Against unnatural lusts – Leviticus, chapter 18

Marriage is prohibited in certain degrees of kindred: and all unnatural lusts.

[1] And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: [2] Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: I am the Lord your God. [3] You shall not do according to the custom of the land of Egypt, in which you dwelt: neither shall you act according to the manner of the country of Chanaan, into which I will bring you, nor shall you walk in their ordinances. [4] You shall do my judgments, and shall observe my precepts, and shall walk in them. I am the Lord your God. [5] Keep my laws and my judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them. I am the Lord.

[6] No man shall approach to her that is near of kin to him, to uncover her nakedness. I am the Lord. [7] Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother: she is thy mother, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. [8] Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s wife: for it is the nakedness of thy father. [9] Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy sister by father or by mother, whether born at home or abroad. [10] Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy son’s daughter, or thy daughter’s daughter: because it is thy own nakedness.

[11] Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s wife’s daughter, whom she bore to thy father, and who is thy sister. [12] Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister: because she is the flesh of thy father. [13] Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister: because she is thy mother’s flesh. [14] Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother: neither shalt thou approach to his wife, who is joined to thee by affinity. [15] Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: because she is thy son’s wife, neither shalt thou discover her shame.

[16] Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: because it is the nakedness of thy brother. [17] Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy wife and her daughter. Thou shalt not take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to discover her shame: because they are her flesh, and such copulation is incest. [18] 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. [19] Thou shalt not approach to a woman having her flowers, neither shalt thou uncover her nakedness. [20] Thou shalt not lie with thy neighbour’s wife, nor be defiled with mingling of seed.

[21] Thou shalt not give any of thy seed to be consecrated to the idol Moloch, nor defile the name of thy God: I am the Lord. [22] Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind, because it is an abomination. [23] Thou shalt not copulate with any beast, neither shalt thou be defiled with it. A woman shall not lie down to a beast, nor copulate with it: because it is a heinous crime. [24] Defile not yourselves with any of these things with which all the nations have been defiled, which I will cast out before you, [25] And with which the land is defiled: the abominations of which I will visit, that it may vomit out its inhabitants.

[26] Keep ye my ordinances and my judgments, and do not any of these abominations: neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you. [27] For all these detestable things the inhabitants of the land have done, that; were before you, and have defiled it. [28] Beware then, lest in like manner, it vomit you also out, if you do the like things, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. [29] Every soul that shall commit any of these abominations, shall perish from the midst of his people. [30] Keep my commandments. Do not the things which they have done, that have been before you, and be not defiled therein. I am the Lord your God.

Commentary

[23] “Because it is a heinous crime”: In Hebrew, this word heinous crime is expressed by the word confusion, signifying the shamefulness and baseness of this abominable sin.