Leviticus 18:19-20
“You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness. And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor’s wife and so make yourself unclean with her.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This prohibition extends even to one's own wife, highlighting that sexual intimacy within marriage still had boundaries set by God concerning times of uncleanness. It wasn't just about avoiding forbidden relationships, but about understanding how to approach even marital union with respect for purity.
This verse continues a section of laws in Leviticus addressing sexual purity within the Israelite community. Following prohibitions against incest and other forbidden relationships, this passage specifically forbids sexual intimacy with a woman during her menstrual period, emphasizing the importance of respecting these times of separation. This rule, linked to broader regulations about ritual purity, was considered a serious offense with severe consequences if violated willfully.
This verse talks about 'uncleanness,' which might sound like just an old ritual. But the Bible sees this issue as something much more profound.
The instruction in Leviticus 18:19 to avoid sexual intimacy during menstruation is often seen as a purely ceremonial law. However, commentators emphasize that it also carried a moral weight.
More Than Just Ritual
This wasn't just about keeping the physical body clean; it was about respecting sacred boundaries within marriage and recognizing a specific time of separation. The commentators note that this act was considered a gross sin, even listed alongside other severe moral failings by prophets like Ezekiel. This highlights that while the penalty might have been ceremonial, the principle pointed to a deeper understanding of holiness and respect in intimate relationships.
This prohibition wasn't a suggestion; it carried serious consequences, pointing to its importance in God's eyes.
Leviticus 18:19 is clear: 'You shall not approach a woman... while she is in her menstrual uncleanness.' This prohibition extended even to one's own wife.
Severe Consequences
The commentaries draw attention to the severe penalties associated with violating this command. Willful transgression could lead to being 'cut off' from the community (as outlined in Leviticus 20:18), a penalty indicating the gravity of the offense. Even unintentional contact resulted in a period of uncleanness for the man.
This intensity underscores that God intended this boundary to be taken very seriously, reflecting His high standard for sexual purity within the Israelite community.
Understand the original words
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.
tame' · Hebrew Verb
The state of being ritually or morally defiled, disqualifying one from the presence of a holy God; it is the opposite of holiness.
This passage provides the direct context for Leviticus 18:19, explaining the concept of menstrual uncleanness and the ritual impurity it entails for seven days.
Leviticus 20:18This verse states the severe penalty for the sin addressed in Leviticus 18:19, highlighting that willful transgression of this command resulted in being cut off from the community, emphasizing its seriousness.
Ezekiel 18:6Ezekiel includes this specific act among a list of gross sins, showing that it was still considered a grave offense against God's covenant law long after the initial giving of the Law to Moses.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20While addressing different specific sins, this New Testament passage broadly calls believers to flee sexual immorality and honor God with their bodies, reflecting a continuity of the principle of sexual purity required under the New Covenant.
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 even to one's own wife, highlighting that sexual intimacy within marriage still had boundaries set by God concerning times of uncleanness. It wasn't just about avoiding forbidden relationships, but about understanding how to approach even marital union with respect for purity.
This verse continues a section of laws in Leviticus addressing sexual purity within the Israelite community. Following prohibitions against incest and other forbidden relationships, this passage specifically forbids sexual intimacy with a woman during her menstrual period, emphasizing the importance of respecting these times of separation. This rule, linked to broader regulations about ritual purity, was considered a serious offense with severe consequences if violated willfully.
This verse continues a section of laws in Leviticus addressing sexual purity within the Israelite community. Following prohibitions against incest and other forbidden relationships, this passage specifically forbids sexual intimacy with a woman during her menstrual period, emphasizing the importance of respecting these times of separation. This rule, linked to broader regulations about ritual purity, was considered a serious offense with severe consequences if violated willfully.
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"“You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness. And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor’s wife and so make yourself unclean with her." — This prohibition extends even to one's own wife, highlighting that sexual intimacy within marriage still had boundaries set by God concerning times of uncleanness. It wasn't just about avoiding forbi…
