FocusWorship, relationships, and conduct
Connection to the wholeInstructions concerning blood, relationships, justice, and priests extend the call to holiness through the life of the people.
interpretation Leviticus 18:24
KJVDefile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
Read it in context
Unlawful Sexual Relations
Start reading at Leviticus 18:1 (Leviticus 18:1 to Leviticus 18:30).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
Instructions concerning blood, relationships, justice, and priests extend the call to holiness through the life of the people.
- 18:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
- 18:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.
- 18:3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.
- 18:4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.
- 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
- 18:6 None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.
- 18:7 The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
- 18:8 The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.
- 18:9 The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.
- 18:10 The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.
- 18:11 The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
- 18:12 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.
- 18:13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.
- 18:14 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.
- 18:15 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
- 18:16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.
- 18:17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.
- 18:18 Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.
- 18:19 Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
- 18:20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.
- 18:21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
- 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
- 18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
- 18:24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
- 18:25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.
- 18:26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:
- 18:27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)
- 18:28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.
- 18:29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
- 18:30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.
Who
- Who wrote the book? Moses is the traditional author, with the laws presented as the LORD's instructions given through him. Aaron and his sons are key recipients of priestly instructions, not alternate named authors. Biblical references: Leviticus 1:1; Leviticus 27:34. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Leviticus 17:1–20:27): Moses is to address Aaron, his sons, and the children of Israel concerning worship and holy conduct. The commands have Israel's covenant community as their immediate audience. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? Israel under the Sinai covenant. Some instructions address the whole congregation; others specifically address Aaron and the priests. Biblical references: Leviticus 1:2; Leviticus 6:9; Leviticus 19:2. stated in the text
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? Unlawful Sexual Relations. Read Leviticus 18:1 through Leviticus 18:30 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? Instructions concerning blood, relationships, justice, and priests extend the call to holiness through the life of the people. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? The laws and priestly narratives are set in Israel's Sinai sanctuary setting. A modern date of composition is not given by a publication statement in the text. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? The tabernacle and Israel's camp form the main setting. Instructions about priests, offerings, houses, and the land have different immediate objects. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in Unlawful Sexual Relations (Leviticus 18:1 to Leviticus 18:30). Start reading at Leviticus 18:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Hebrews explicitly relates the sacrificial and priestly order to Christ's priesthood and offering. Read the comparison in Hebrews rather than assigning an unsupported meaning to each ritual detail. See Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 10:1, Hebrews 10:10. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Take worship, holiness, and the treatment of others seriously. Distinguish ritual uncleanness, moral wrongdoing, and the specific duties of priests; they are not interchangeable categories. interpretation
Cited: Leviticus 18:1, Leviticus 18:30, Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 10:1, Hebrews 10:10
Who wrote it, and how we know
Moses (traditional)
Named in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe book presents its laws as the LORD speaking to Moses, from beginning to end.
Leviticus 1:1Leviticus 27:34
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition names Moses.
What is debatedCritical scholars commonly assign this material to a later priestly collection.
Related passages
- Defile Lev 18:6-23,30 Jer 44:4 Matt 15:18-20 Mark 7:10-23 1 Cor 3:17
- for Lev 20:22-23 Deut 12:31 Deut 18:12
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Leviticus 18
Leviticus presents the LORD's instructions to Moses for Israel, including priestly duties. A command's immediate audience, sanctuary setting, and covenant purpose should remain visible. The opening identifies Moses as the recipient of speech, not by itself as the narrator of every line. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Leviticus 1:1 Leviticus 1:2 Leviticus 27:34
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Leviticus
Leviticus presents the LORD's instructions to Moses for Israel, including priestly duties. A command's immediate audience, sanctuary setting, and covenant purpose should remain visible. The opening identifies Moses as the recipient of speech, not by itself as the narrator of every line.
Leviticus 1:1 Leviticus 1:2 Leviticus 27:34
Offerings and their administration
Leviticus 1:1–7:38FocusApproaching God in worship
Connection to the wholeThe offerings and priestly responsibilities establish the sacrificial framework assumed by the following accounts and laws.
interpretation The priests begin their service
Leviticus 8:1–10:20FocusConsecration and holy responsibility
Connection to the wholeThe consecration and beginning of priestly service lead to an account of judgment, emphasizing the seriousness of distinguishing holy from common.
interpretation Clean and unclean
Leviticus 11:1–15:33FocusBodies, food, and the camp
Connection to the wholeThese distinctions order Israel's life around the sanctuary; ritual uncleanness should not automatically be equated with a personal moral offense.
interpretation The day of atonement
Leviticus 16:1–34FocusCleansing the sanctuary and the people
Connection to the wholeThe chapter brings priestly access, blood, and cleansing together in a recurring observance within the covenant's sacrificial order.
interpretation FocusWorship, relationships, and conduct
Connection to the wholeInstructions concerning blood, relationships, justice, and priests extend the call to holiness through the life of the people.
interpretation Sacred times and the land
Leviticus 23:1–25:55FocusSabbaths, feasts, and release
Connection to the wholeThe appointed times and land arrangements connect worship, rest, provision, and the treatment of fellow Israelites.
interpretation Covenant outcomes and dedicated things
Leviticus 26:1–27:34FocusResponsibility and consecration
Connection to the wholeBlessings and warnings state covenant consequences, followed by regulations concerning vows and things dedicated to the LORD.
interpretation Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.