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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Leviticus 18:23 You must not lie carnally with any animal, thus defiling yourself with it; a woman must not stand before an animal to mate with it; that is a perversion.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/18-23.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/03_Lev_18_23.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 18:23 - Unlawful Sexual Relations" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You must not lie carnally with any animal, thus defiling yourself with it; a woman must not stand before an animal to mate with it; that is a perversion." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/leviticus/18-23.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/leviticus/18-23.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/leviticus/">Leviticus</a> > <a href="/leviticus/18.htm">Chapter 18</a> > Verse 23</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/leviticus/18-22.htm" title="Leviticus 18:22">◄</a> Leviticus 18:23 <a href="/leviticus/18-24.htm" title="Leviticus 18:24">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/leviticus/18.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/leviticus/18.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220&#8217Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/leviticus/18.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“A man must not defile himself by having sex with an animal. And a woman must not offer herself to a male animal to have intercourse with it. This is a perverse act.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/leviticus/18.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />You must not lie carnally with any animal, thus defiling yourself with it; a woman must not stand before an animal to mate with it; that is a perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/leviticus/18.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it <i>is</i> confusion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/18.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It <i>is</i> perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Also you shall not have sexual intercourse with any animal to be defiled with it, nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/18.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216Also you shall not have intercourse with any animal to be defiled with it, nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘Also you shall not have intercourse with any animal to be defiled with it, nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Also you shall not lie with any animal to be defiled with it, nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />You shall not have intimate relations with any animal to be defiled with it; nor shall a woman stand before an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />You are not to have sexual intercourse with any animal, defiling yourself with it; a woman is not to present herself to an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />You are not to have sexual intercourse with any animal, defiling yourself with it; a woman is not to present herself to an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/18.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto: it is confusion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/leviticus/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Anyone who has sex with an animal is unclean. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/18.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto: it is confusion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Never have sexual intercourse with any animal and become unclean with it. A woman must never offer herself to an animal for sexual intercourse. It is unnatural.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/18.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />No man or woman is to have sexual relations with an animal; that perversion makes you ritually unclean. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/18.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"You are not to present yourself to an animal in order to have sexual relations with it and by doing so to defile yourself. A woman is not to present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it. It's detestable.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/18.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />You must not have sexual intercourse with any animal to become defiled with it, and a woman must not stand before an animal to have sexual intercourse with it; it is a perversion. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"'You shall not have sexual relations with any animal to become defiled with it, nor shall any woman give herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it. It is a perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />You must not lie carnally with any animal, thus defiling yourself with it; a woman must not stand before an animal to mate with it; that is a perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/18.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘You shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it. No woman may give herself to an animal, to lie down with it: it is a perversion. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And you do not commit your intercourse with any beast, to become unclean with it; and a woman does not stand before a beast to mate with it; it [is] perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And with any beast thou dost not give thy copulation, for uncleanness with it; and a woman doth not stand before a beast to lie down with it; confusion it is.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And to any quadruped thou shalt not give thy bed, to be defiled with it: and a woman shall not stand before a quadruped, to lie with it: it is profanation.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Thou shalt not copulate with any beast, neither shalt thou be defiled with it. A woman shall not lie down to a beast, nor copulate with it: because it is a heinous crime. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />You shall not commit sexual acts with any animal, nor shall you be defiled by it. A woman shall not lie down with a beast, nor commit sexual acts with it; for this is wickedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/18.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />You shall not have sexual relations with an animal, defiling yourself with it; nor shall a woman set herself in front of an animal to mate with it; that is perverse.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />You shall not have sexual relations with any animal and defile yourself with it, nor shall any woman give herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it: it is perversion.