Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
Parallel translations
- WEB “‘You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.
- BSB You must not approach a woman to have sexual relations with her during her menstrual period.
- NKJV ‘Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity.
- NASB ‘Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness during her menstrual impurity.
- NLT “Do not have sexual relations with a woman during her period of menstrual impurity.
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 have relations with a woman during her menstrual uncleanness.
Overview
This law connects the sexual ethics of the chapter to the broader purity laws of Leviticus regarding bodily discharges. It taught Israel restraint and reverence for the rhythms of life God ordained. Such commands cultivated a holy regard for the body and for the boundaries God set within marriage.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Lev 20:18And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
- Lev 15:24And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
- Ezek 22:10In thee have they discovered their fathers’ nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.
- Lev 15:19And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
- Ezek 18:6And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
- Lev 12:2Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
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Christ at the center
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 18:19 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.