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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 18:16 You must not have sexual relations with your brother's wife; that would shame your brother.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/18-16.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/03_Lev_18_16.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 18:16 - Unlawful Sexual Relations" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You must not have sexual relations with your brother's wife; that would shame your brother." /><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'; 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that would dishonor your brother.<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 brother’s wife, for this would violate your brother.<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 brother’s wife; it is your brother’s 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 brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.<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 brother's wife: it <i>is</i> thy brother's 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 brother’s wife; it <i>is</i> your brother’s 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 brother’s wife; it is your brother’s 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 brother&#8217s wife; it is your brother&#8217s 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 brother’s wife; it is your brother’s 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 brother’s wife; it is your brother’s 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 brother’s wife; it is your brother’s 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 brother’s wife; she is your brother’s family.<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 brother&#8217s wife; it will shame your brother.<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 brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/leviticus/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />or sister-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 brother's wife: it is thy brother's 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 sister-in-law. She is your brother's wife.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/18.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />or with your brother's wife. <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 have sexual relations with your brother's wife. She's the nakedness of your brother.<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 brother?s wife; that would shame your brother.<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 brother's wife; she is your brother's nakedness.<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 brother's wife: it is your brother's 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 brother's wife: it is thy brother's 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 brother’s wife. It is your brother’s 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 brother’s wife; it [is] your brother’s 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 brother's wife thou dost not uncover; it is thy brother's 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 brother's wife thou shalt not uncover: it is thy brother's 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 brother's wife: because it is the nakedness of thy brother. <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 brother’s wife; for it is the nakedness of your brother.<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 brother’s wife; that would be a disgrace to your brother.<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 brother’s wife; it is your brother’s 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 brother's wife; it is your brother's 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 expose the nakedness of the wife of your brother, for her nakedness is your brother’s.<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 brother's wife: it is thy brother's 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 brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/18-16.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=4837" 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">15</span>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="reftext">16</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/251.htm" title="251: ’ā·ḥî·ḵā (N-msc:: 2ms) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">your brother’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/1931.htm" title="1931: hî (Pro-3fs) -- He, she, it. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/6172.htm" title="6172: ‘er·waṯ (N-fsc) -- Nakedness. From arah; nudity, literally or figuratively.">would shame</a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: ’ā·ḥî·ḵā (N-msc:: 2ms) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">your brother.</a> </span><span class="reftext">17</span>You must not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. You are not to marry her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter and have sexual relations with her. They are close relatives; it is depraved.…<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/27-20.htm">Deuteronomy 27:20</a></span><br />‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><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="/matthew/14-3.htm">Matthew 14:3-4</a></span><br />Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, / because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/6-17.htm">Mark 6:17-18</a></span><br />For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married. / For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”<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/7-2.htm">1 Corinthians 7:2</a></span><br />But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-10.htm">1 Corinthians 7:10-11</a></span><br />To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. / But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-39.htm">1 Corinthians 7:39</a></span><br />A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2-3</a></span><br />For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-32.htm">Matthew 5:32</a></span><br />But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-9.htm">Matthew 19:9</a></span><br />Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-11.htm">Mark 10:11-12</a></span><br />So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. / And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18</a></span><br />Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a></span><br />For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/29-21.htm">Genesis 29:21-30</a></span><br />Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.” / So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast. / But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. ...