Leviticus 20:21

Leviticus 20:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless.
• New International Version (NIV)“ ‘If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If a man takes his brother's wife, it is impurity. He has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If a man takes his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing. He has uncovered his brother’s nakedness. They shall be childless.

Context of Leviticus 20:21

19“Do not have sexual relations with your aunt, whether your mother’s sister or your father’s sister. This would dishonor a close relative. Both parties are guilty and will be punished for their sin. 20“If a man has sex with his uncle’s wife, he has violated his uncle. Both the man and woman will be punished for their sin, and they will die childless. “If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has violated his brother, and the guilty couple will remain childless. 22“You must keep all my decrees and regulations by putting them into practice; otherwise the land to which I am bringing you as your new home will vomit you out. 23Do not live according to the customs of the people I am driving out before you. It is because they do these shameful things that I detest them.

Leviticus 20:21 word by word

וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִקַּ֛ח אֶת־אֵ֥שֶׁת אָחִ֖יו נִדָּ֣ה הִ֑וא עֶרְוַ֥ת אָחִ֛יו גִּלָּ֖ה עֲרִירִ֥ים יִהְיֽוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And if a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• shall takeלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• his brother’sאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
• wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• an unclean thingנִדָּהniddâh · impurityH5079
• he hath uncoveredגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: uncoverH1540
• nakednessעֶרְוָה‛ervâh · nakednessH6172
• they shall be childlessעֲרִירִי‛ărîyrîy · childlessH6185

Cross-references for Leviticus 20:21

• Leviticus 18:16“Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife, for this would violate your brother.
• Matthew 14:3For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip).

Commentaries on Leviticus 20:21

• 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. 20-21Being childless brought public shame in society. People considered it a judgment from God (see Genesis 30:1–2; Deuteronomy 7:14). What situation do these verses describe? Leviticus 18:14,16 already discuss sexual relations with an uncle’s wife or sister-in-law. Deuteronomy 22:22 addresses adultery that results in death for both involved. If the woman was a widow without a male heir, the law of levirate marriage could apply (Deuteronomy 25:5–6; see study…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-272. Whosoever ... giveth any of his seed unto Molech--(See on Le 18:21). the people of the land shall stone him with stones, &c.--Criminals who were condemned to be stoned were led, with their hands bound, without the gates to a small eminence, where was a large stone placed at the bottom. When they had approached within ten cubits of the spot, they were exhorted to confess, that, by faith and repentance, their souls might be saved. When led forward to…Read the comment

Topics related to Leviticus 20:21

• Incest
• Marriage
• Sanitation

In the dictionaries

• Brother's Wife
• Accomplish
• Crucifixion
• Wizard
• Bastard
• Clean
• Crime; Crimes
• Criticism
• Ezekiel
• Herodias

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