Leviticus - 18:12



12 "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister: she is your father's near kinswoman.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Leviticus 18:12.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: because she is the flesh of thy father.
The nakedness of thy father's sister shalt thou not uncover: she is thy father's near relation.
The nakedness of a sister of thy father thou dost not uncover; she is a relation of thy father.
You may not have sex connection with your father's sister, for she is your father's near relation.
'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister: she is your father's flesh.
You shall not expose the nakedness of your father's sister; for she is the flesh of your father.
Turpitudinem sororis patris tui non revelabis: nam consanguinea patris tui est.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Thy father's sister - The instance of Amram and Jochebed Exodus 6:20 seems to show that marriage with an aunt was not considered wrong by the Israelites when they were in Egypt.

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister,.... His aunt by his father's side, an instance of which we have in Amram, Exodus 6:20; and Maimonides says (i), an aunt was forbidden whether she was a father's sister in lawful wedlock or in fornication:
she is thy father's near kinswoman; or, the rest of thy father (k); the residue of his flesh, one of the same flesh and blood with him; wherefore, as he could not marry her himself, so his son likewise was too near akin to enter into such a relation with her.
(i) Hilchot Issure Biah, c. 2. sect. 5. (k) "reliquiarum patris tui", Tigurine version.

Marriage or conjugal intercourse with the sister of either father or mother (i.e., with either the paternal or maternal aunt) was prohibited, because she was the blood-relation of the father or mother. שׁאר = בּשׂר שׁאר (Leviticus 18:6, as in Leviticus 20:19; Leviticus 21:2; Numbers 27:11), hence שׁארה, blood-relationship (Leviticus 18:17).

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