</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 brother's wife: it is your brother's nakedness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/20-21.htm">Leviticus 20:21</a></b></br> And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it <i>is</i> an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/25-5.htm">Deuteronomy 25:5</a></b></br> If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/14-3.htm">Matthew 14:3,4</a></b></br> For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put <i>him</i> in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/38-9.htm">Brother's</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-14.htm">Dishonor</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-15.htm">Nakedness</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-15.htm">Relations</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-14.htm">Sex</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-15.htm">Sexual</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-15.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/20-21.htm">Brother's</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/22-30.htm">Dishonor</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-17.htm">Nakedness</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-17.htm">Relations</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-19.htm">Sex</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-17.htm">Sexual</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-17.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 brother’s wife;</b><br>This command is part of the Holiness Code in Leviticus, which outlines laws for maintaining purity and holiness among the Israelites. The prohibition against sexual relations with a brother's wife is rooted in the importance of family integrity and respect for familial boundaries. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, family structures were central to societal stability, and violations of these boundaries were seen as threats to the community's moral fabric. This law underscores the sanctity of marriage and the need to honor the marital bond. In the New Testament, similar principles are echoed in passages like <a href="/1_corinthians/5.htm">1 Corinthians 5:1</a>, where Paul addresses sexual immorality within the church, emphasizing the need for purity among believers.<p><b>that would shame your brother.</b><br>The concept of shame in this context relates to the honor-shame culture prevalent in the ancient Near East. Bringing shame upon a family member was a serious offense, as it could damage the family's reputation and standing within the community. This law highlights the importance of protecting one's family from disgrace and maintaining the honor of familial relationships. The idea of not shaming one's brother can also be seen in the broader biblical theme of loving one's neighbor and acting in ways that promote harmony and respect within the community. In the New Testament, Jesus teaches about the importance of reconciliation and forgiveness, which aligns with the principle of avoiding actions that would bring shame or harm to others.<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 as a guide for holy living.<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 with practices that God deemed abominable.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/brother.htm">Brother</a></b><br>In this context, a fellow Israelite or literal sibling, whose marital relationship is to be respected.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/b/brother's_wife.htm">Brother’s Wife</a></b><br>The woman who is married to one's brother, whose relationship is protected by this commandment.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/r/respect_for_family_boundaries.htm">Respect for Family Boundaries</a></b><br>This commandment underscores the importance of respecting familial relationships and boundaries. Violating these boundaries leads to shame and dishonor.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/holiness_in_relationships.htm">Holiness in Relationships</a></b><br>God calls His people to a standard of holiness that includes sexual purity. This commandment is part of a broader call to live distinctively from the surrounding cultures.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_sin.htm">The Consequences of Sin</a></b><br>Engaging in prohibited relationships can lead to personal and communal consequences, including shame and broken relationships.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_context.htm">Understanding Context</a></b><br>While this commandment is specific, it is part of a larger biblical ethic that values marriage and family. Understanding the cultural and historical context helps us apply these principles today.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_against_temptation.htm">Guarding Against Temptation</a></b><br>This verse serves as a reminder to guard our hearts and actions against temptations that can lead to sin and dishonor.<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_is_the_essence_of_biblical_hebrew.htm">What led to John the Baptist's beheading?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_the_new_anointing.htm">What does 'uncover the nakedness' mean in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_was_john_the_baptist_beheaded.htm">What led to John the Baptist's beheading?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/admit_adultery_to_spouse.htm">Should a spouse admit to committing adultery?</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>(16) <span class= "bld">The nakedness of thy brother's wife.