Passage

Leviticus 18.1-30

Book: Leviticus · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am Jehovah your God. 3. After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do; neither shall ye walk in their statutes. 4. Mine ordinances shall ye do, and my statutes shall ye keep, to walk therein: I am Jehovah your God. 5. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and mine ordinances; which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am Jehovah. 6. None of you shall approach to any that are near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am Jehovah. 7. The nakedness of thy father, even the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 8. The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness. 9. The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or the daughter of thy mother, whether born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover. 10. The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness. 11. The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 12. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman. 13. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman. 14. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. 15. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 16. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness. 17. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; thou shalt not take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are near kinswomen: it is wickedness. 18. And thou shalt not take a wife to her sister, to be a rival to her, to uncover her nakedness, besides the other in her life-time. 19. And thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness. 20. And thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbor's wife, to defile thyself with her. 21. And thou shalt not give any of thy seed to make them pass through the fire to Molech; neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am Jehovah. 22. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 23. And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 24. Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you; 25. And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomiteth out her inhabitants. 26. Ye therefore shall keep my statutes and mine ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the home-born, nor the stranger that sojourneth among you; 27. (for all these abominations have the men of the land done, that were before you, and the land is defiled); 28. that the land vomit not you out also, when ye defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. 29. For whosoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people. 30. Therefore shall ye keep my charge, that ye practise not any of these abominable customs, which were practised before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am Jehovah your God." (Leviticus 18:1-30, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. Yahweh said to Moses, 2. “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘I am Yahweh your God. 3. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived: and 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, and you shall keep my statutes, and walk in them: I am Yahweh your God. 5. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances; which if a man does, he shall live in them. I am Yahweh. 6. “‘None of you shall approach anyone who are his close relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh. 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 to her sister, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is yet 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 neighbor’s wife, and defile yourself with her. 21. “‘You shall not give any of your children to sacrifice to Molech. You shall not profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh. 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 among 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 among their people. 30. Therefore you shall keep my requirements, that you do not practice any of these abominable customs, which were practiced before you, and that you do not defile yourselves with them. I am Yahweh your God.’”" (Leviticus 18:1-30, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God. 3. After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. 4. Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. 5. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD. 6. None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. ^{near: Heb. remainder of his flesh} 7. The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 8. The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness. 9. The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover. 10. The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness. 11. The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 12. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman. 13. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman. 14. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. 15. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 16. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness. 17. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness. 18. Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time. ^{a wife: or, one wife to another} 19. Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness. 20. Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her. 21. And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. ^{Molech: Gr. Moloch} 22. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 23. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 24. Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: 25. And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. 26. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: 27. (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) 28. That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. 29. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 30. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 18:1-30, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 2. 'Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, I [am] Jehovah your God; 3. according to the work of the land of Egypt in which ye have dwelt ye do not, and according to the work of the land of Canaan whither I am bringing you in, ye do not, and in their statutes ye walk not. 4. 'My judgments ye do, and My statutes ye keep, to walk in them; I [am] Jehovah your God; 5. and ye have kept My statutes and My judgments which man doth and liveth in them; I [am] Jehovah. 6. 'None of you unto any relation of his flesh doth draw near to uncover nakedness; I [am] Jehovah. 7. 'The nakedness of thy father and the nakedness of thy mother thou dost not uncover, she [is] thy mother; thou dost not uncover her nakedness. 8. 'The nakedness of the wife of thy father thou dost not uncover; it [is] the nakedness of thy father. 9. 'The nakedness of thy sister, daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, born at home or born without; thou dost not uncover their nakedness. 10. 'The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter: thou dost not uncover their nakedness; for theirs [is] thy nakedness. 11. 'The nakedness of a daughter of thy father's wife, begotten of thy father, she [is] thy sister; thou dost not uncover her nakedness. 12. 'The nakedness of a sister of thy father thou dost not uncover; she [is] a relation of thy father. 13. 'The nakedness of thy mother's sister thou dost not uncover; for she [is] thy mother's relation. 14. 'The nakedness of thy father's brother thou dost not uncover; unto his wife thou dost not draw near; she [is] thine aunt. 15. 'The nakedness of thy daughter-in-law thou dost not uncover; she [is] thy son's wife; thou dost not uncover her nakedness. 16. 'The nakedness of thy brother's wife thou dost not uncover; it [is] thy brother's nakedness. 17. 'The nakedness of a woman and her daughter thou dost not uncover; her son's daughter, and her daughter's daughter thou dost not take to uncover her nakedness; they [are] her relations; it [is] wickedness. 18. 'And a woman unto another thou dost not take, to be an adversary, to uncover her nakedness beside her, in her life. 19. 'And unto a woman in the separation of her uncleanness thou dost not draw near to uncover her nakedness. 20. 'And unto the wife of thy fellow thou dost not give thy seed of copulation, for uncleanness with her. 21. 'And of thy seed thou dost not give to pass over to the Molech; nor dost thou pollute the name of thy God; I [am] Jehovah. 22. 'And with a male thou dost not lie as one lieth with a woman; abomination it [is]. 23. 'And with any beast thou dost not give thy copulation, for uncleanness with it; and a woman doth not stand before a beast to lie down with it; confusion it [is]. 24. 'Ye are not defiled with all these, for with all these have the nations been defiled which I am sending away from before you; 25. and the land is defiled, and I charge its iniquity upon it, and the land vomiteth out its inhabitants: 26. and ye, ye have kept My statutes and My judgments, and do not [any] of all these abominations, the native and the sojourner who is sojourning in your midst, 27. (for all these abominations have the men of the land done who [are] before you, and the land is defiled), 28. and the land doth not vomit you out in your defiling it, as it hath vomited out the nation which [is] before you; 29. for any one who doth [any] of all these abominations, even the persons who are doing [so], have been cut off from the midst of their people; 30. and ye have kept My charge, so as not to do [any] of the abominable statutes which have been done before you, and ye do not defile yourselves with them; I [am] Jehovah your God.'" (Leviticus 18:1-30, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

TBD
TBD
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Quoted in

Rape Only Condemned When Unmarried Objection Defeater

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.