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Neither shall you lie with any beast to defile yourself with it; neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie with it; because it is an abomination.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And do not expel your seed into any beast and be defiled with it, and a woman shall not stand before a beast that she be mounted by it, because that is an abomination.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/18.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto; it is perversion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/18.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Neither shalt thou lie with any quadruped for copulation, to be polluted with it: neither shall a woman present herself before any quadruped to have connexion with it; for it is an abomination.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/18-23.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NWs_V1RyMFo?start=4891" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/18.htm">Unlawful Sexual Relations</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">22</span>You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination. <span class="reftext">23</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">You must not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: ṯit·tên (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">lie</a> <a href="/hebrew/7903.htm" title="7903: šə·ḵā·ḇə·tə·ḵā (N-fsc:: 2ms) -- Copulation. From shakab; a lying with.">carnally</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: ū·ḇə·ḵāl (Conj-w, Prep-b:: N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">with any</a> <a href="/hebrew/929.htm" title="929: bə·hê·māh (N-fs) -- A beast, animal, cattle. From an unused root; properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal.">animal,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2930.htm" title="2930: lə·ṭā·mə·’āh- (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf:: 3fs) -- To be or become unclean. A primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense.">thus defiling yourself</a> <a href="/hebrew/ḇāh (Prep:: 3fs) -- ">with it;</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: wə·’iš·šāh (Conj-w:: N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">a woman</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">must not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5975.htm" title="5975: ṯa·‘ă·mōḏ (V-Qal-Imperf-3fs) -- To take one's stand, stand. A primitive root; to stand, in various relations.">stand</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: lip̄·nê (Prep-l:: N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">before</a> <a href="/hebrew/929.htm" title="929: ḇə·hê·māh (N-fs) -- A beast, animal, cattle. From an unused root; properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal.">an animal</a> <a href="/hebrew/7250.htm" title="7250: lə·riḇ·‘āh (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf:: 3fs) -- To lie stretched out, lie down. A primitive root; to squat or lie out flat, i.e. in copulation.">to mate with it;</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hū (Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/8397.htm" title="8397: te·ḇel (N-ms) -- Confusion. Apparently from balal; mixture, i.e. Unnatural bestiality.">is a perversion.</a> </span><span class="reftext">24</span>Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/27-21.htm">Deuteronomy 27:21</a></span><br />‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/22-19.htm">Exodus 22:19</a></span><br />Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/20-15.htm">Leviticus 20:15-16</a></span><br />If a man lies carnally with an animal, he must be put to death. And you are also to kill the animal. / If a woman approaches any animal to mate with it, you must kill both the woman and the animal. They must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-26.htm">Romans 1:26-27</a></span><br />For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. / Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-9.htm">1 Corinthians 6:9-10</a></span><br />Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/1-9.htm">1 Timothy 1:9-10</a></span><br />We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, / for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/6-5.htm">Genesis 6:5-7</a></span><br />Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. / And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. / So the LORD said, “I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/19-5.htm">Genesis 19:5</a></span><br />They called out to Lot, saying, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can have relations with them!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/19-22.htm">Judges 19:22-24</a></span><br />While they were enjoying themselves, suddenly the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they said to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house, so we can have relations with him!” / The owner of the house went out and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Do not commit this outrage. / Look, let me bring out my virgin daughter and the man’s concubine, and you can use them and do with them as you wish. But do not do such a vile thing to this man.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/2-6.htm">2 Peter 2:6-8</a></span><br />if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly; / and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless / (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jude/1-7.htm">Jude 1:7</a></span><br />In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-3.htm">Ephesians 5:3-5</a></span><br />But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. / Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. / For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-5.htm">Colossians 3:5-6</a></span><br />Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. / Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-19.htm">Galatians 5:19-21</a></span><br />The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/21-8.htm">Revelation 21:8</a></span><br />But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Neither shall you lie with any beast to defile yourself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.</p><p class="hdg">any beast</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/20-15.htm">Leviticus 20:15,16</a></b></br> And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/22-19.htm">Exodus 22:19</a></b></br> Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.</p><p class="hdg">confusion</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/20-12.htm">Leviticus 20:12</a></b></br> And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood <i>shall be</i> upon them.