“You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Leviticus 18:19
What does Leviticus 18:19 mean?
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Leviticus 18:19
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This prohibition extends to one's own wife, emphasizing that intimacy during this time was considered an immoral act and a grave sin, not just a ceremonial impurity. It highlights a concern for the sanctity of the body and the holiness expected of God's people, even in the most intimate of relationships.
“You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a broader section in Leviticus addressing sexual purity and prohibitions to distinguish Israel from the surrounding nations. Following instructions on forbidden marriages and sexual relationships, this prohibition specifically forbids intimacy with a woman during her menstrual period, emphasizing the sacredness of both people and the reproductive cycle. This regulation highlights the ongoing theme of maintaining holiness within the community, as detailed in the following verses and echoed by later prophets.
Why would God issue such a specific command about intimacy during a woman's menstrual period? It might seem strange, but it points to a deeper principle.
This verse isn't just about hygiene; it's about respecting the distinct phases of a woman's body and the sacredness of intimacy within marriage. In ancient Israel, these times were designated periods of separation. This wasn't to shame women, but to recognize the physical and spiritual implications of such times. It underscored that even within marriage, there were boundaries designed to uphold the holiness of God's people and their physical unions.
Was this just an ancient ritual law, or does it carry weight for us today? The prophets and later interpreters thought so.
While Leviticus 18:19 is part of the ceremonial law, the prophets like Ezekiel clearly saw actions related to this impurity as grave moral failings, grouping them with other gross sins. This indicates that the underlying principle extended beyond mere ritual. It speaks to a broader concept of maintaining a pure lifestyle, honoring the sanctity of human relationships, and recognizing God's standards for His people. This moral dimension is what resonates even after the ceremonial laws were fulfilled in Christ.
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niddah · Hebrew Noun
A state of ritual impurity rendering a person unfit to participate in sacred activities or enter the presence of God; in this context, it relates to the biological cycle of a woman.
This verse establishes the initial rule of separation during a woman's menstrual period, providing the foundational context for the prohibition in Leviticus 18:19.
Leviticus 20:18This passage outlines the severe penalty for violating the command in Leviticus 18:19, highlighting the seriousness with which God viewed this act by prescribing the death penalty for willful transgression.
Ezekiel 18:6Ezekiel explicitly lists approaching a menstruous woman among gross sins, demonstrating that this prohibition was understood as a moral offense beyond mere ceremonial uncleanness, even centuries later.
Ezekiel 22:10Similar to Ezekiel 18:6, this verse reiterates the sin of sexual impurity, including the transgression mentioned in Leviticus 18:19, emphasizing its moral weight and widespread disregard among the people.
gillLeviticus 18:19: "Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness."
Also thou shall not approach unto a woman,.... Not even a man to his own wife, and much less to another woman: to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness; in her monthly courses; and the time of her separation from her husband on that account was seven days, Leviticus 15:19; if a man lay with a woman when in such circumstances, th…
pulpitLeviticus 18:19: "Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness."
Verse 19. - The marriage restrictions having been laid down, there follows in the five next verses the prohibition of five sexual impurities unconnected with marriage except by their subject-matter. The first is to approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness, that is, either for seven days at the time of her o…
This prohibition extends to one's own wife, emphasizing that intimacy during this time was considered an immoral act and a grave sin, not just a ceremonial impurity. It highlights a concern for the sanctity of the body and the holiness expected of God's people, even in the most intimate of relationships.
This verse is part of a broader section in Leviticus addressing sexual purity and prohibitions to distinguish Israel from the surrounding nations. Following instructions on forbidden marriages and sexual relationships, this prohibition specifically forbids intimacy with a woman during her menstrual period, emphasizing the sacredness of both people and the reproductive cycle. This regulation highlights the ongoing theme of maintaining holiness within the community, as detailed in the following verses and echoed by later prophets.
This verse is part of a broader section in Leviticus addressing sexual purity and prohibitions to distinguish Israel from the surrounding nations. Following instructions on forbidden marriages and sexual relationships, this prohibition specifically forbids intimacy with a woman during her menstrual period, emphasizing the sacredness of both people and the reproductive cycle. This regulation highlights the ongoing theme of maintaining holiness within the community, as detailed in the following verses and echoed by later prophets.
"“You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness." — This prohibition extends to one's own wife, emphasizing that intimacy during this time was considered an immoral act and a grave sin, not just a ceremonial impurity. It highlights a concern for the s…
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Last reviewed October 2026