Leviticus 18:16

“The nakedness of your brother’s wife you shall not uncover; it is the nakedness of your brother.”
Leviticus 18:16 · direct translation from the Hebrew

Study it in the app

With the Hebrew beneath

16

The nakednessעֶרְוַתof your brother’sאָחִיךָwifeאֵשֶׁתyou shall notלֹאuncover;תְגַלֵּהitהִואis the nakednessעֶרְוַתof your brother.אָחִיךָ

Theme · Matthew 14:3-4

Go to Matthew 14:3-4

John reproaches Herod for having his brother’s wife; Leviticus 18:16 forbids union with “your brother’s wife” (also 20:21).

The same term appears in both passages.

אֵשֶׁתeshetH802γυναῖκαgynaikaG1135“woman, wife”
אָחִיajiH251ἀδελφοῦadelphouG80“brother”

Theme · Mark 6:18

Go to Mark 6:18

John tells Herod that it is not lawful for him to have his brother’s wife; Leviticus 18:16 forbids union with “your brother’s wife” (also 20:21).

The same term appears in both passages.

אֵשֶׁתeshetH802γυναῖκαgynaikaG1135“woman, wife”
אָחִיajiH251ἀδελφοῦadelphouG80“brother”

Leviticus 18:16, word by word

The nakednessעֶרְוַתervat

nakedness

Nakedness; the private parts of the body; figuratively, shame. Seeing another's nakedness was a grave lack of respect.

Where else “ervat” appears

of your brother’sאָחִיachi

brother

A son of the same father or the same mother.

Where else “achi” appears

wifeאֵשֶׁתeshet

wife

Literally "his woman": the one married to him.

Where else “eshet” appears

uncoverתְגַלֵּהtegale

uncover

To remove what covers, leaving something in view.

Where else “tegale” appears

Translation note

John the Immerser rebuked Herod for having his brother’s wife (Mark 6:18).

The context

15The nakedness of your daughter-in-law you shall not uncover; she is your son’s wife; you shall not uncover her nakedness.

16 · This verse (above)

17The nakedness of a woman and her daughter you shall not uncover; you shall not take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter to uncover her nakedness; they are close relatives; it is infamy.

Read all of Leviticus 18