Leviticus 18:14 · Bible study
Leviticus 18:14 Commentary: The Uncle's Nakedness and Marital Bounds
Hebrew · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why marrying an aunt is incest: this verse prohibits sex with the uncle's wife because she shares his 'nakedness' (marital unity).
Research Summary
- Meaning: Prohibits sexual relations with the wife of one’s paternal uncle because she shares his “nakedness” through marriage.
- Key words: erwah (nakedness), galah (uncover), qarav (approach), dodah (aunt).
- Main debate: Whether the prohibition includes homosexual acts with the uncle (Gersom) or is clearly defined by the second clause (Jarchi, Gill). Most follow the latter.
- Theological theme: Marital unity creates kinship bonds that must be honored; incest laws reflect God’s design for family.
- Best use: Teaching on biblical boundaries for family relationships and the one‑flesh nature of marriage.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
You must not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations with her; she is your aunt.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife. She is your aunt.
KJV King James Version 1769
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`The nakedness of thy father's brother thou dost not uncover; unto his wife thou dost not draw near; she is thine aunt.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
The nakedness of thy father's brother shalt thou not uncover; thou shalt not approach his wife: she is thine aunt.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother: neither shalt thou approach to his wife, who is joined to thee by affinity.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
La desnudez del hermano de tu padre no descubrirás: no llegarás á su mujer: es mujer del hermano de tu padre.
A nudez do irmão de teu pai não descobrirás: não chegarás à sua mulher: é mulher do irmão de teu pai.
Tu ne découvriras point la nudité du frère de ton père. Tu ne t’ approcheras point de sa femme. C’ est ta tante.
Du sollst deines Vaters Bruders Blöße nicht aufdecken, daß du sein Weib nehmest; denn sie ist deine Base.
Gij zult de schaamte van den broeder uws vaders niet ontdekken; tot zijn huisvrouw zult gij niet naderen; zij is uw moei.
Non scoprirai la nudità del fratello di tuo padre, e non t’accosterai alla sua moglie: è tua zia.
Sromoty brata ojca twego nie odkryjesz, do żony jego nie wnijdziesz; żona stryja twego jest.
Наготы брата отца твоего не открывай и к жене его не приближайся: она тетка твоя.
不可 親近 你伯叔之妻， 羞辱了 你伯叔；她是 你的伯叔母。
You may not have sex relations with the wife of your father's brother, for she is of your family;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Leviticus 18:14
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree this verse prohibits sexual relations with the wife of one’s paternal uncle. The phrase “uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother” is explained by the following clause: “You shall not approach his wife.” Gill, citing Jarchi, notes that the uncle’s nakedness refers to his wife, because in marriage they become one flesh. Keil and Delitzsch add that approaching the aunt is equivalent to uncovering the uncle’s own nakedness. This extends the principle seen in verse 16 (the brother’s wife) where the wife shares her husband’s person. Thus the law forbids not only blood relatives but also affinal relations created through marriage. The prohibition protects the integrity of the family and upholds the unique bond of marriage, treating the aunt as a near kinswoman even though she is not a blood relative.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Wife as uncle's nakedness (majority view): Second clause explains the first; the uncle's wife is treated as part of his own person (Jarchi, Gill, Keil‑Delitzsch).
- Direct homosexual act with uncle (minority view): Gersom reads 'nakedness of your father’s brother' literally as a male‑male act; rejected by most commentators.
What is clear: The verse forbids sexual relations with the wife of one’s paternal uncle, defining her as a forbidden relative through the marital bond.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'uncover nakedness of your father’s brother' | The phrase refers to sexual relations with the uncle’s wife, not the uncle himself. | An older Jewish interpretation (Gersom) took it as a direct homosexual act with the uncle, but almost all later exegetes (Jarchi, Gill, Keil‑Delitzsch) see it as clarified by the following clause about approaching the wife. |
| Permanent vs. conditional prohibition | All traditions agree that sex with the uncle’s wife is forbidden while the uncle is alive. | There is less clarity on whether this prohibition extends after the uncle’s death; some see it as a permanent incest boundary, while others note it may be addressed by other forms of family provision (not levirate, which applies only to a brother). |
| Punishment for violation | Leviticus 20:20 states that those guilty will 'die childless' as divine punishment. | Keil and Delitzsch argue this implies the sin is punished by God, not by human courts. Some traditions see the phrase as a judicial penalty (cutting off from the community), while others see it as a supernatural consequence. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Leviticus 18 forms part of the Holiness Code, a collection of laws that define Israel’s distinctive identity. The repeated phrase “I am the Lord your God” (vv. 2, 4, 5, 30) grounds these commands in God’s character. The chapter stands in contrast to the practices of Egypt and Canaan (v. 3), which included incestuous unions. The term “uncover nakedness” (galah erwah) is a standard euphemism for sexual intercourse in the Hebrew Bible, used throughout this chapter.
