Leviticus 18:18 · Bible study
Leviticus 18:18 Commentary: Sisters, Rivalry, and Marriage Law
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Leviticus 18:18's prohibition on marrying two sisters simultaneously and whether it addresses polygamy or marriage to a deceased wife's sister.
Research Summary
- Meaning: This verse prohibits a man from marrying two sisters at the same time, targeting the rivalry and hurt such a union would cause.
- Key words: ʼishshah (woman/wife), ʼachot (sister), tzarar (to bind, be a rival), ʻerwah (nakedness, often sexual exposure).
- Main debate: Does the phrase “while her sister is still alive” imply that marriage to a deceased wife’s sister is permissible, or does the broader principle of near-kinship forbid it?
- Theological theme: God protects vulnerable family relationships from exploitation and emotional harm, even when the practice (polygamy) is tolerated.
- Best use: Preached with the Holiness Code to show that God’s laws guard human dignity, especially where relational power imbalances exist.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
You must not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is still alive.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“‘You shall not take a wife in addition to her sister, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is still alive.
KJV King James Version 1769
Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And thou shalt not take a wife to her sister, to be a rival to her, to uncover her nakedness, besides the other in her life-time.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`And a woman unto another thou dost not take, to be an adversary, to uncover her nakedness beside her, in her life.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And thou shalt not take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness beside her, during her life.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Thou shalt not take thy wife's sister for a harlot, to rival her: neither shalt thou discover her nakedness, while she is yet living.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
No tomarás mujer juntamente con su hermana, para hacerla su rival, descubriendo su desnudez delante de ella en su vida.
Não tomarás mulher juntamente com sua irmã, para fazê-la sua rival, descobrindo sua nudez diante dela em sua vida.
Tu ne prendras point la sœur de ta femme, pour exciter une rivalité, en découvrant sa nudité à côté de ta femme pendant sa vie.
Du sollst auch deines Weibes Schwester nicht nehmen neben ihr, ihre Blöße aufzudecken, ihr zuwider, solange sie noch lebt.
Gij zult ook geen vrouw tot haar zuster nemen, om haar te benauwen, mits haar schaamte nevens haar, in haar leven, te ontdekken.
Non prenderai la sorella di tua moglie per farne una rivale, scoprendo la sua nudità insieme con quella di tua moglie, mentre questa è in vita.
Siostry żony twej nie pojmuj, abyś jej nie trapił, odkrywając sromotę jej, póki ona żywa.
Не бери жены вместе с сестрою ее, чтобы сделать ее соперницею, чтоб открыть наготу ее при ней, при жизни ее.
你妻 還在的時候，不可 另娶 她的姊妹 作對頭，露 她的下體。
And you may not take as wife a woman and at the same time her sister, to be in competition with her in her life-time.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Leviticus 18:18
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 primarily prohibits marrying two sisters at the same time. The Hebrew phrase “a woman to her sister” is taken as two sisters, not one wife to another (Cambridge Bible). The key word leʼtzorer (“to be a rival”) points to the jealousy and conflict that would arise, as seen in the story of Leah and Rachel (Barnes, Clarke). The appended phrase “while her sister is still alive” shows the prohibition is against simultaneous marriage. Calvin argues the law’s intention is to prevent the cruelty of a husband setting near relatives against each other. Keil & Delitzsch note that after a wife’s death, a man was free to marry her sister, though they do not address incest implications. Gill and Poole strongly dispute that permissiveness, seeing the wife’s sister as near kin. The consensus is that the plain sense forbids bigamy with sisters, but whether it extends to all polygamy or to marriage with a deceased wife’s sister remains debated among the commentators.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Simultaneous sisters only: The grammar 'a woman to her sister' and the phrase 'in her lifetime' limit the prohibition to concurrent marriages.
- Polygamy forbidden generally: The marginal reading 'one wife to another' and the connection to Malachi 2:15 suggest a wider ban.
- Deceased wife's sister permitted: The temporal clause 'while her sister is still alive' implies permission after death, supported by Keil & Delitzsch and Cambridge Bible.
- Deceased wife's sister forbidden as incest: A wife's sister is 'near of kin' (Leviticus 18:6); the prohibition extends beyond the wife's lifetime, argued by Gill and Poole.
