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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 18:15 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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/18-15.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/03_Lev_18_15.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 18:15 - Unlawful Sexual Relations" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="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." /><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><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/18-15.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/18-15.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 15</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="/ad15.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/18-14.htm" title="Leviticus 18:14">◄</a> Leviticus 18:15 <a href="/leviticus/18-16.htm" title="Leviticus 18:16">►</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 your daughter-in-law. She is your son&#8217s wife; do not have relations with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/leviticus/18.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/leviticus/18.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/leviticus/18.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she <i>is</i> thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/18.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law—she <i>is</i> your son’s wife—you shall not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; you shall not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/18.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son&#8217s wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife; you shall not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.<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 your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; you are not to have sex with her.<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 your daughter-in-law. She is your son&#8217s wife; you are not to have sex with her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/18.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/leviticus/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Don't have sex with your daughter-in-law <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/18.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.<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 your daughter-in-law. She is your son's wife. Never have sexual intercourse with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/18.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Do not have intercourse with your daughter-in-law <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 expose the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She's the wife of your son. You are not to have sexual relations with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.<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 your daughter-in-law; she is your son's wife. You must not have intercourse with her.<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 uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law: she is your son's wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son's wife, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/18.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />You do not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she [is] your son’s wife; you do not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> The nakedness of thy daughter-in-law thou dost not uncover; she is thy son's wife; thou dost not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />The nakedness of thy daughter-in-law thou shalt not uncover: she is thy son's wife, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.<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 uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: because she is thy son's wife, neither shalt thou discover her shame. <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 uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law, for she is your son’s wife; neither shall you expose her dishonor.<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 intercourse with your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife; you shall not have intercourse with her.<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 uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law: she is your son’s wife; you shall not uncover her nakedness.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />You shall not approach your daughter-in-law; for she is your son's wife; you shall not uncover tier nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Do not reveal the nakedness of your daughter in law, because she is the wife of your son; do not reveal her nakedness.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/18.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son' wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/18.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law, for she is thy son's wife, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/18-15.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=4828" 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">14</span>You must not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations with her; she is your aunt. <span class="reftext">15</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/6172.htm" title="6172: ‘er·waṯ (N-fsc) -- Nakedness. From arah; nudity, literally or figuratively.">have sexual relations with</a> <a href="/hebrew/1540.htm" title="1540: ṯə·ḡal·lêh (V-Piel-Imperf-2ms) -- To uncover, remove. A primitive root; to denude; by implication, to exile; figuratively, to reveal."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3618.htm" title="3618: kal·lā·ṯə·ḵā (N-fsc:: 2ms) -- Daughter-in-law, bride. From kalal; a bride; hence, a son's wife.">your daughter-in-law.</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hî (Pro-3fs) -- He, she, it. ">She</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bin·ḵā (N-msc:: 2ms) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">is your son’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’ê·šeṯ (N-fsc) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">wife;</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.">you are not</a> <a href="/hebrew/1540.htm" title="1540: ṯə·ḡal·leh (V-Piel-Imperf-2ms) -- To uncover, remove. A primitive root; to denude; by implication, to exile; figuratively, to reveal.">to have sexual relations with her.</a> <a href="/hebrew/6172.htm" title="6172: ‘er·wā·ṯāh (N-fsc:: 3fs) -- Nakedness. From arah; nudity, literally or figuratively."></a> </span><span class="reftext">16</span>You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.…<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="/leviticus/20-21.htm">Leviticus 20:21</a></span><br />If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/27-23.htm">Deuteronomy 27:23</a></span><br />‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his mother-in-law.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/13-11.htm">2 Samuel 13:11-14</a></span><br />And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said, “Come lie with me, my sister!” / “No, my brother!” she cried. “Do not violate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! / Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/22-11.htm">Ezekiel 22:11</a></span><br />One 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/9-22.htm">Genesis 9:22-23</a></span><br />And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside. / Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/19-30.htm">Genesis 19:30-36</a></span><br />Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains—for he was afraid to stay in Zoar—where they lived in a cave. / One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man in the land to sleep with us, as is the custom over all the earth. / Come, let us get our father drunk with wine so we can sleep with him and preserve his line.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/5-1.htm">1 Corinthians 5:1</a></span><br />It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-18.htm">1 Corinthians 6:18</a></span><br />Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/4-3.htm">1 Thessalonians 4:3-5</a></span><br />For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;<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="/matthew/5-27.htm">Matthew 5:27-28</a></span><br />You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ / But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-6.htm">Mark 10:6-9</a></span><br />However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ / ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, / and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ...<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="/hebrews/13-4.htm">Hebrews 13:4</a></span><br />Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-19.htm">Galatians 5:19</a></span><br />The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter in law: she is your son's wife; you shall not uncover her nakedness.</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><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/38-18.htm">Genesis 38:18,19,26</a></b></br> And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that <i>is</i> in thine hand. And he gave <i>it</i> her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/22-11.htm">Ezekiel 22:11</a></b></br> And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/18-11.