Revised Literal Translation

Leviticus 18

1And Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068spakeוַיְדַבֵּ֥רvay.da.BerH1696unto Mosesמֹשֶׁ֥הmo.ShehH4872,sayingלֵּאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

2Speakדַּבֵּר֙da.BerH1696unto the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֖ve.'a.mar.TaH559unto them, I am Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃'e.lo.hei.KhemH430.

3After the doingsכְּמַעֲשֵׂ֧הke.ma.'a.SehH4639of the landאֶֽרֶץ־'e.retz-H776of Egyptמִצְרַ֛יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714,wherein ye dweltיְשַׁבְתֶּם־ye.shav.tem-H3427,shall ye not doתַעֲשׂ֑וּta.'a.SuH6213:and after the doingsוּכְמַעֲשֵׂ֣הu.khe.ma.'a.SehH4639of the landאֶֽרֶץ־'e.retz-H776of Canaanכְּנַ֡עַןke.Na.'anH3667,whither I bringמֵבִ֨יאme.Vi'H935you, shall ye not doתַעֲשׂ֔וּta.'a.SuH6213:neither shall ye walkH3212in their ordinancesוּבְחֻקֹּתֵיהֶ֖םu.ve.chu.ko.tei.HemH2708.

4Ye shall doתַּעֲשׂ֛וּta.'a.SuH6213my judgmentsמִשְׁפָּטַ֧יmish.pa.TaiH4941,and keepתִּשְׁמְר֖וּtish.me.RuH8104mine ordinancesחֻקֹּתַ֥יchu.ko.TaiH2708,to walkH3212therein: I amYhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃'e.lo.hei.KhemH430.

5Ye shall therefore keepוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤םu.she.mar.TemH8104my statutesחֻקֹּתַי֙chu.ko.TaiH2708,and my judgmentsמִשְׁפָּטַ֔יmish.pa.TaiH4941:whichאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834if a manהָאָדָ֖םha.'a.DamH120doיַעֲשֶׂ֥הya.'a.SehH6213,he shall liveH2425in them: I amYhwhיְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehH3068.

6None of you shall approachתִקְרְב֖וּtik.re.VuH7126to anyH376that is nearשְׁאֵ֣רshe.'ErH7607of kinבְּשָׂר֔וֹbe.sa.RoH1320to him, to uncoverלְגַלּ֣וֹתle.ga.LotH1540theirnakednessעֶרְוָ֑ה'er.VahH6172: I amYhwhיְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehH3068.

7The nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172of thy fatherאָבִ֛יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1,or the nakednessוְעֶרְוַ֥תve.'er.VatH6172of thy motherאִמְּךָ֖'i.me.KhaH517,shalt thou not uncoverתְגַלֵּ֑הte.ga.LehH1540: she isthy motherאִמְּךָ֣'i.me.KhaH517;thou shalt not uncoverתְגַלֶּ֖הte.ga.LehH1540her nakednessעֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃ ס'er.va.TahH6172.

8The nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172of thy father’sאָבִ֖יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1wifeאֵֽשֶׁת־'e.shet-H802shalt thou not uncoverתְגַלֵּ֑הte.ga.LehH1540: it isthy father’sאָבִ֖יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172.

9The nakednessעֶרְוַ֨ת'er.VatH6172of thy sisterאֲחֽוֹתְךָ֤'a.chot.KhaH269,the daughterבַת־vat-H1323of thy fatherאָבִ֙יךָ֙'a.Vi.khaH1,or daughterבַת־vat-H1323of thy motherאִמֶּ֔ךָ'i.Me.khaH517, whether she bebornמוֹלֶ֣דֶתmo.Le.detH4138at homeבַּ֔יִתBa.yitH1004,or bornמוֹלֶ֣דֶתmo.Le.detH4138abroadח֑וּץChutzH2351, eventheir nakednessעֶרְוָתָֽן׃ ס'er.va.TanH6172thou shalt not uncoverתְגַלֶּ֖הte.ga.LehH1540.

10The nakednessעֶרְוַ֤ת'er.VatH6172of thy son’sבִּנְךָ֙bin.KhaH1121daughterבַּת־bat-H1323,or of thy daughter’sבַֽת־vat-H1323daughterבִּתְּךָ֔bi.te.KhaH1323, eventheir nakednessעֶרְוָתָ֑ן'er.va.TanH6172thou shalt not uncoverתְגַלֶּ֖הte.ga.LehH1540:for theirsהֵֽנָּה׃ סHe.nahH2007isthine own nakednessעֶרְוָתְךָ֖'er.va.te.KhaH6172.

