Leviticus 20:17
“If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace, and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness, and he shall bear his iniquity.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
While "seeing nakedness" might sound like simply looking, the text clarifies it signifies the act of sexual intimacy itself. This isn't just about lustful glances; it's a direct indictment of the physical act, emphasizing the profound violation and the deep spiritual stain it leaves, which is why it demands such a severe consequence: being "cut off."
This passage continues God's commands for Israel on holiness, specifically addressing prohibited sexual relationships that were common in surrounding cultures. It follows dire warnings against various forbidden acts and directly prohibits incest, detailing the severe consequence of being "cut off" from the community for engaging in this deeply defiling act.
The verse uses the phrase 'sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness.' Is this just about looking with lust, or is something more serious happening?
While 'seeing nakedness' can sometimes refer to an immodest gaze, in this context, the surrounding phrases make it clear that a deeper, physical act is described. The text immediately clarifies this by stating, 'He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness.' This idiom throughout Leviticus and Genesis signifies sexual intercourse.
This isn't a minor infraction; it's the act itself that incurs the severe penalty. The language emphasizes the mutual nature of the transgression, but the primary focus is on the illicit sexual union that has occurred. It's about the physical consummation of an utterly forbidden relationship.
Why would God include such a disturbing command in His law? What was the purpose behind prohibiting incest so strictly?
This prohibition, along with others in Leviticus 18 and 20, served a crucial purpose for ancient Israel:
Maintaining Purity and Order
These laws were essential for establishing Israel as a distinct people, set apart for God. They distinguished Israel from the surrounding Canaanite cultures, many of which practiced various forms of sexual immorality, including incest.
Protecting the Family Unit
The family was the foundational unit of society. Prohibiting incest protected its integrity, preventing the breakdown of social structures and safeguarding vulnerable individuals within the family.
Reflecting God's Holiness
Ultimately, these commands reflected the holy nature of God Himself. By adhering to these strict boundaries, Israel was meant to mirror God's own absolute purity and set themselves apart as His holy possession.
Understand the original words
ʿerwah · Hebrew Noun
A legal idiom referring to the intimate area of a person, used throughout the Pentateuch to describe the sexual act or the person themselves in a context of incest or prohibited relations. To uncover it is to reveal or experience sexual intimacy.
chesed · Hebrew Noun
A term of moral shame or wickedness; it describes an act that is profoundly improper, offensive, and destructive to the community's moral order, particularly in cases of sexual immorality.
karat · Hebrew Verb
A severe covenantal penalty requiring the permanent expulsion or judicial execution of an individual from the community of Israel, effectively cutting them off from the promises and protections of the covenant people.
ʿavon · Hebrew Noun
This passage directly precedes Leviticus 20:17 and explicitly forbids sexual relations with one's sister, establishing the prohibition that 20:17 punishes.
Deuteronomy 27:22This verse lists incestuous acts, including relations with a sister, as curses to be proclaimed upon the people, reinforcing the severity of such sins within the covenant community.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5The Apostle Paul addresses a severe case of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church, commanding them to expel the offender and highlighting the theme of divine judgment and spiritual purity required of believers.
Romans 1:26-27This passage describes the consequences of rejecting God, including unnatural sexual desires and acts, which provides a theological framework for understanding why such severe prohibitions existed and the spiritual decay associated with violating them.
bensonLeviticus 20:17: "And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity."
Leviticus 20:17 . See her nakedness — In this and several of the following verses, uncovering nakedness plainly appears to mean not marriage, but fornication or adultery.
pooleLeviticus 20:17: "And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity."
Seeing is here understood, either, 1. Properly, and so God would cut off the occasions of further filthiness. Or rather, 2. Improperly, for touching her or lying with her; for, 1. The sense of seei…
While "seeing nakedness" might sound like simply looking, the text clarifies it signifies the act of sexual intimacy itself. This isn't just about lustful glances; it's a direct indictment of the physical act, emphasizing the profound violation and the deep spiritual stain it leaves, which is why it demands such a severe consequence: being "cut off."
This passage continues God's commands for Israel on holiness, specifically addressing prohibited sexual relationships that were common in surrounding cultures. It follows dire warnings against various forbidden acts and directly prohibits incest, detailing the severe consequence of being "cut off" from the community for engaging in this deeply defiling act.
This passage continues God's commands for Israel on holiness, specifically addressing prohibited sexual relationships that were common in surrounding cultures. It follows dire warnings against various forbidden acts and directly prohibits incest, detailing the severe consequence of being "cut off" from the community for engaging in this deeply defiling act.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Leviticus 20:17 is available in the Sola app.
The consequence for incest was severe: 'they shall be cut off.' What does this phrase truly mean, and why such a harsh penalty?
The phrase 'cut off' (Hebrew: kareth) is one of the most serious judgments in the Old Testament law. Its exact meaning has been debated, but it consistently signifies a severe, divinely ordained punishment.
Possible Meanings:
Public and Terrifying
The phrase 'in the sight of their people' underscores that this judgment was public. This wasn't a private sin; its punishment was a public spectacle intended as a stark warning to the entire community. It demonstrated the gravity with which God viewed such transgressions and the absolute necessity of maintaining the moral and spiritual boundaries He established.
Refers to the moral guilt or the consequences of one's wrongdoing; bearing it implies the responsibility to suffer the penalty for that transgression. In a sacrificial context, it is the debt of sin that must be addressed before God.
"“If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace, and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovere…" — While "seeing nakedness" might sound like simply looking, the text clarifies it signifies the act of sexual intimacy itself. This isn't just about lustful glances; it's a direct indictment of the phy…
