The emphasis on cleanliness and righteousness extends, of course, to human sexual relations. This chapter discusses expectations in that realm, described within the culture of the ANE.
Leviticus 18:1-5,
The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: `I am the LORD your God. You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices.
You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the LORD your God. Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD.
The culture of Israel is to be different from those of the surrounding lands.
Living under the Covenant Law is healthy, it encourages long life, says YHWH. Ezekiel repeats this idea in Ezekiel 20:11, 13 and 21. In the New Testament, Paul repeats this idea in Romans 10:5 and Galatians 3:12.
The remainder of this chapter will get specific about sexual practice.
Leviticus 18:6-8, Incest with relatives
"`No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.
"`Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her.
"`Do not have sexual relations with your father's wife; that would dishonor your father.
"`Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.
The first sentence in this paragraph lays out the general concept. Sex with relatives is forbidden. Details and examples follow.
Sex is both an intense and private drive. The ones living with you, in close family intimacy, have a protection that sexual desires should not cross.
Leviticus 18:10-18, Incest, part 2
"`Do not have sexual relations with your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter; that would dishonor you.
"`Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father's wife, born to your father; she is your sister.
"`Do not have sexual relations with your father's sister; she is your father's close relative.
"`Do not have sexual relations with your mother's sister, because she is your mother's close relative.
"`Do not dishonor your father's brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt.
"`Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son's wife; do not have relations with her.
"`Do not have sexual relations with your brother's wife; that would dishonor your brother.
"`Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. Do not have sexual relations with either her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter; they are her close relatives. That is wickedness.
"`Do not take your wife's sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.
Some of these prohibitions imply that a marriage may include several wives and that there are blended marriages and half-siblings and step-children.
Leviticus 18:19, Monthly period
In a world where women often did not have much power in refusing sex, a woman was to be left alone during her period. (Sex during that time would likely be uncomfortable for the woman and would certainly not meet the ANE emphasis on reproduction.)
One more prohibition -- this one more generic on adultery.
Leviticus 18:21, Molech
The tenor of the chapter turns. The prohibitions move into practices of the surrounding nations, including the practice of sacrificing children to Molech.
Leviticus 18:22-23, Homosexuality and bestiality
Sex between men or sex with animals -- most likely practiced by other nations -- are both forbidden.
Leviticus 18:24-30, Be serious
The chapter ends as it began, with an emphasis on distinctiveness for the people of Israel. They are not follow the sexual practices of the nations around them.
Leviticus 18:19, Monthly period
"`Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness of her monthly period.
Leviticus 18:20, Adultery with a neighbor
"`Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor's wife and defile yourself with her.
Leviticus 18:21, Molech
"`Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18:22-23, Homosexuality and bestiality
"`Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.
"`Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.
Leviticus 18:24-30, Be serious
"`Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native-born and the aliens living among you must not do any of these detestable things, for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.
"`Everyone who does any of these detestable things--such persons must be cut off from their people. Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the LORD your God.'"
The chapter ends as it began, with an emphasis on distinctiveness for the people of Israel. They are not follow the sexual practices of the nations around them.
First published August 20, 2025; updated August 20, 2025
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