Leviticus 18:14 Meaning: She Is Your Aunt
“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife. She is your aunt.
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.
`The nakedness of thy father's brother thou dost not uncover; unto his wife thou dost not draw near; she is thine aunt.
The nakedness of thy father's brother shalt thou not uncover; thou shalt not approach his wife: she is thine aunt.
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Leviticus 18:14. Why does God forbid sexual relations with an aunt? Learn about marital unity and the sacred boundaries of family relationships.
Context
Leviticus 18 is a chapter of boundaries. God gives Israel clear rules for sexual relationships, listing person after person: do not uncover the nakedness of your father, your mother, your sister, your granddaughter, your aunt. Each prohibition names the relationship and often adds a reason: she is your mother, she is your sister. This verse turns to the father's brother and his wife. The two short statements carry weight: you shall not approach his wife. Why? She is your aunt. The chapter itself is set against the backdrop of Egypt and Canaan, where such lines had been erased. God is calling His people to something different, something that protects the fabric of family life.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words give this verse its force. The first is er.vah (עֶרְוָה), often translated 'nakedness.' It carries a sense of shame and exposure, something private that should stay hidden. The second is qarav (קָרַב), 'to approach' or 'draw near,' which in these laws almost always means sexual approach. The third is dodah (דֹּדָה), a specific word for 'aunt' that refers to the wife of the father's brother. By calling her that, God declares that a marriage bond makes her as close as a blood relative. Approaching her sexually would violate not just her but your uncle too, because in the Bible a husband and wife become one flesh. Her nakedness is his nakedness. That is why the cross-reference in Leviticus 20:20 calls it uncovering the uncle's nakedness.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions see a deep principle here. Marriage creates a new family bond that must be honoured. Jewish commentators like Jarchi read 'she is your aunt' as a permanent prohibition, not limited to the uncle's lifetime. Reformed pastor Matthew Henry wrote that these laws protect the peace of families. Keil and Delitzsch note that violating this rule was not punishable by death, but God would bring consequences like dying childless. The early church did not treat every Old Testament civil law as binding on believers, but the underlying respect for marriage and family remains universal. All traditions agree: God calls us to honour the ties that marriage creates.
A common misunderstanding
A common misunderstanding is that this verse only forbids sexual relations with an aunt while her husband is alive. In fact, the prohibition continues after his death. The phrase 'she is your aunt' declares a permanent family relationship. Gill's commentary explains that the uncle's wife is prohibited whether he is living or dead. The law is rooted in the bond of marriage, which does not dissolve when a spouse dies.
Living This Out
What does a verse about ancient family boundaries mean for you this week? It asks you to see the people in your life through the lens of commitment. If you are married, your spouse's family becomes your family. Treat them with the same respect you would give your own parents and siblings. If you are single, honour the marriages of your extended family by keeping boundaries that protect those unions. This is not about a list of rules. It is about the weight of the word 'family', a gift from God that thrives when we honour its sacred bonds.
Main takeaway: When God calls a woman 'your aunt,' He is building protection around your uncle's marriage and your family's honor, a boundary that does not end when he dies.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God made families special. He tells us to treat our aunts and uncles with special love, not like someone we would marry. This helps keep families safe and happy.
For ages 9, 12
In this verse, God is protecting the close bonds of family. Your uncle and his wife are joined together, and she becomes your aunt just like a blood relative. So being with her in the way a husband and wife are together would break that trust and hurt the family. God's rules are not to spoil our fun but to keep our relationships strong and beautiful.
Questions People Ask
What does 'uncover nakedness' mean in Leviticus 18:14?
It is a Hebrew phrase (er.vah) that refers to sexual relations, but with a strong sense of shame or violation of privacy. In these laws, it means entering into a sexual relationship that God has forbidden because it dishonors the family bond.
Does this verse forbid marrying an aunt even after the uncle dies?
Yes. The words 'she is your aunt' describe a permanent relationship created by marriage. Jewish and Christian commentators agree the prohibition continues after the husband's death. The bond of marriage makes her your aunt for life.
Is this law still valid for Christians today?
Most Christians see the principle behind the law as enduring: marriage creates family ties that should be respected. The specific legal penalty no longer applies, but the call to honor family boundaries remains part of Christian moral teaching.
How is this different from the command to marry a brother's widow?
In Deuteronomy 25, God gave a special exception for a brother's widow to protect the family line when a brother died without children. That was a specific case for ancient Israel. This verse in Leviticus is the general rule, and no exception was given for an uncle's widow.
Why is the aunt called 'your aunt' rather than just 'your uncle's wife'?
The Hebrew word dodah specifically means 'aunt' and implies a family relationship. By using this term, God emphasizes that she is not a stranger but a close relative through marriage, with all the honor and protection that relationship requires.
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