Leviticus 18:13 · Bible study
Leviticus 18:13 Commentary: Kinship Boundaries and Holiness
Hebrew · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Commentators discuss why Leviticus 18:13 prohibits sexual relations with a maternal aunt, grounding it in blood kinship and the sanctity of family.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Forbids sexual relations with a maternal aunt because she is a close blood relative.
- Key words: ʿerwâ (nakedness), ʾăḥôt ʾimmᵊḵā (sister of your mother), shᵊʾēr (near kinswoman).
- Main debate: Little debate over the plain sense; the only variation concerns how analogously this law applies to other relatives (e.g., great‑aunts).
- Theological theme: The sanctity of blood‑kinship and the call for Israel to be holy by honoring God‑given family boundaries.
- Best use: Teaching on biblical family ethics, the moral foundation of incest prohibitions, and the connection between holiness and order.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
You must not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s close relative.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s near kinswoman.
KJV King James Version 1769
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister: for she is thy mother’s near kinswoman.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister: for she is thy mother’s near kinswoman.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`The nakedness of thy mother's sister thou dost not uncover; for she is thy mother's relation.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
The nakedness of thy mother's sister shalt thou not uncover; for she is thy mother's near relation.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: because she is thy mother's flesh.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
La desnudez de la hermana de tu madre no descubrirás: porque parienta de tu madre es.
A nudez da irmã de tua mãe não descobrirás: porque parente de tua mãe é.
Tu ne découvriras point la nudité de la sœur de ta mère. Car c’ est la proche parente de ta mère.
Du sollst deiner Mutter Schwester Blöße nicht aufdecken; denn es ist deiner Mutter nächste Blutsfreundin.
Gij zult de schaamte van de zuster uwer moeder niet ontdekken; want zij is uwer moeder nabestaande.
Non scoprirai la nudità della sorella di tua madre, perch’è parente stretta di tua madre.
Sromoty siostry matki twojej nie odkryjesz; bo pokrewna matki twojej jest.
Наготы сестры матери твоей не открывай, ибо она единокровная матери твоей.
不可 露 你姨母 的下體； 她是 你母親 的骨肉之親。
You may not have sex connection with your mother's sister, for she is your mother's near relation.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Leviticus 18:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse applies the same principle as Leviticus 18:12 to the mother's sister. The prohibition is absolute: a man must not “uncover the nakedness” of his maternal aunt. Gill notes this repeats the logic of the previous verse, an aunt by blood, whether on the father’s or mother’s side, falls within the forbidden circle. Keil and Delitzsch emphasize the Hebrew term shᵊʾēr (flesh, near kinswoman), which signals blood relationship and appears throughout the chapter (vv. 6, 17; 20:19; 21:2). Matthew Henry places this command among the incest prohibitions that protect the integrity of the clan. The strong negative lō (not) with the Piel verb tᵊgalleh (you shall uncover) forms an emphatic ban, not a suggestion. There is no disagreement on the plain sense: God forbids sexual contact with one’s maternal aunt because she is the mother’s close flesh-and-blood relative.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God prohibits sexual relations with a maternal aunt because she is a close blood relative of one’s mother, and this prohibition is part of a broader code that protects the integrity of the family.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Authority of this law for Christians today | All traditions see this as reflecting God's design for family. | Some view the prohibition as part of Israel's civil law, not directly binding under the New Covenant; others consider it a moral principle that continues because it is rooted in creation order. |
| Extension beyond the stated relationship | The text explicitly forbids only the maternal aunt. | Gill argues that the same logic extends to great‑aunts (and uncles) because the blood tie is analogous; other traditions restrict the prohibition to the degree of kinship named in the text. |
| Purpose of the prohibition | It protects family boundaries and prevents incest. | Some emphasize the ceremonial holiness dimension (Israel as a distinct people), while others emphasize the natural‑law aspect of avoiding genetic and relational confusion. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In the ancient Near East, marriages between a man and his aunt were known. Gill cites the Persians, Lacedaemonians, and Romans (via Herodotus and Tacitus) as cultures where such unions occurred, though they were regarded as unusual even by some pagan standards. The Levitical code deliberately separates Israel from these practices. The prohibition comes within a larger list (Leviticus 18:6‑23) that moves from the nuclear family outward, creating concentric circles of forbidden sexual boundaries. Verse 12 forbids the paternal aunt; verse 13 symmetrically forbids the maternal aunt. The near‑kinswoman language (shᵊʾēr) is used in only a few Old Testament passages (e.g., Leviticus 18:6; 20:19; 21:2; Numbers 27:11) and always denotes a blood relation who cannot be treated as a marriage partner. The verb “uncover nakedness” (gālâ in Piel) is a euphemism for sexual intercourse, used consistently in this chapter. Israel’s holiness demanded respect for God‑ordained family structures, which the surrounding nations often violated. The land itself would vomit out those who defiled it with such practices (Leviticus 18:25, 28), underlining the seriousness of this boundary.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the wording closely parallels that of verse 12.
