Leviticus 18
Leviticus 18 outlines specific laws that God gave to Israel regarding sexual conduct, emphasizing the need for purity and separation from the practices of the surrounding nations. The chapter highlights the importance of obeying God’s commands to avoid behaviors that defile individuals, families, and the nation as a whole. These instructions serve to protect moral integrity and maintain holiness in the community of Israel.
Leviticus 18:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God.
3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do. Nor shall you walk in their ordinances.
God reminds the Israelites that He is their God and calls them to be distinct from the nations surrounding them. The Egyptians and Canaanites engaged in immoral and idolatrous practices, and God forbids His people from following those customs. This command stresses the importance of obedience to God and the rejection of the cultural norms of the people they once lived among and the nations they were about to conquer.
Leviticus 18:4-5 (NKJV)
4 You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God.
5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.
God’s laws are intended to guide the Israelites toward righteousness. Observing His judgments is essential for living a life that reflects God’s holiness. Obedience to these laws brings life, meaning that following God’s commandments leads to both spiritual and physical well-being. The phrase "I am the Lord" reinforces God’s authority and His desire for a faithful relationship with His people.
Leviticus 18:6 (NKJV)
6 None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the Lord.
This verse introduces the prohibition against incest. God forbids sexual relations with close family members, a practice that would have been common among pagan nations but is considered defiling in God’s law. By setting these boundaries, God protects family relationships from moral corruption and preserves the sanctity of marriage.
Leviticus 18:7-8 (NKJV)
7 The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness.
8 The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness.
Here, God prohibits sexual relations with one’s parents or stepparents, preserving respect within the family unit. These relationships are sacred, and any sexual violation within them would dishonor the parents and degrade the family structure. These laws establish the ethical boundaries necessary to maintain moral integrity within the household.
Leviticus 18:9-10 (NKJV)
9 The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover.
10 The nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for theirs is your own nakedness.
Sexual relations with one’s siblings or grandchildren are strictly forbidden, reinforcing the protection of family bonds. Such behavior would violate the trust and purity within the family. By setting these limits, God ensures the family remains a place of safety, mutual respect, and honor.
Leviticus 18:11-13 (NKJV)
11 The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, begotten by your father—she is your sister—you shall not uncover her nakedness.
12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is near of kin to your father.
13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is near of kin to your mother.
The prohibitions extend to step-siblings and aunts. These laws emphasize the protection of family relationships by prohibiting sexual activity within extended family ties. God’s instructions here reflect His desire to prevent the relational and societal breakdown that comes from incestuous behavior, safeguarding the holiness of the community.
Leviticus 18:14 (NKJV)
14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt.
This verse forbids sexual relations with one’s aunt by marriage, reinforcing the boundaries that protect family honor. These laws continue to maintain the sanctity of marriage and family roles, ensuring respect for one another within the extended family.
Leviticus 18:15 (NKJV)
15 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law—she is your son’s wife—you shall not uncover her nakedness.
God prohibits sexual relations with one’s daughter-in-law, maintaining the honor of the marriage relationship and preventing moral corruption within the family. By protecting the sanctity of marriage, God ensures that family dynamics remain respectful and pure.
Leviticus 18:16 (NKJV)
16 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness.
This law prohibits sexual relations with a brother’s wife. Such behavior would violate the brotherly bond and the integrity of marriage, which God has ordained to be exclusive between husband and wife. This command preserves the sanctity of marital relationships and prevents intrafamilial strife.
Leviticus 18:17-18 (NKJV)
17 You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is wickedness.
18 Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.
These verses emphasize the avoidance of sexual relationships that would create rivalry and confusion within family structures, such as marrying a woman and her daughter or two sisters at the same time. These relationships would breed jealousy, conflict, and strife, which are contrary to God’s design for harmony within families.
Leviticus 18:19 (NKJV)
19 Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity.
This verse forbids sexual relations with a woman during her menstrual period, recognizing the natural impurity of that time. God’s command reflects a respect for the natural processes of the body and emphasizes the importance of physical cleanliness and spiritual purity in intimate relationships.
Leviticus 18:20 (NKJV)
20 Moreover you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, to defile yourself with her.
Adultery is strictly forbidden as it defiles not only the individuals involved but also the sanctity of marriage. God’s laws here are designed to protect the institution of marriage and prevent the damage that infidelity brings to families and communities.
Leviticus 18:21 (NKJV)
21 And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.
This verse prohibits child sacrifice, a common practice in the worship of the pagan god Molech. God’s command demonstrates His care for life and the rejection of the abominable practices of surrounding nations. The Israelites are called to worship God alone and avoid any form of idolatry that defiles His name.
Leviticus 18:22 (NKJV)
22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
Homosexuality is condemned here as an abomination in God’s eyes. This verse reflects the moral framework God has established for sexual behavior, and it aligns with the broader call for purity in relationships. God's design for sexual relations is within the context of heterosexual marriage.
Leviticus 18:23 (NKJV)
23 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 is perversion.
Bestiality is strictly forbidden, as it defiles both the person and the animal, and is a complete perversion of God’s natural order for human sexuality. This command protects the sanctity of human dignity and the order of creation, calling the Israelites to avoid such degrading practices.
Leviticus 18:24-25 (NKJV)
24 Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you.
25 For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.
God warns the Israelites not to engage in the same sinful practices that led to the downfall of other nations. The land itself becomes polluted by such wickedness, leading to the expulsion of its inhabitants. This underscores the seriousness of sin and its impact on both people and the environment.
Leviticus 18:26-28 (NKJV)
26 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you.
27 (For all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled),
28 lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you.
These verses reiterate the importance of following God’s laws to avoid the same fate as the nations that were cast out before them. God’s statutes are not only for the Israelites but also apply to any foreigners living among them. Obeying these laws is crucial for maintaining the purity and blessing of the land.
Leviticus 18:29-30 (NKJV)
29 For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
30 Therefore you shall keep My ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the Lord your God.
The final verses serve as a warning of the consequences for disobedience. Anyone who engages in these abominable practices will be cut off from the community, emphasizing the need for purity in the nation of Israel. God calls His people to a higher standard of holiness, reminding them once again that He is the Lord, their God.