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, marriage to a deceased uncle’s wife was sometimes practiced, either to keep property within the family or to provide for the widow. Israel’s law prohibits it, establishing that marital bonds create permanent kinship ties. The uncle’s wife is considered “your aunt” (dodah), placing her in the same category as a blood aunt (vv. 12, 13). This reflects the Genesis 2:24 principle that a man and his wife become one flesh. The cross-reference in Leviticus 20:20 states that a man who lies with his uncle’s wife will “die childless”, a punishment left to God, not the civil courts, as Keil and Delitzsch note. The verse thus serves both a legal and theological function: it protects the family structure and reinforces that sexual boundaries are grounded in the created order, not mere cultural convention.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Leviticus 18:14. The verse is stable across manuscript traditions.
Reception History
Jewish exegetes have long grappled with this verse. Rashi (citing Jarchi) explains the uncle’s nakedness as his wife, while Gersom considered it a reference to homosexual relations with the uncle. The Targums repeatedly render the phrase as “the wife of your father’s brother,” anchoring the plain sense. Christian interpreters from the Reformation onward (Calvin, Matthew Henry, Keil‑Delitzsch) have read the verse as a key example of how marriage creates affinal kinship. The principle was used in canon law to extend incest prohibitions to in‑laws. Today, the verse is often cited in ethical discussions on the biblical basis for forbidden degrees in marriage, emphasizing that one‑flesh unions generate permanent family bonds.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- Marital Unity Creates Kinship. The aunt is forbidden because she shares her husband’s person; marriage binds a couple as one flesh.
- Boundaries Protect Families. The law prevents confusion of roles and safeguards the relationship between nephew and uncle.
- Holiness Requires Distinctness. Israel was called to live differently from the surrounding nations, and sexual ethics were a key mark of that distinctiveness.
Five-Point Outline
- The Prohibition Stated. Verse 14 forbids sex with the wife of the father’s brother, not with the uncle himself.
- “Nakedness” as a Key Term. The Hebrew erwah means sexual exposure; uncovering the uncle’s nakedness is explained as approaching his wife.
- The One-Flesh Principle. Genesis 2:24 underlies the logic: the aunt is part of the uncle’s own body.
- Divine Punishment. Leviticus 20:20 warns of childlessness, showing the seriousness without requiring human execution.
- Application for Today. This verse prompts us to consider how marriage creates new family ties that deserve honor and protection.
Illustration Hooks
- A family where an uncle dies and the nephew considers marrying the widow for financial or emotional reasons. The tension between compassion and the boundary set by God raises questions about trust and obedience.
- Modern discussions about degrees of relationship in wedding planning: couples often discover that “affinity” (relationship by marriage) creates the same moral weight as blood relation.
- The idea that marriage is not just a contract but a new identity: when a couple marries, they become part of each other’s families in ways that shape duties and boundaries.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Is it always wrong to marry a deceased uncle’s wife, or does this only apply while the uncle is alive?
- Does this Old Testament law still bind Christians today, and if so, how do we apply it?
- How do we define incest in a culture where family structures are diverse and blended families are common?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is one of several in Leviticus 18 that define forbidden sexual relationships. It shows that God cares about the boundaries of family life, not just blood ties but also the bonds created through marriage. As you discuss, consider how the principle of marital unity (one flesh) shapes the way we view all extended family relationships.
Discussion Questions
- Read Leviticus 18:14 aloud. What does the phrase “uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother” mean, and how does the next clause explain it?
- Look at verse 16. How does the prohibition of the brother’s wife compare to verse 14? What does “it is your brother’s nakedness” teach us?
- Why do you think the law treats the uncle’s wife as a near relative? What does this tell us about the nature of marriage?
- How does this verse connect to the surrounding passage (vv. 12, 13, 15, 17)? What pattern do you see in the way forbidden relationships are listed?
- Leviticus 20:20 gives a punishment for violating this law. Why is the penalty “die childless” rather than death by stoning? What does that imply about the seriousness of the sin?
- How does the one-flesh principle from Genesis 2:24 help us understand why marriage creates new incest boundaries?
- In what ways does this ancient law challenge or inform modern debates about sexual ethics, family, and marriage?
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.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Leviticus 20:20 | If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness. They shall bear their sin. They shall die childless. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (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 interprets the command not to uncover a father's brother's shame as a direct prohibition against sexual relations with his wife, since she is the man's aunt. This clarifies that the underlying concern is preserving the boundary of the aunt relationship.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill clarifies that "uncovering the nakedness of thy father's brother" does not refer to the uncle himself but to his wife. The prohibition forbids approaching her, whether she is married or widowed, since she is the man's aunt by marriage. The same rule applies to the husband of a father's sister.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch observe that the law distinguishes between offenses punished by human courts and those left to God's direct judgment. Sexual relations with a father's or mother's sister carried no death penalty from the magistrate; God Himself would enforce the penalty, often by leaving the offenders childless.
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.