Men sleep with their fathers’ wives and force themselves on women who are menstruating.
Parallel translations
- WEB In you have they uncovered their fathers’ nakedness. In you have they humbled her who was unclean in her impurity.
- KJV In thee have they discovered their fathers’ nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.
- BSB In you they have uncovered the nakedness of their fathers; in you they violate women during their menstrual impurity.
- NKJV In you men uncover their fathers’ nakedness; in you they violate women who are set apart during their impurity.
- NASB Among you they have uncovered their fathers’ nakedness; among you they have abused her who was unclean in her menstruation.
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
In Jerusalem men violate their fathers' marriage beds and dishonor women in their uncleanness. Sexual sins flout God's commands of purity and honor.
Overview
These acts break explicit laws against incest and against relations during a woman's impurity (Lev. 18:8, 19). They display contempt for family bonds and for the holiness God required of His people. The verse shows that abandoning God leads to the unraveling of the most intimate human relationships.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Lev 18:19“‘You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.
- Ezek 18:6and has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither has defiled his neighbor’s wife, neither has come near to a woman in her impurity,
- Lev 18:7–8“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her 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.
- 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.’
- 2 Sam 16:21–22Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.”
- 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 20:18“‘If a man lies with a woman having her monthly period, and uncovers her nakedness; he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
- Amos 2:7They trample on the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and deny justice to the oppressed; and a man and his father use the same maiden, to profane my holy name;
- Gen 35:22While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
- Deut 27:23‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
- Gen 49:4Boiling over like water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father’s bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.
- 1 Chr 5:1The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn; but, because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be listed according to the birthright.
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The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 22:10 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.