Leviticus 20:19

Leviticus 20:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.
• New International Version (NIV)“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with the sister of either your mother or your father, for that would dishonor a close relative; both of you would be held responsible.
• English Standard Version (ESV)You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister or of your father's sister, for that is to make naked one's relative; they shall bear their iniquity.
• New King James Version (NKJV)‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister nor of your father’s sister, for that would uncover his near of kin. They shall bear their guilt.

Context of Leviticus 20:19

17It is a sin if a man marries his sister. She may be the daughter of his father or of his mother. It is a sin if he has sex with her. The people must send them away. He has taken away his sister's honour. He must carry the punishment for his sin. 18A man must not have sex with a woman when she is bleeding. If he does, it is a sin. They have not obeyed the rules of the Lord. The people must send them away. A man must not have sex with his mother's sister or with his father's sister. They are both doing a wrong thing. They are taking away the family's honour. Their sin causes their punishment. 20A man is sinning if he has sex with his aunt. He is taking away his father's brother's honour. They will have no children. 21It makes the people unclean if a man marries his brother's wife. He has taken away his brother's honour. They will not have any children.

Leviticus 20:19 word by word

וְעֶרְוַ֨ת אֲח֧וֹת אִמְּךָ֛ וַאֲח֥וֹת אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה כִּ֧י אֶת־שְׁאֵר֛וֹ הֶעֱרָ֖ה עֲוֹנָ֥ם יִשָּֽׂאוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And thou shalt not uncoverגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: uncoverH1540
• the nakednessעֶרְוָה‛ervâh · nakednessH6172
• of thy mother’sאֵם'êm · motherH517
• sisterאָחוֹת'âchôth · sisterH269
• nor of thy father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
• for he uncoverethעָרָה‛ârâh · to uncoverH6168
• his near kinשְׁאֵרshe'êr · fleshH7607
• they shall bearנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: guiltH5375
• their iniquityעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: crimeH5771

Cross-references for Leviticus 20:19

• Leviticus 18:12Do not have sex with your father's sister. She is his near relative.
• Exodus 6:20Amram married Jochebed, his father's sister. Aaron and Moses were their sons. Amram lived for 137 years.
• Leviticus 18:6Tell them this: A person must not have sex with anyone who belongs to his own family. I am the Lord.

Commentaries on Leviticus 20:19

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-27Verses 10-27 These verses repeat what had been said before, but it was needful there should be line upon line. What praises we owe to God that he has taught the evil of sin, and the sure way of deliverance from it! May we have grace to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things; may we have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness, but reprove them.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-27Pagan worship influenced ethics, so God has family rules follow those about pagan religious practices. Some laws in this section repeat parts from Leviticus 18:6–30, which come before the section on proper expressions of holiness (19:1–37). These issues connect. Proper worship of God leads to good behavior toward others, while improper worship leads to moral violations.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-197-19. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy--The minute specification of the incestuous and unnatural crimes here enumerated shows their sad prevalence amongst the idolatrous nations around, and the extreme proneness of the Israelites to follow the customs of their neighbors. It is to be understood, that, whenever mention is made that the offender was "to be put to death" without describing the mode, stoning is meant. The only instance of another…Read the comment

Topics related to Leviticus 20:19

• Incest
• Marriage
• Sanitation

In the dictionaries

• Accomplish
• Crucifixion
• Wizard
• Bastard
• Clean
• Criticism
• Ezekiel
• Holiness
• Iniquity
• Kinsman; Kinswoman

Commentaries on Leviticus 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings