Leviticus 18
Geneva Study Bible
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.
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.
After the {a} 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.

(a) You shall preserve yourselves from these abominations following, which the Egyptians and Canaanites use.

Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.
Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: {b} I am the LORD.

(b) And therefore you ought to serve me alone, as my people.

None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.
None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to {c} uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.

(c) That is, to lie with her, though it be under title of marriage.

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.
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.
The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.
The nakedness of thy father's {d} wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.

(d) Which is your stepmother.

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.
The nakedness of thy {e} 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.

(e) Either by father or mother, born in marriage or otherwise.

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.
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 {f} nakedness.

(f) They are her children whose shame you have uncovered.

The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy {g} father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.

(g) Which your uncle discovers.

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy {h} brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.

(h) Because the idolaters, among whom God's people had dwelt and would dwell, were given to these horrible incests, God charges his own to beware of them.

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.
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.
Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.
Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to {i} vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.

(i) By seeing your affection more bent to her sister than to her.

Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put {k} apart for her uncleanness.

(k) Or while she has her period.

Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.
Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbor's wife, to defile thyself with her.
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.
And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to {l} Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

(l) Which was an idol of the Ammonites, to whom they burned and sacrificed their children, 2Ki 23:10. This seemed to be the chief and principal of all idols: and as the Jews write, was of a great stature, and hollow within, having seven places or chambers within him: one was to receive meal that was offered: another turtle doves: the third, a sheep: the fourth, a ram: the fifth a calf: the sixth an ox: the seventh a child. This idols face was like a calf: his hands were ever stretched out to receive gifts: his priests were called Chemarims, 2Ki 23:5, Ho 10:5, Zep 1:4.

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
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.
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.
Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.
And the land is defiled: therefore I do {m} visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself {n} vomiteth out her inhabitants.

(m) I will punish the land where such incestuous marriages and pollutions are tolerated.

(n) He compares the wicked to evil humours and overeating, which corrupt the stomach, and oppress nature, and therefore must be cast out by vomit.

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:
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:
(For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)
(For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)
That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.
That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it {o} spued out the nations that were before you.

(o) Both for their wicked marriages, unnatural copulations, idolatry or spiritual whoredom with Molech and such like abominations.

For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall {p} be cut off from among their people.

(p) Either by the civil sword or by some plague that God will send upon such.

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.
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.
The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]

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