You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt.
Parallel translations
- WEB “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother, you shall not approach his wife. She is your aunt.
- KJV Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.
- BSB You must not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations with her; she is your aunt.
- NKJV You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt.
- NLT “Do not violate your uncle, your father’s brother, by having sexual relations with his wife, for she is your aunt.
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
Relations with an uncle's wife are forbidden; she is one's aunt by marriage.
Overview
The law protects relationships formed through marriage as well as blood, treating the uncle's wife as a true aunt. This honors the marriage of the uncle and the integrity of the extended family. It reflects how God's design weaves both kinship and marriage into bonds that must be respected.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Lev 20:20If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness. They shall bear their sin. They shall die childless.
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Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.
How Leviticus 18:14 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
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