11The nakednessעֶרְוַ֨ת'er.VatH6172of thy father’sאָבִ֙יךָ֙'a.Vi.khaH1wife’sאֵ֤שֶׁת'E.shetH802daughterבַּת־bat-H1323,begottenמוֹלֶ֣דֶתmo.Le.detH4138of thy fatherאָבִ֔יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1, she isthy sisterאֲחוֹתְךָ֖'a.chot.KhaH269,thou shalt not uncoverתְגַלֶּ֖הte.ga.LehH1540her nakednessעֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃ ס'er.va.TahH6172.

12Thou shalt not uncoverתְגַלֵּ֑הte.ga.LehH1540the nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172of thy father’sאָבִ֖יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1sisterאֲחוֹת־'a.chot-H269: she isthy father’sאָבִ֖יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1near kinswomanשְׁאֵ֥רshe.'ErH7607.

13Thou shalt not uncoverתְגַלֵּ֑הte.ga.LehH1540the nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172of thy mother’sאִמְּךָ֖'i.me.KhaH517sisterאֲחֽוֹת־'a.chot-H269: for she isthy mother’sאִמְּךָ֖'i.me.KhaH517near kinswomanשְׁאֵ֥רshe.'ErH7607.

14Thou shalt not uncoverתְגַלֵּ֑הte.ga.LehH1540the nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172of thy father’sאָבִ֖יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1brotherאֲחִֽי־'a.chi-H251,thou shalt not approachתִקְרָ֔בtik.RavH7126to his wifeאִשְׁתּוֹ֙'ish.ToH802: she isthine auntדֹּדָֽתְךָ֖do.da.te.KhaH1733.

15Thou shalt not uncoverתְגַלֵּ֑הte.ga.LehH1540the nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172of thy daughter in lawכַּלָּֽתְךָ֖ka.la.te.KhaH3618: she isthy son’sבִּנְךָ֙bin.KhaH1121wifeאֵ֤שֶׁת'E.shetH802;thou shalt not uncoverתְגַלֶּ֖הte.ga.LehH1540her nakednessעֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃ ס'er.va.TahH6172.

16Thou shalt not uncoverתְגַלֵּ֑הte.ga.LehH1540the nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172of thy brother’sאָחִ֖יךָ'a.Chi.khaH251wifeאֵֽשֶׁת־'e.shet-H802: it isthy brother’sאָחִ֖יךָ'a.Chi.khaH251nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172.

17Thou shalt not uncoverתְגַלֵּ֑הte.ga.LehH1540the nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172of a womanאִשָּׁ֛ה'i.ShahH802and her daughterוּבִתָּ֖הּu.vi.TahH1323,neither shalt thou takeתִקַּח֙ti.KachH3947her son’sבְּנָ֞הּbe.NahH1121daughterבַּת־bat-H1323,or her daughter’sבַּת־bat-H1323daughterבִּתָּ֗הּbi.TahH1323,to uncoverלְגַלּ֣וֹתle.ga.LotH1540her nakednessעֶרְוָתָ֔הּ'er.va.TahH6172; for they areher near kinswomenשַׁאֲרָ֥הsha.'a.RahH7608: it iswickednessזִמָּ֥הzi.MahH2154.

18Neither shalt thou takeתִקָּ֑חti.KachH3947a wifeוְאִשָּׁ֥הve.'i.ShahH802to her sisterאֲחֹתָ֖הּ'a.cho.TahH269,to vexלִצְרֹ֗רlitz.RorH6887her,to uncoverלְגַלּ֧וֹתle.ga.LotH1540her nakednessעֶרְוָתָ֛הּ'er.va.TahH6172,beside the other in her lifeבְּחַיֶּֽיהָ׃be.chai.Yei.haH2416time.

19Also thou shalt not approachתִקְרַ֔בtik.RavH7126unto a womanאִשָּׁ֖ה'i.ShahH802to uncoverלְגַלּ֖וֹתle.ga.LotH1540her nakednessעֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃'er.va.TahH6172,as long as she is put apartבְּנִדַּ֣תbe.ni.DatH5079for her uncleannessטֻמְאָתָ֑הּtum.'a.TahH2932.

20Moreover thou shalt notתִתֵּ֥ןti.TenH5414lieשְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖she.kha.ve.te.KhaH7903carnallyלְזָ֑רַעle.Za.ra'H2233with thy neighbour’sעֲמִֽיתְךָ֔'a.mi.te.KhaH5997wifeאֵ֙שֶׁת֙'e.shetH802,to defileלְטָמְאָה־le.ta.me.'ah-H2930thyself with her.

21And thou shalt notתִתֵּ֖ןti.TenH5414let any of thy seedוּמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֥u.mi.zar.'a.KhaH2233passלְהַעֲבִ֣ירle.ha.'a.VirH5674through the fireto Molechלַמֹּ֑לֶךְla.Mo.lekhH4432,neither shalt thou profaneתְחַלֵּ֛לte.cha.LelH2490the nameשֵׁ֥םshemH8034of thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430: I amYhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

22Thou shalt not lieתִשְׁכַּ֖בtish.KavH7901with mankindזָכָ֔רza.KharH2145,as withמִשְׁכְּבֵ֣יmish.ke.VeiH4904womankindאִשָּׁ֑ה'i.ShahH802: it isabominationתּוֹעֵבָ֖הto.'e.VahH8441.

23Neither shalt thouתִתֵּ֥ןti.TenH5414lieשְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖she.kha.ve.te.KhaH7903with any beastבְּהֵמָ֛הbe.he.MahH929to defileלְטָמְאָה־le.ta.me.'ah-H2930thyself therewith: neither shall any womanוְאִשָּׁ֗הve.'i.ShahH802standתַעֲמֹ֞דta.'a.ModH5975beforeלִפְנֵ֧יlif.NeiH6440a beastבְהֵמָ֛הve.he.MahH929to lie downלְרִבְעָ֖הּle.riv.'AhH7250thereto: it isconfusionתֶּ֥בֶלTe.velH8397.

24Defileתִּֽטַּמְּא֖וּti.ta.me.'UH2930not ye yourselves in any of these thingsH428:for in all these the nationsהַגּוֹיִ֔םha.go.YimH1471are defiledנִטְמְא֣וּnit.me.'UH2930which I cast outמְשַׁלֵּ֖חַme.sha.Le.achH7971beforeמִפְּנֵיכֶֽם׃mi.pe.nei.KhemH6440you:

25And the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776is defiledוַתִּטְמָ֣אva.tit.Ma'H2930:therefore I do visitוָאֶפְקֹ֥דva.'ef.KodH6485the iniquityעֲוֹנָ֖הּ'a.vo.NahH5771thereof upon it, and the landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776itself vomiteth outוַתָּקִ֥אva.ta.Ki'H6958her inhabitantsיֹשְׁבֶֽיהָ׃yo.she.Vei.haH3427.

26Ye shall therefore keepוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣םu.she.mar.TemH8104my statutesחֻקֹּתַי֙chu.ko.TaiH2708and my judgmentsמִשְׁפָּטַ֔יmish.pa.TaiH4941,and shall not commitתַעֲשׂ֔וּta.'a.SuH6213anyof these abominationsהַתּוֹעֵבֹ֖תha.to.'e.VotH8441; neitherany of your own nationהָֽאֶזְרָ֔חha.'ez.RachH249,nor any strangerוְהַגֵּ֖רve.ha.GerH1616that sojournethהַגָּ֥רha.GarH1481amongבְּתוֹכְכֶֽם׃be.tokh.KhemH8432you:

27(For all theseהָאֵ֔לha.'ElH411abominationsהַתּוֹעֵבֹ֣תha.to.'e.VotH8441have the menאַנְשֵֽׁי־'an.shei-H582of the landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776doneעָשׂ֥וּ'a.SuH6213, which werebeforeלִפְנֵיכֶ֑םlif.nei.KhemH6440you, and the landהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776is defiledוַתִּטְמָ֖אva.tit.Ma'H2930;)

28That the landהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ha.'A.retzH776spue not you outתָקִ֤יאta.Ki'H6958also, when ye defileבְּטַֽמַּאֲכֶ֖םbe.ta.ma.'a.KhemH2930it, as it spued outקָאָ֛הka.'AhH6958the nationsהַגּ֖וֹיha.GoyH1471that werebeforeלִפְנֵיכֶֽם׃lif.nei.KhemH6440you.

29For whosoever shall commitיַעֲשֶׂ֔הya.'a.SehH6213any of these abominationsהַתּוֹעֵב֖וֹתha.to.'e.VotH8441,even the soulsהַנְּפָשׁ֥וֹתha.ne.fa.ShotH5315that commitהָעֹשֹׂ֖תha.'o.SotH6213themshall be cut offוְנִכְרְת֛וּve.nikh.re.TuH3772from amongמִקֶּ֥רֶבmi.Ke.revH7130their peopleעַמָּֽם׃'a.MamH5971.

30Therefore shall ye keepוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣םu.she.mar.TemH8104mine ordinanceמִשְׁמַרְתִּ֗יmish.mar.TiH4931, that yecommitעֲשׂ֜וֹתa.SotH6213not any oneof these abominableהַתּֽוֹעֵבֹת֙ha.to.'e.VotH8441customsמֵחֻקּ֤וֹתme.chu.KotH2708,which were committedנַעֲשׂ֣וּna.'a.SuH6213beforeלִפְנֵיכֶ֔םlif.nei.KhemH6440you, and that ye defileתִֽטַּמְּא֖וּti.ta.me.'UH2930not yourselves therein: I amYhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ פ'e.lo.hei.KhemH430.

Commentaries on Leviticus 18