Leviticus 18:8

“The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is the nakedness of your father.”

Leviticus 18:8 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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8

Theme · 1 Corinthians 5:1

Go to 1 Corinthians 5:1

Paul speaks of someone who has “his father’s wife”; Leviticus 18:8 forbids it (also Deuteronomy 22:30).

The same term appears in both passages.

  • אֵשֶׁתeshetH802γυναῖκάgynaikaG1135“woman, wife”
  • אָבִיaviH1πατρὸςpatrosG3962“father”

Leviticus 18:8, 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 father’sאָבִיavi

father

The man who begets a child and heads his household.

Where else “avi” 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

The context

7The nakedness of your father and the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover; she is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness.

8 · This verse (above)

9The nakedness of your sister, daughter of your father or daughter of your mother, born at home or born outside, you shall not uncover their nakedness.

Read all of Leviticus 18

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