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/18-17.htm">Act</a> <a href="/leviticus/17-15.htm">Animal</a> <a href="/leviticus/17-13.htm">Beast</a> <a href="/exodus/23-27.htm">Confusion</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-20.htm">Copulation</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-20.htm">Defile</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-20.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/leviticus/15-29.htm">Herself</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-20.htm">Intercourse</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-20.htm">Making</a> <a href="/genesis/30-41.htm">Mate</a> <a href="/ezekiel/9-9.htm">Perversion</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-22.htm">Relations</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-22.htm">Sex</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-20.htm">Sexual</a> <a href="/leviticus/16-10.htm">Stand</a> <a href="/leviticus/6-5.htm">Thereto</a> <a href="/leviticus/15-32.htm">Therewith</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-20.htm">Thyself</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-20.htm">Unclean</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-20.htm">Uncleanness</a> <a href="/exodus/22-18.htm">Unnatural</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/19-11.htm">Act</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-15.htm">Animal</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-15.htm">Beast</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-12.htm">Confusion</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-20.htm">Copulation</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-24.htm">Defile</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-24.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-9.htm">Herself</a> <a href="/numbers/5-13.htm">Intercourse</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-29.htm">Making</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-16.htm">Mate</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-12.htm">Perversion</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-20.htm">Relations</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-20.htm">Sex</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-15.htm">Sexual</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-16.htm">Stand</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-16.htm">Thereto</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-8.htm">Therewith</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-18.htm">Thyself</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-24.htm">Unclean</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-31.htm">Uncleanness</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-18.htm">Unnatural</a><div class="vheading2">Leviticus 18</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/18-1.htm">Unlawful marriages and unlawful lusts</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/18.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/leviticus/18.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>You must not lie carnally with any animal</b><br>This command is part of the Holiness Code, a section of Leviticus that outlines moral and ceremonial laws for the Israelites. The prohibition against bestiality is rooted in the creation order, where God established distinct boundaries between humans and animals (<a href="/genesis/1-26.htm">Genesis 1:26-28</a>). This act is seen as a violation of the natural order and an affront to the sanctity of human sexuality, which is intended to reflect the covenant relationship between God and His people. The prohibition is reiterated in other parts of Scripture, such as <a href="/exodus/22-19.htm">Exodus 22:19</a> and <a href="/deuteronomy/27-21.htm">Deuteronomy 27:21</a>, emphasizing its importance in maintaining the purity and holiness of the community.<p><b>thus defiling yourself with it</b><br>The concept of defilement in Leviticus is closely tied to the idea of holiness. To defile oneself is to become ritually unclean, separating oneself from the community and from God. This separation underscores the seriousness of the sin and the need for atonement. In the New Testament, defilement is often discussed in terms of moral impurity rather than ritual impurity, with Jesus emphasizing the importance of inner purity (<a href="/mark/7-20.htm">Mark 7:20-23</a>). The act of bestiality is seen as a profound moral corruption that distorts the image of God in humanity.<p><b>a woman must not stand before an animal to mate with it</b><br>This phrase addresses the specific act of a woman engaging in sexual relations with an animal, highlighting the universality of the prohibition. The inclusion of both genders in the command underscores the comprehensive nature of God's moral law. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such practices were sometimes associated with pagan rituals and fertility rites, which the Israelites were to avoid as they were called to be a distinct and holy people (<a href="/deuteronomy/14-2.htm">Deuteronomy 14:2</a>). The prohibition serves to protect the dignity and sanctity of human sexuality.<p><b>that is a perversion</b><br>The term "perversion" indicates a deviation from God's intended design and purpose for human sexuality. It is a strong condemnation of the act, categorizing it as an abomination. This language is consistent with other biblical passages that address sexual immorality, such as <a href="/romans/1-26.htm">Romans 1:26-27</a>, where Paul discusses the consequences of turning away from God's natural order. The use of such strong language serves to reinforce the gravity of the sin and the need for the community to uphold God's standards of holiness and purity.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The author of Leviticus, who received the laws from God to instruct the Israelites.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The primary audience of the Levitical laws, called to be a holy nation set apart for God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a></b><br>The land where the Israelites were headed, which was inhabited by people practicing abominable customs, including those prohibited in <a href="/bsb/leviticus/18.htm">Leviticus 18</a>.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The divine lawgiver who establishes moral and ceremonial laws for His people.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/a/animals.htm">Animals</a></b><br>Creatures that are explicitly mentioned in this verse as being involved in prohibited acts.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_holiness.htm">Understanding Holiness</a></b><br>God calls His people to be holy, distinct from the surrounding nations. This includes adhering to His standards for sexual conduct.