You must not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; you are not to have sexual relations with her.
Parallel translations
- WEB “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law: she is your son’s wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.
- KJV Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son’s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
- NKJV You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law—she is your son’s wife—you shall not uncover her nakedness.
- NASB You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; you shall not uncover her nakedness.
- NLT “Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife, so you must not have sexual relations with her.
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 a daughter-in-law are forbidden; she is one's son's wife.
Overview
This protects the marriage of one's son and the dignity of the daughter-in-law within the household. The law guards against exploitation across generations and within the family circle. It upholds the trust and honor that should characterize family life under God's covenant order.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Lev 20:12If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both must surely be put to death. They have acted perversely; their blood is upon them.
- Gen 38:26Judah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again.
- Ezek 22:11One man commits an abomination with his neighbor’s wife; another wickedly defiles his daughter-in-law; and yet another violates his sister, his own father’s daughter.
- Gen 38:18–19“What pledge should I give you?” he asked. She answered, “Your seal and your cord, and the staff in your hand.” So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.
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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 18:15 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.