Leviticus 20:18
If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and uncovers her nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse uses evocative language, "he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood," not just to describe the physical act but to highlight a profound spiritual defilement and loss of intimacy that should exist even within marriage. This imagery points to a transgression against the sacredness of the body and God's design for its care, extending beyond mere ritual uncleanness.
This verse appears within a section of Leviticus detailing forbidden sexual relationships and practices that would defile the land. It follows prohibitions against incest and homosexuality, and immediately precedes laws about marrying a brother's widow or other specific relationships. The severity of the punishment – being "cut off" – emphasizes the deep offense this act was considered within the covenant community's understanding of purity and holiness.
This verse sounds harsh and maybe even a little confusing. What's really going on here, and why the severe punishment?
Leviticus 20:18 addresses sexual intimacy during a woman's menstrual period. While modern readers might focus on hygiene or potential health risks, the Old Testament purity laws often go deeper.
A Symbol of Life and Death
Menstruation, symbolized here as a "fountain of blood," was a potent reminder of life's cycles and, in a fallen world, the presence of death. It marked a period of ritual separation, not necessarily due to inherent 'uncleanness' in a moral sense, but because it temporarily represented a boundary that, when crossed sexually, blurred the lines between life-giving intimacy and the realities of sin and mortality.
The text uses strong, almost graphic language: "he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood." This imagery emphasizes a profound violation of natural order and intimacy, suggesting a transgression that touched on the very essence of life and purity as understood by ancient Israel.
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The punishment here is severe – 'cut off from among their people.' Who is held accountable, and why?
This law doesn't place blame solely on one person; it emphasizes shared responsibility. The phrasing "he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood" highlights the mutual participation and knowledge involved in the act. Both individuals were seen as consenting parties in violating this specific boundary.
The Consequence: "Cut Off"
The penalty, "both of them shall be cut off from among their people," was a severe consequence in ancient Israel. It could mean various forms of removal from the community, including execution or other forms of banishment, signifying a complete separation from the covenant community.
This drastic measure underscores the importance God placed on maintaining the distinctiveness and holiness of His people, protecting the sacredness of relationships and the integrity of Israel's life before Him.
Understand the original words
maqor · Hebrew Noun
In this context, it refers to a woman's reproductive capacity or the flow of menstrual blood, symbolizing the boundaries of physical purity and the sacredness of the life-giving process.
This passage details the impurity associated with a woman's menstrual flow, establishing the context for the prohibition in Leviticus 20:18.
Leviticus 18:19This verse explicitly forbids approaching a woman to uncover her nakedness during her monthly uncleanness, directly paralleling the offense addressed in Leviticus 20:18.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20While addressing sexual immorality broadly, Paul's exhortation to flee from sexual sin and honor God with our bodies resonates with the call for purity and reverence inherent in the Leviticus law.
Proverbs 5:15-20This passage encourages marital fidelity and delight within the bounds of marriage, offering a positive counterpoint to the restrictions and warnings against sexual impropriety found in Leviticus.
calvinLeviticus 20:18: "And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people."
And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness, he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
Quicunq…
pooleLeviticus 20:18: "And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people."
If a man shall lie with a woman, wittingly and willingly. See on Leviticus 15:24 18:19 . Her sisters, i.e. her monthly infirmity. Her fountain, or her issue. Thus the fountain of blood in Mark 5:29 , is the issue of blood , Luke 8:44 , the fountain…
The verse uses evocative language, "he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood," not just to describe the physical act but to highlight a profound spiritual defilement and loss of intimacy that should exist even within marriage. This imagery points to a transgression against the sacredness of the body and God's design for its care, extending beyond mere ritual uncleanness.
This verse appears within a section of Leviticus detailing forbidden sexual relationships and practices that would defile the land. It follows prohibitions against incest and homosexuality, and immediately precedes laws about marrying a brother's widow or other specific relationships. The severity of the punishment – being "cut off" – emphasizes the deep offense this act was considered within the covenant community's understanding of purity and holiness.
This verse appears within a section of Leviticus detailing forbidden sexual relationships and practices that would defile the land. It follows prohibitions against incest and homosexuality, and immediately precedes laws about marrying a brother's widow or other specific relationships. The severity of the punishment – being "cut off" – emphasizes the deep offense this act was considered within the covenant community's understanding of purity and holiness.
"If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and uncovers her nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people." — The verse uses evocative language, "he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood," not just to describe the physical act but to highlight a profound spiritual defil…
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