</span>--Though alliance with a brother's wife is here forbidden--the prohibition, according to the administrators of the law during the second Temple, extending to illicit commerce or marriage in case she is divorced from her husband during the lifetime of her husband--and though the offenders are threatened with the curse of childlessness (see <a href="/leviticus/20-21.htm" title="And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.">Leviticus 20:21</a>), yet the law on this point is by no means absolute. Under certain conditions the law enjoins it as a moral and civil duty for a man to marry his brother's widow. If a brother dies without issue, it is incumbent upon each surviving brother in succession to marry the widow, and if the brother-in-law refused to perform the sacred duty, the widow made him pass through a ceremony in which she heaped upon him the greatest indignity. This clearly shows that the prohibition here could not be based upon the ground of incest, since that which is inherently incestuous the Divine law itself would under no circumstances have set aside. This duty the surviving brother-in-law had to perform to the widows of as many of his brothers as happened to die without issue. A striking illustration of this fact occurred whilst Jehudah the Holy was president of the Sanhedrin. Twelve widows appealed to their brother-in-law to perform the duty of <span class= "ital">Levir. </span>He refused to marry them because he saw no prospect how to maintain such an additional number of wives, and possibly a large increase of children. The case came before the President of the Sanhedrin, who not only decided that he must marry them all, but promised that if he would do the duty enjoined upon him by the Law of Moses, he himself would maintain the family, and their children in case there should be any, every Sabbatical year, when no produce was got from the land, which was at rest. The offer was accepted by the <span class= "ital">Levir, </span>and he accordingly married his twelve sisters-in-law. After three years these twelve wives appeared with thirty-six children before Jehudah the Holy, to claim the promised alimony, as it was the Sabbatical year, and they actually obtained it. To this day this law is in force among the orthodox Jews. When a man dies without issue, the widow <span class= "ital">ipso facto </span>belongs to the surviving brother, and she is not allowed to marry any one else unless her brother-in-law has gone through the ceremony of publicly renouncing her, which is tantamount to a divorce. This will explain the rendering of the clause before us in the ancient Chaldee Version, "thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife in the lifetime of thy brother or after his death if he has children."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/leviticus/18.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 16.</span> - The eighth ease of incest is intercourse with a brother's wife. Yet this is commanded under certain circumstances in the Book of Deuteronomy, and was practiced in patriarchal times (<a href="/genesis/38-8.htm">Genesis 38:8</a>). The following are the circumstances under which it is commanded. "If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her" (<a href="/deuteronomy/25-5.htm">Deuteronomy 25:5</a>). It has been asked, "How can the same thing be forbidden as immoral in Leviticus, and commanded as a duly in Deuteronomy?" Bishop Wordsworth replies, "In a special case, for a special reason applicable only to the Jews, God was pleased to dispense with that law, and in the plenitude of his omnipotence to change the prohibition into a command.... God cannot command anything that is sinful. For sin is 'transgression of the Law' (<a href="/1_john/3-4.htm">1 John 3:4</a>), and whatever he commands is right. But it would be presumptuous to say that <span class="accented">we</span> may dispense with God's law concerning marriage, because he in one case dispensed with it; as it would be impious to affirm that murder is not immoral, and may be committed by us, bemuse God, who is the sole Arbiter of life and death, commanded Abraham to slay his son Isaac." The levirate marriage was not a concession to the desires of the second brother, but a duty enjoined for a family or tribal purpose, and it was plainly at all times must distasteful. Thus Onan refused to perform his duty to Er's wife (<a href="/genesis/38-9.htm">Genesis 38:9</a>); the legislation in Deuteronomy anticipates objection on the part of the brother, and institutes an in-suiting ceremony to be gone through by him if he declines to do his duty to his dead brother (<a href="/deuteronomy/25-9.htm">Deuteronomy 25:9, 10</a>), which we see carried out in some of its details in the case of Ruth's kinsman (<a href="/ruth/4-7.htm">Ruth 4:7, 10</a>). Indeed, in such a marriage, the second husband seems rather to have been regarded as the continuation of the first husband than as having a substantive existence of his own as a married man. He performed a function in order "that the name of his brother which is dead may not be put out of Israel" (<a href="/deuteronomy/25-6.htm">Deuteronomy 25:6</a>), "to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren" (<a href="/ruth/3-10.htm">Ruth 3:10</a>). The second husband's position may be compared to that of the concubine presented by Rachel to her husband. "Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her" (<a href="/genesis/30-3.htm">Genesis 30:3</a>). The whole object of the rule was that, as the elder brother could not keep up the flintily by begetting an heir, the younger brother should do it for him after his death. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/18-16.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 brother’s</span><br /><span class="heb">אָחִ֖יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḥî·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_251.htm">Strong's 251: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, )</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wife;</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵֽשֶׁת־</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">that</span><br /><span class="heb">הִֽוא׃</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">would shame</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 brother.</span><br /><span class="heb">אָחִ֖יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḥî·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_251.htm">Strong's 251: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, )</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/18-16.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 18:16 You shall not uncover the nakedness (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/18-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 18:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 18:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/18-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 18:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 18:17" /></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>