What is clear: The immediate context forbids a man from being married to two sisters at the same time, with the stated purpose of preventing rivalry and vexation.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Simultaneous marriage of two sisters | All commentators agree that the plain sense of the verse forbids marrying two sisters at the same time, as in Jacob's marriages to Leah and Rachel. | Some see this as a specific case of the polygamy prohibition; others see it as a temporary concession to prevent worse harm. |
| Marriage to a deceased wife's sister | All agree the verse explicitly says 'while her sister is still alive,' which creates a distinction. | Calvin, Gill, and Poole argue that a wife's sister remains near kin, so the marriage is incestuous even after death. Keil & Delitzsch and Cambridge Bible hold that the law does not forbid it. |
| Reason for the prohibition | The stated reason is to prevent the husband from 'vexing' or making a rival of the first wife, as the Hebrew verb <em>tzarar</em> implies. | Calvin emphasizes the cruelty of setting close relatives against each other; Clarke and Wesley point to the example of Leah and Rachel's jealousy. |
| General prohibition of polygamy | The verse is part of a legal context that allowed polygamy, as seen in earlier patriarchs. | Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and some others read 'to her sister' as 'one wife to another,' interpreting it as a ban on polygamy. Most commentators reject that reading as grammatically strained. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Leviticus 18 sits within the Holiness Code, a collection of laws calling Israel to distinct purity. The surrounding verses list forbidden sexual relations, mostly incestuous (vv.6, 17). Verse 18 breaks the pattern by addressing marriage between sisters, not incest (since a sister-in-law is not blood kin) but a relational violation. The practice of marrying two sisters was known in the ancient Near East. Jacob married both Leah and Rachel, and the resulting household strife (Genesis 29, 30) provides the lived experience behind this law. The Hebrew verb tzarar (to bind, pack together) used in “to be a rival” vividly captures the forced proximity that breeds conflict. Women in that culture were vulnerable; polygamy could leave a first wife humiliated and embittered. The law protects sisters from being set against each other by a husband. The phrase “while her sister is still alive” anchors the prohibition in the lifetime of the first wife, marriage to a wife’s sister after her death was a separate question, one later tradition would debate (Barnes, Keil & Delitzsch).
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Leviticus 18:18. The Hebrew text is consistent across manuscripts, with the main interpretive difficulty lying in the phrase “a woman to her sister” and the temporal clause “in her lifetime.”
Reception History
Early Jewish interpretation, reflected in the Targums and Mishnah, understood Leviticus 18:18 as a prohibition against marrying two sisters during the first wife's lifetime. The Talmud debated whether the ban extended to other close relatives. Christian reception has been shaped by the wider New Testament ethic of monogamy (Matthew 19:5). In the 19th century, the verse became a flashpoint in the “deceased wife's sister” controversy in England. Anglican commentators (e.g., Cambridge Bible) argued the law did not forbid such a marriage, while others (Gill, Poole) saw the wife's sister as too close a relation. The Catholic Church historically treated the sister-in-law as a prohibited degree of affinity, a position rooted more in canonical tradition than a direct reading of this verse. Across traditions, the verse has been used both to limit polygamy and to protect the emotional health of families.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The command and its immediate application, Leviticus 18:18 forbids a man from marrying two sisters at the same time. The law targets the specific pain of forced rivalry between close relatives.
- The heart of the law, More than a rule, this prohibition reflects God’s care for the vulnerable. Sisters are not to be used as rivals; their dignity and peace matter.
- Broader principles for today, While the specific situation of marrying sisters is rare, the underlying call to protect relationships from jealousy and harm remains. The text invites us to examine how we treat those closest to us.
Five-point outline
- Context, Leviticus 18 is a catalogue of forbidden unions, mostly incest. Verse 18 shifts to a different kind of prohibition: marrying two sisters.
- Grammar, “A wife to her sister” (Hebrew ʼishshah ʼel-ʼachotah) is consistently read as two biological sisters (Cambridge Bible). The word “sister” is not used metaphorically here.
- Reason stated, The phrase “to be a rival” (leʼtzorer) explains the motivation: protecting the peace of the household. The exact phrase appears in Hannah’s story (1 Samuel 1:6).
- Temporal clause, “While her sister is still alive” limits the ban to simultaneous marriage. Commentators split on whether this implies permission after death.
- Broader witness, Malachi 2:15 points back to the one-flesh union of marriage and warns against treacherous dealing. Though polygamy was tolerated, the prophetic ideal moves toward monogamy (Matthew 19:5).