Reception History
This verse has been consistently read across Christian traditions as part of the biblical incest code. Ancient Jewish interpretation (e.g., the Talmud) included it in lists of forbidden marriages. The early church fathers and medieval canon lawyers used it to establish prohibited degrees of kinship. Reformed commentators such as Matthew Henry and John Gill treated it as an enduring moral law, while Catholic moral theology continues to appeal to it in defining impediments to marriage. The verse remains a foundation for Christian teaching that family ties are sacred and must be protected from confusion.
Preaching This Verse
Three‑point outline
- The specific prohibition: God forbids sexual relations with a maternal aunt. The command is direct and unambiguous.
- The stated reason: She is “your mother’s near kinswoman”, the relationship is one of blood, not merely custom.
- The broader principle: God’s law protects the family unit as the foundation of covenantal life. Boundaries preserve order and honor.
Five‑point outline
- The command mirrors the prohibition of the paternal aunt (v. 12), showing systematic care for all close kin.
- The Hebrew shᵊʾēr identifies her as flesh‑of‑the‑flesh, a tie that cannot be set aside.
- The prohibition is part of a holiness code that calls Israel to be distinct from the nations.
- By guarding these boundaries, Israel protects the family from internal chaos and the land from defilement.
- The principle endures: God’s design for family relationships is not arbitrary but rooted in creation and covenant.
Illustration hooks
- A family tree: some branches are meant to be separate to keep the tree healthy. Marrying a close relative would be like grafting a branch into its own parent, unnatural and damaging.
- In many cultures today, laws against incest reflect this same wisdom, even when the rationale is not explicitly tied to faith.
- The phrase “near kinswoman” is like labeling some parts of a house as off‑limits, not because they are bad, but because the structure works best when each room serves its purpose.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this Old Testament law still apply to Christians, or is it part of the ceremonial code that passed away?
- Why does God give such detailed instructions about family relationships? What does this reveal about His character?
- How can we apply the principle of respecting family boundaries in our own extended families without falling into legalism?
Leading a Discussion
Leviticus 18:13 is one verse in a series of prohibitions that define who is too close to marry. The reason given, “she is your mother’s near kinswoman”, points to the deep connection of blood. This passage invites us to consider why God sets boundaries around family relationships and how those boundaries reflect His good order for human life.
Discussion questions
- What does the phrase “uncover nakedness” mean in this context? (Use the supplied lexicon note on ʿerwâ.)
- How does this verse compare with verse 12 about the father’s sister? Why would both be forbidden?
- The Hebrew word shᵊʾēr (near kinswoman) literally means “flesh.” What does that physical image tell us about the seriousness of this boundary?
- This prohibition appears in a chapter that begins with “I am the Lord” (v. 2) and ends with commands to keep the land from vomiting out its inhabitants. How does the holiness of God shape these instructions?
- What does this law tell us about God’s view of the family? Why is it important that family ties be preserved rather than confused?
- In what ways do we still respect similar boundaries today, and where might our culture be weakening the sanctity of family relationships?
- How can we honor the principle behind this command without treating it as a checklist? What does it mean to live as a people set apart for God?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note emphasizes that the prohibition against uncovering a mother's sister's shame rests on her being a near blood relative. The bond of kinship makes this relationship forbidden, just as with other close family members.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that the law against marrying a father's sister applies equally to a mother's sister, since both are aunts by blood. By the same logic, a woman could not marry her uncle. He notes that while some ancient peoples allowed such marriages, they were considered new and unusual among the Romans.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch explain that marriage with an aunt is forbidden because she is the blood-relation of the parent. The Hebrew term for this relationship, "sheer," means a close blood tie, one that makes the aunt part of the parent's own flesh.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange frames the marriage prohibitions as guarding against two opposite extremes: incest, which drags the family back upon itself, and unnatural acts that destroy the life-giving purpose of union. The core principle is keeping the seed sacred to its creative end, the formation of new and holy families.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes that these prohibitions rest on God's own authority and the natural bonds of family. He stresses that approaching near kin violates the honor due to parents and corrupts the sacred order of relationships, making such acts not merely unclean but wicked.