King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex [her], to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life [time].
Complete Jewish Bible:
You are not to take a woman to be a rival with her sister and have sexual relations with her while her sister is still alive.
Berean Standard Bible:
You must not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is still alive.
American Standard Version:
And thou shalt not take a wife to her sister, to be a rival to her, to uncover her nakedness, besides the other in her life-time.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Neither shalt thou take{H3947} a wife{H802} to her sister{H269}, to vex{H6887} her, to uncover{H1540} her nakedness{H6172}, beside the other in her life{H2416} time.
Cross-References (KJV):
Malachi 2:15
- And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
Genesis 29:28
- And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
Genesis 30:15
- And she said unto her, [Is it] a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.
Genesis 4:19
- ¶ And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one [was] Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
1 Samuel 1:6
- And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
1 Samuel 1:8
- Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? [am] not I better to thee than ten sons?
Exodus 26:3
- The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and [other] five curtains [shall be] coupled one to another.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 18:18
1. **Themes:**
- **Purity and Holiness:** Leviticus 18:18 emphasizes the importance of maintaining moral and ritual purity within the Israelite community. This verse is part of a larger section known as the Holiness Code (Leviticus 17-26), which outlines various laws intended to set the Israelites apart as a holy people dedicated to God.
- **Prohibition of Incest:** The specific prohibition against marrying a woman and her sister simultaneously is a part of a broader set of incest laws found in Leviticus 18. These laws define acceptable degrees of familial relatedness for marriage and sexual relations, aiming to prevent moral corruption and maintain social order.
- **Respect for Relationships:** The command not to "vex" a wife by taking her sister implies a concern for the emotional and psychological well-being of individuals within the family structure. It underscores the importance of respect and fidelity in marriage.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** Leviticus is traditionally ascribed to the time of Moses, around the 13th century BCE, during the period when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt.
- **Cultural Practices:** The laws in Leviticus were given in a context where neighboring ancient Near Eastern cultures often practiced various forms of close-kin marriage. The Israelite laws, therefore, served to distinguish their social norms and religious practices from those of surrounding peoples.
- **Legal and Ritual Codes:** Leviticus contains a mixture of moral, legal, and ritual instructions. These were designed to guide the Israelites in their communal and personal lives, ensuring their distinct identity as the people of Yahweh.
- **Community Identity:** By adhering to these laws, the Israelites were to establish a community that reflected the order and purity of the divine. This was particularly important as they prepared to enter the Promised Land and live among other nations with different practices and beliefs.
In summary, Leviticus 18:18 is part of a series of regulations that aim to preserve the sanctity of family relationships and the moral integrity of the Israelite community, setting them apart as a people holy to God. It reflects the broader themes of purity, holiness, and the establishment of a unique communal identity through adherence to divine law.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - Strong's Number: H269
There are 301 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָחוֹת
Transliteration: ʼâchôwth
Pronunciation: aw-khoth'
Description: irregular feminine of אָח; a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively); (an-) other, sister, together. - Strong's Number: H6887
There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָרַר
Transliteration: tsârar
Pronunciation: tsaw-rar'
Description: a primitive root; to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive; adversary, (be in) afflict(-ion), beseige, bind (up), (be in, bring) distress, enemy, narrower, oppress, pangs, shut up, be in a strait (trouble), vex. - Strong's Number: H1540
There are 168 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּלָה
Transliteration: gâlâh
Pronunciation: gaw-law'
Description: a primitive root; to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal; [phrase] advertise, appear, bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity), depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, [idiom] plainly, publish, remove, reveal, [idiom] shamelessly, shew, [idiom] surely, tell, uncover. - Strong's Number: H6172
There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶרְוָה
Transliteration: ʻervâh
Pronunciation: er-vaw'
Description: from עָרָה; nudity, literally (especially the pudenda) or figuratively (disgrace, blemish); nakedness, shame, unclean(-ness). - Strong's Number: H2416
There are 452 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַי
Transliteration: chay
Pronunciation: khah'-ee
Description: from חָיָה; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.