Illustration hooks
- Two children in a family being pitted against each other by a parent or coach, the psychological damage of forced rivalry.
- A workplace where an employee is pressured to compete with a close colleague for a promotion. The law’s “pack together” language captures the awkward tension.
- The phrase “to be a rival” (tzarar) echoes the word for “adversary.” Think of a relationship where closeness becomes a tool for conflict.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this verse mean I can marry my sister-in-law after my wife dies?
- Is polygamy forbidden by this verse, or just simultaneous marriage to sisters?
- How do we apply these Old Testament marriage laws in a culture that practices monogamy?
Leading a Discussion
Leviticus 18:18 sits in a list of laws about forbidden sexual relationships. Unlike the incest prohibitions around it, this verse focuses on a relationship that is not blood-related but still causes harm through rivalry. The law protects sisters from being forced into competition with each other.
Discussion questions
- Read Leviticus 18:18 and verses 6, 17. What is similar about the vocabulary, and what is different? Why might this verse be placed here?
- The Hebrew phrase “to be a rival” (leʼtzorer) also appears in 1 Samuel 1:6 about Peninnah and Hannah. How does that story help you understand the hurt this law aims to prevent?
- Calvin argues the law is about preventing “quarrels and contentions,” not incest. Does that change how you read the surrounding prohibitions?
- If this verse only forbids simultaneous marriage of sisters, does it say anything about polygamy in general? What other Scriptures inform that question?
- Some Christians have used this verse to argue that marrying a deceased wife’s sister is allowed. Others see it as forbidden because a sister-in-law is “near of kin” (Leviticus 18:6). How would you weigh both positions charitably?
- How does this law reflect God’s character? What does it tell you about His concern for relationships and emotional well-being?
- In what ways do we, today, set people against each other? Where might we be called to step back and protect the peace of those close to us?
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)
| Genesis 4:19 | Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah. |
| Genesis 29:28 | Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife. |
| Genesis 30:15 | Leah said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes, also?” Rachel said, “Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.” |
| Exodus 26:3 | Five curtains shall be coupled together to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. |
| I Samuel 1:6 | Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because Yahweh had shut up her womb. |
| I Samuel 1:8 | Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why don’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” |
| Malachi 2:15 | Did he not make you one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. |
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
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke stresses that the law forbids marrying two sisters at the same time, not marrying a sister-in-law after the wife dies. The phrase "in her life time" shows the prohibition is temporary, not absolute. He connects it to the jealousy between Leah and Rachel that disturbed family peace.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the Hebrew word behind “vex” literally means to “bind” or “pack together,” a strong image of emotional pressure. He points to the rivalry between Leah and Rachel as the Jewish commentators’ example of how such inner tightening comes from being unloved or treated unjustly.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that the law forbidding a man to marry his wife's sister is not primarily about incest but about preventing the jealousy and conflict that would arise between close relatives. He extends this principle to other near kinswomen, concluding that the restriction stands even after the wife's death, since the law's aim is to spare the sister from painful contention.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator argues that the phrase correctly means two sisters, not simply one wife to another. The law forbids marrying two sisters at the same time. The words in her lifetime show that this verse does not prohibit marriage with a deceased wife's sister.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note interprets this as a direct prohibition against marrying a woman's sister while the first wife is still alive, specifically to prevent the first wife from being mistreated or humiliated. The phrase "uncovering her shame" refers to sexual relations, which would add to the vexation.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that the prohibition against marrying a wife’s sister applies even after the wife’s death, not only while she is living. He bases this on the general law of near kinship, noting the confusion in family relationships that would result if such marriages were allowed.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB argues that this verse forbids marrying a sister as a second wife while the first wife is still alive, not marrying a deceased wife's sister. He rejects the common modern use of this passage against such marriages, noting that the surrounding crimes point to a practice common among ancient peoples, not to a widow's remarriage.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch explain that taking two sisters as wives simultaneously was forbidden because it "packs" both into one marriage bond, disturbing the natural sisterly relationship. Jacob's unhappy marriage to two sisters illustrates this. After the first wife's death, however, a man was free to marry her sister.
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.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley argues that the command against taking a wife to her sister does not simply forbid taking a second wife. It specifically forbids doing so with the intent to vex, punish, or take revenge on the first wife, a motive he notes was common among that hardhearted people.