Cor 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father’s wife.
- Lev 18:8“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife. It is your father’s nakedness.
- Lev 20:11“‘The man who lies with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
- Ruth 3:9He said, “Who are you?” She answered, “I am Ruth your servant. Therefore spread the corner of your garment over your servant; for you are a near kinsman.”
- Ezek 16:8“‘“Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yes, I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you,” says the Lord Yahweh, “and you became mine.
- 1 Cor 5:13But those who are outside, God judges. “Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.”
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.