Leviticus 18:8

Leviticus 18:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.
• New International Version (NIV)“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; that would dishonor your father.
• English Standard Version (ESV)You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is your father's nakedness.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness.

Context of Leviticus 18:8

6‘None of you shall approach any blood relative of his to uncover nakedness; I am the Lord. 7You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, that is, the nakedness of your mother. She is your mother; you are not to uncover her nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness. 9As for the nakedness of your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether born in the household or born outside the household, you shall not uncover their nakedness. 10The nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for their nakedness is yours.

Leviticus 18:8 word by word

עֶרְוַ֥ת אֵֽשֶׁת־אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה עֶרְוַ֥ת אָבִ֖יךָ הִֽוא׃ סRead the interlinear

• You shall not uncoverגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: uncoverH1540
• the nakednessעֶרְוָה‛ervâh · nakednessH6172
• of your father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
• wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802

Cross-references for Leviticus 18:8

• Leviticus 20:11If there is a man who sleeps with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both of them must be put to death, they have brought their own deaths upon themselves.
• Genesis 35:22And it came about, while Israel was living in that land, that Reuben went and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Now there were twelve sons of Jacob--
• Genesis 49:4Uncontrollable as water, you shall not have preeminence, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it--he went up to my couch.
• Deuteronomy 22:30“A man shall not take his father’s wife in marriage, so that he does not uncover his father’s garment.
• Deuteronomy 27:20‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s garment.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
• 2 Samuel 16:21Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Have relations with your father’s concubines, whom he has left behind to take care of the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.”
• Ezekiel 22:10Among you they have uncovered their fathers’ nakedness; among you they have abused her who was unclean in her menstruation.
• Amos 2:7These who trample the head of the helpless to the dust of the earth Also divert the way of the humble; And a man and his father resort to the same girl So as to profane My holy name.
• 1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, namely, that someone has his father’s wife.

Commentaries on Leviticus 18:8

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Compare the case of Reuben, Genesis 49:3-4. See 1 Corinthians 5:1.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-8expose the nakedness of your father: The Hebrew text equates having sexual relations with your mother or any of your father's wives to having sexual relations with him (compare Genesis 35:22; 49:4; see also 1 Corinthians 5:1). The husband and his wife "become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24; compare Ephesians 5:29). These commands always emphasize honoring your parents (Leviticus 20:9; Exodus 20:12). These commands extend to other family members (see also study…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-302-4. I am the Lord your God--This renewed mention of the divine sovereignty over the Israelites was intended to bear particularly on some laws that were widely different from the social customs that obtained both in Egypt and Canaan; for the enormities, which the laws enumerated in this chapter were intended to put down, were freely practised or publicly sanctioned in both of those countries; and, indeed, the extermination of the ancient Canaanites is…Read the comment

Topics related to Leviticus 18:8

• Abomination
• Copulation
• Incest
• Marriage

In the dictionaries

• Affinity
• Approach
• Live
• Mankind
• Near
• Atonement, Day of
• Bastard
• Clean
• Cornelius
• Criticism

Commentaries on Leviticus 18

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings