Leviticus Chapter 18
1 The LORD said to Moses,
2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, 'I am the LORD your God.
3 You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived. You shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes.
4 You shall do my ordinances. You shall keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God.
5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances, which if a man does, he shall live in them. I am the LORD.
6 " 'None of you shall approach any close relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.
7 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness.
8 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife. It is your father's nakedness.
9 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or born abroad.
10 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter, or of your daughter's daughter, even their nakedness; for theirs is your own nakedness.
11 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, conceived by your father, since she is your sister.
12 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister. She is your father's near kinswoman.
13 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is your mother's near kinswoman.
14 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother. You shall not approach his wife. She is your aunt.
15 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She is your son's wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.
16 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife. It is your brother's nakedness.
17 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. You shall not take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near kinswomen. It is wickedness.
18 " 'You shall not take a wife in addition to her sister, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is still alive.
19 " 'You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.
20 " 'You shall not lie carnally with your neighbour's wife, and defile yourself with her.
21 " 'You shall not give any of your children as a sacrifice to Molech. You shall not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
22 " 'You shall not lie with a man as with a woman. That is detestable.
23 " 'You shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it. No woman may give herself to an animal, to lie down with it: it is a perversion.
24 " 'Don't defile yourselves in any of these things; for in all these the nations which I am casting out before you were defiled.
25 The land was defiled. Therefore I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out her inhabitants.
26 You therefore shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the native-born, nor the stranger who lives as a foreigner amongst you
27 (for the men of the land that were before you had done all these abominations, and the land became defiled),
28 that the land not vomit you out also, when you defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.
29 " 'For whoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from amongst their people.
30 Therefore you shall keep my requirements, that you do not practise any of these abominable customs which were practised before you, and that you do not defile yourselves with them. I am the LORD your God.' "
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Leviticus Chapter 18 Guide
At this point in the enunciation of the laws of separation they assume a slightly altered character. So far, the fundamental matters of relationships to God have been the principal note. Now the habits of the life of separation are more particularly dealt with. The enactments here recorded especially recognize the perils which would surround these people on account of the habits and customs of the people by whom they would be surrounded in the land.
In view of these there was first a call to separation in general terms. Jehovah asserted Himself as being their God and distinctly forbade their conforming their actions to the doings either of Egypt or of Canaan, accompanying the commandment with a promise that if they obeyed Him they should live thereby.
Then followed the naming of certain evil practices of the people of these lands, certain abominations which had cursed the whole life of the peoples.
In this connection occurs a most important declaration, explaining the judgment of God upon the people of these lands. It is that the reason for such judgment is to be found in the practice of these abominations with terrible effects produced upon the peoples, so that they were utterly corrupt. All this emphasizes the paramount importance of the insistence on the necessity that the people of God should not be themselves d d e d by such practices.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Leviticus Chapter 18 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Unlawful marriages and fleshly lusts.
Verses 1-30
Here is a law against all conformity to the corrupt usages of the heathen. Also laws against incest, against brutal lusts, and barbarous idolatries; and the enforcement of these laws from the ruin of the Canaanites. God here gives moral precepts. Close and constant adherence to God's ordinances is the most effectual preservative from gross sin. The grace of God only will secure us; that grace is to be expected only in the use of the means of grace. Nor does He ever leave any to their hearts' lusts, till they have left him and his services.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.