Leviticus 18:15 Meaning: Does God Forbid Marriage to a Daughter-in-Law?

Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this verse. The first is ‘ervah, translated “nakedness.” In this context it means more than physical nudity; it carries a sense of shameful exposure, especially the kind that violates a sacred bond. The word is used consistently across this chapter to mark relationships that are off-limits. The verb galah, “to uncover,” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse. It pictures something hidden that should remain hidden. And kallah is the word for daughter-in-law, but its root also means “bride” or “young wife.” That double meaning matters: she comes into the family as a bride, and that new bond does not dissolve when her husband dies. She remains part of the family. The reason given, “she is your son’s wife”, anchors the prohibition in the reality that she is one flesh with your son, and therefore near kin.

Christians across traditions have read this verse as a clear prohibition of sexual relations between a man and his daughter-in-law. The question that arises is whether marriage after the son’s death is also forbidden, given the Old Testament practice of levirate marriage, where a brother marries his brother’s widow. Jewish interpreters note that levirate marriage applies to a brother, not a father, so this prohibition stands regardless. Protestant commentators like Matthew Henry see it as a permanent ban rooted in the nearness of the relationship. Catholic teaching classes it as an impediment to marriage even after the son’s death. The verse itself gives no exception, and the word “wife” (present tense) suggests an ongoing bond that outlasts death.

A common misunderstanding is that this verse only forbids adultery with a daughter-in-law while the son is still alive. In fact, the prohibition is about incest, not just adultery. The reason given, “she is your son’s wife”, makes her permanent family. Even after the son’s death, the bond remains. Leviticus 20:12 confirms this by prescribing death for a man who lies with his daughter-in-law, with no time limit attached.

This verse asks a simple question: are you willing to honor the boundaries God has placed around family? Those boundaries exist to protect everyone involved, to keep relationships clear and safe, especially in the home. This week, you might look at the relationships in your own household, extended or blended, and ask if any have become confused or strained. God’s commands here are not about restriction for its own sake. They free us to love family members without the deep harm that comes when a boundary is crossed.