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/genesis/38-24.htm">Daughter-In-Law</a> <a href="/leviticus/15-3.htm">Law</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-14.htm">Nakedness</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-14.htm">Relations</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-14.htm">Sexual</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-10.htm">Son's</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-14.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/18-17.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-12.htm">Daughter-In-Law</a> <a href="/leviticus/24-22.htm">Law</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-16.htm">Nakedness</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-16.htm">Relations</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-16.htm">Sexual</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-17.htm">Son's</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-16.htm">Wife</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 have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law.</b><br>This command is part of a broader set of laws given to the Israelites to maintain holiness and purity within the community. The prohibition against sexual relations with a daughter-in-law underscores the importance of respecting family boundaries and maintaining the sanctity of marriage. In the ancient Near Eastern context, family structures were central to societal stability, and violations of these boundaries could lead to significant social and familial discord. This command reflects the broader biblical principle of honoring family relationships, as seen in the Ten Commandments' directive to honor one's father and mother (<a href="/exodus/20-12.htm">Exodus 20:12</a>). The prohibition also aligns with the New Testament teachings on sexual purity and the sanctity of marriage (<a href="/1_corinthians/6-18.htm">1 Corinthians 6:18-20</a>, <a href="/hebrews/13-4.htm">Hebrews 13:4</a>).<p><b>She is your son’s wife;</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the relational context that makes the act particularly egregious. The daughter-in-law is not just any woman but is bound to the family through marriage to the son. This relationship is meant to be respected and protected. The emphasis on her being the son's wife highlights the importance of marital fidelity and the respect owed to one's offspring and their spouses. In biblical times, marriage was a covenantal relationship, and any breach of this covenant was seen as a serious offense against God and the community. This respect for marital boundaries is echoed in the New Testament, where marriage is likened to the relationship between Christ and the Church (<a href="/ephesians/5-22.htm">Ephesians 5:22-33</a>).<p><b>you are not to have sexual relations with her.</b><br>The repetition of the prohibition serves to reinforce the seriousness of the command. It is a clear and unequivocal directive that leaves no room for ambiguity. This repetition is a common biblical technique used to emphasize the importance of a command. The clarity of this prohibition reflects the broader biblical theme of holiness and the call for God's people to be set apart from the surrounding nations, who often engaged in practices that were contrary to God's laws. The call to holiness is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, culminating in the New Testament's exhortation for believers to live lives that are pleasing to God (<a href="/1_peter/1-15.htm">1 Peter 1:15-16</a>).<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 chosen people of God, to whom the laws in Leviticus were given to set them apart as holy.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/d/daughter-in-law.htm">Daughter-in-law</a></b><br>- The wife of one's son, specifically mentioned in this verse as someone with whom sexual relations are prohibited.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>- The divine lawgiver who establishes moral and ethical boundaries for His people.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_sinai.htm">Mount Sinai</a></b><br>- The place where Moses received the laws from God, including the laws in Leviticus.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/sanctity_of_marriage.htm">Sanctity of Marriage</a></b><br>Marriage is a sacred covenant designed by God. This verse reinforces the importance of respecting the marital bond and the family structure.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/holiness_and_purity.htm">Holiness and Purity</a></b><br>God calls His people to live holy lives, set apart from the practices of surrounding cultures. This includes maintaining sexual purity.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/respect_for_family_boundaries.htm">Respect for Family Boundaries</a></b><br>The prohibition against relations with a daughter-in-law highlights the importance of respecting family boundaries and roles.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_disobedience.htm">Consequences of Disobedience</a></b><br>Disobeying God's commands leads to personal and communal consequences, as seen throughout Scripture.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/cultural_distinction.htm">Cultural Distinction</a></b><br>The Israelites were to be distinct from other nations, and adherence to God's laws was a key aspect of their identity.<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_'life_is_a_vapor'_mean.htm">Are premarital sexual relations considered unclean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_a_torn_hymen_mean_non-virginity.htm">Does a torn hymen indicate lost virginity?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible_on_god,_love,_homosexuality.htm">What does the Bible say about God, love, and homosexuality?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_foods_are_mentioned_in_the_bible.htm">What foods are mentioned in the Bible?</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>(15) <span class= "bld">Thy daughter-in-law.</span>--The legislators in the time of Christ defined this prohibition as applicable not only to cases where marriage between them had actually been consummated, but to cases where the maiden had only been espoused, or when the daughter-in-law had been divorced by the son, or had become a widow. For an offence of this kind both parties were punished with death. (See <a href="/leviticus/20-12.htm" title="And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have worked confusion; their blood shall be on them.">Leviticus 20:12</a>.) Other nations regarded such alliances with the same abhorrence. (See <span class= "ital">Koran, </span>4:27.)<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/18-15.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">לֹ֣א</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 with</span><br /><span class="heb">עֶרְוַ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(‘er·waṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6172.htm">Strong's 6172: </a> </span><span class="str2">Nakedness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your daughter-in-law.</span><br /><span class="heb">כַּלָּֽתְךָ֖</span> <span class="translit">(kal·lā·ṯə·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3618.htm">Strong's 3618: </a> </span><span class="str2">Daughter-in-law, bride</span><br /><br /><span class="word">She</span><br /><span class="heb">הִ֔וא</span> <span class="translit">(hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person feminine 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 your son’s</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּנְךָ֙</span> <span class="translit">(bin·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wife;</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֤שֶׁת</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·šeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<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">you are not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֥א</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">to have sexual relations with</span><br /><span class="heb">תְגַלֶּ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(ṯə·ḡal·leh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1540.htm">Strong's 1540: </a> </span><span class="str2">To denude, to exile, to reveal</span><br /><br /><span class="word">her.</span><br /><span class="heb">עֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘er·wā·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6172.htm">Strong's 6172: </a> </span><span class="str2">Nakedness</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/18-15.htm">Leviticus 18:15 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/18-15.htm">Leviticus 18:15 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/18-15.htm">Leviticus 18:15 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/18-15.htm">Leviticus 18:15 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/18-15.htm">Leviticus 18:15 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/18-15.htm">Leviticus 18:15 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/18-15.htm">Leviticus 18:15 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/18-15.htm">Leviticus 18:15 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/18-15.htm">Leviticus 18:15 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/18-15.htm">Leviticus 18:15 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/18-15.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 18:15 You shall not uncover the nakedness (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/18-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 18:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 18:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/18-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 18:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 18:16" /></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>