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/respect_for_god's_creation_order.htm">Respect for God's Creation Order</a></b><br>Recognizing the boundaries God has set between humans and animals is crucial for maintaining the order He established at creation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_against_cultural_influence.htm">Guarding Against Cultural Influence</a></b><br>The Israelites were warned not to adopt the practices of the Canaanites. Similarly, Christians today must be vigilant against cultural norms that contradict biblical teachings.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_seriousness_of_sexual_sin.htm">The Seriousness of Sexual Sin</a></b><br>Sexual immorality, including bestiality, is a serious offense against God. It defiles the individual and disrupts the sanctity of God's design for human relationships.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>While the law highlights sin, the New Testament offers hope through repentance and the redemptive work of Christ, who restores us to right relationship with God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_leviticus_18.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 18</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_bestiality.htm">What does the Bible say about bestiality?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'predestined'_mean_here.htm">What does the Bible say about necrophilia?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_bible's_view_on_necrophilia.htm">What does the Bible say about necrophilia?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_sexual_morality.htm">What does the Bible say about sexual morality?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/leviticus/18.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(23) <span class= "bld">Any beast.</span>--The necessity for the prohibition of this shocking crime, for which the Mosaic law enacts the penalty of death (see <a href="/context/leviticus/20-15.htm" title="And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and you shall slay the beast.">Leviticus 20:15-16</a>; <a href="/exodus/22-18.htm" title="You shall not suffer a witch to live.">Exodus 22:18</a>), will appear all the more important when it is borne in mind that this degrading practice actually formed a part of the religious worship of the Egyptians in connection with the goat deities.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/leviticus/18.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 23.</span> - The fifth prohibition (see Herod., 2:16). The penalty is death (chapter 20:15). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/18-23.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">You must not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have sexual relations</span><br /><span class="heb">תִתֵּ֥ן</span> <span class="translit">(ṯit·tên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with any</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבְכָל־</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇə·ḵāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">animal,</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּהֵמָ֛ה</span> <span class="translit">(bə·hê·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_929.htm">Strong's 929: </a> </span><span class="str2">A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal</span><br /><br /><span class="word">thus defiling yourself</span><br /><span class="heb">לְטָמְאָה־</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ṭā·mə·’āh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2930.htm">Strong's 2930: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become unclean</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with it;</span><br /><span class="heb">בָ֑הּ</span> <span class="translit">(ḇāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">a woman</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאִשָּׁ֗ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’iš·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">must not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹֽא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">stand</span><br /><span class="heb">תַעֲמֹ֞ד</span> <span class="translit">(ṯa·‘ă·mōḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5975.htm">Strong's 5975: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stand, in various relations</span><br /><br /><span class="word">before</span><br /><span class="heb">לִפְנֵ֧י</span> <span class="translit">(lip̄·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">an animal</span><br /><span class="heb">בְהֵמָ֛ה</span> <span class="translit">(ḇə·hê·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_929.htm">Strong's 929: </a> </span><span class="str2">A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to mate with it;</span><br /><span class="heb">לְרִבְעָ֖הּ</span> <span class="translit">(lə·riḇ·‘āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7250.htm">Strong's 7250: </a> </span><span class="str2">To squat, lie out flat, in copulation</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">הֽוּא׃</span> <span class="translit">(hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is a perversion.</span><br /><span class="heb">תֶּ֥בֶל</span> <span class="translit">(te·ḇel)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8397.htm">Strong's 8397: </a> </span><span class="str2">Mixture, unnatural bestiality</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/18-23.htm">Leviticus 18:23 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/18-23.htm">Leviticus 18:23 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/18-23.htm">Leviticus 18:23 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/18-23.htm">Leviticus 18:23 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/18-23.htm">Leviticus 18:23 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/18-23.htm">Leviticus 18:23 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/18-23.htm">Leviticus 18:23 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/18-23.htm">Leviticus 18:23 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/18-23.htm">Leviticus 18:23 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/18-23.htm">Leviticus 18:23 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/18-23.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 18:23 You shall not lie with any animal (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/18-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 18:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 18:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/18-24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 18:24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 18:24" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>