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Leviticus 18

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Leviticus 18
"Tabernacle", Biblical illustrations, Sweet Media, 1984
BookBook of Leviticus
Hebrew Bible partTorah
Order in the Hebrew part3
CategoryTorah
Christian Bible partOld Testament
Order in the Christian part3

Leviticus 18 (the eighteenth chapter of the Book of Leviticus) deals with a number of sexual activities considered abominable, including incest and bestiality. The chapter also condemns Moloch worship. It is part of the Holiness Code (Leviticus 17–26),[1] and its sexual prohibitions are largely paralleled by Leviticus 20,[2] except that chapter 20 has more emphasis on punishment.

Text

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The original text of Leviticus 18,[3] like that of most of the Hebrew Bible, is written in Hebrew. The oldest extant versions of the text in Hebrew are found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Samaritan Pentateuch, and the Masoretic Text. An ancient Greek translation from the third century BCE, the Septuagint, also exists. Since the addition of chapter divisions in the thirteenth century CE, this chapter is divided into 30 verses.

The chapter begins with God speaking to Moses (verse 1) and giving him a message for the Israelites (2), warning them to keep God's laws rather than Canaanite or Egyptian practices (3–5). Then God is quoted as listing people with whom sex is forbidden due to family relationships (6–19). In verse 20, God prohibits sexual relations with a neighbor's wife, and in verse 21 God prohibits passing one's children through fire to Moloch. Verse 22 is the famous verse about "lie with a man," discussed below, while in verse 23 God forbids bestiality, and, according to some translations, pedophilia. In the final verses (24–30), God warns that breaking these laws will produce defilement and that the Canaanites are about to be displaced from the land of Canaan as a result of following these practices, and warn of a similar fate for the Israelites if they fall into these practices.

Incest

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Main article: Incest in the Bible

The Bible lists several types of relationship which it regards as incestuous unions; one list appears in the Deuteronomic Code, and two lists occur in the Holiness Code of Leviticus. These lists only mention relationships with female relatives; excluding lesbianism, which implies that the list is addressed to men. These lists then compare as follows:

  Forbidden for men only
  Forbidden for women only
  Forbidden for both men and women
Leviticus 18 Leviticus 20 Deuteronomy
Grandparent's spouse (including other grandparent)
Parent's spouse Parent
Stepparent
Parent-in-law
Uncle/Aunt Parent's sibling
Uncle's/Aunt's Spouse Father's sibling's spouse
Mother's sibling's spouse
Parent's child Half-Sibling (mother's side)
Father's child Sibling
Half-Sibling (father's side)
Brother's wife (Permitted if the brother died childless (Levirate marriage))[4]
Step sibling
Sibling-in-law (if the spouse was still alive)
Nephew/Niece Sibling's child
Nephew/Niece-in-law Spouse's brother's child
Spouse's sister's child
Spouse's child Child
Stepchild
Child-in-law
Spouse's grandchild (including grandchild)

One feature of all the lists is that sexual activity between a man and his daughter is not explicitly forbidden. The Talmud argues that this is because the prohibition was obvious, especially given the proscription against a relationship with a granddaughter.[5] The shortness of the list in Leviticus 20, and especially of that in Deuteronomy, is explained by classical Jewish scholarship as being due to the obviousness of the missing prohibitions.[6][7] The explicit prohibition against engaging in sexual activity with "both a woman and her daughter"[8] implicitly forbids sexual activity between a man and his daughter, as does the prohibition against engaging in sexual activity with "any that is near of kin".[9] Some biblical scholars have instead proposed that it was originally in the list but was then accidentally left out from the copy on which modern versions of the text ultimately depend, due to a mistake by the scribe.[10]

However, most tribal nations also disliked exogamous marriage to completely unrelated people.[6] In several prominent cases in the Torah, incestuous relationships are described. In the biblical narrative, each of these occurred chronologically prior to the establishment of Levitical law.[11] Abraham married his half-sister Sarah,[12] Jacob married his first wife's sister (albeit without his knowledge),[13][14][15] and Amram married his paternal aunt Jochebed.[16]

Apart from the questionable case of a man marrying his daughter, the list in Leviticus 18 roughly produces the same rules as were followed in early pre-Islamic Arabic culture.[6]

Homosexuality

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Further information: The Bible and homosexuality, Biblical law in Christianity, Homosexuality and Judaism, and History of Christianity and homosexuality
See also: Textual variants in the Hebrew Bible § Leviticus 18

Leviticus 18:22 in the Hebrew Bible:

וְאֶ֨ת־זָכָ֔ר לֹ֥א תִשְׁכַּ֖ב מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אִשָּׁ֑ה תּֽוֹעֵבָ֖ה הִֽוא:‎

— Leviticus 18:22, Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)[17]

A word-by-word analysis of the WLC Hebrew text of Leviticus 18:22:[18]

Hebrew (WLC) Transliteration English
וְאֶ֨ת־‎ wə-'eṯ- And DOM
זָכָ֔ר‎ zā-ḵār, a male
לֹ֥א‎ lō not
תִשְׁכַּ֖ב‎ ṯīš-kaḇ you shall lie down
מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י‎ mīš-kə-ḇē beds of/coitally[a]
אִשָּׁ֑ה‎ 'īš-šā; a woman
תּוֹעֵבָ֖ה‎ tō-'ē-ḇā an abomination
הִֽוא׃‎ hī' it

In ancient Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible, generally known as Septuagint, which serve as important references to trace the original form and meaning of the text,[according to whom?] Leviticus 18:22 is usually rendered as follows:[32]

Greek (ABP) Transliteration English
και kai And
μετά metá with
άρσενος ársenos [a] man
ου ou not
κοιμηθήση koimēthésē you shall sleep
κοίτην koítēn in [a] (marriage-)bed
γυναικείαν[b] gynaikeían female
βδέλυγμα bdélygma [a] detestable thing
γαρ gar because
εστι esti [it] is

Leviticus 18:22 has been translated in common English versions as:

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

— Leviticus 18:22, King James Version[35]

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

— Leviticus 18:22, Revised Standard Version and English Standard Version[36]

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; such a thing is an abomination.

— Leviticus 18:22, New American Bible[37]

Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.

— Leviticus 18:22, New Living Translation[38]

The Hebrew wording of Leviticus 18:22 has been generally interpreted as prohibiting some or all homosexual acts, although which precise acts, and in which situations, is a matter of ongoing scholarly debate.[39] Some authors[40] state that verse 22 condemns "homosexuality" or "homosexual relations", with other authors maintaining that it condemns only males penetrating males (anal intercourse).[41][42][43] Others believe due to study of the language used in the original Hebrew, that the restriction is only relevant in specific situations (in the context idolatry, religious sacrifice or various forms of rape which were common Canaanite or Egyptian practices), and specifically does not apply to modern homosexual relationships.[44][45][46] Some researchers speculate that the contents of the text changed over time, where earlier examples would only admonish homosexual incest, and not homosexuality, more broadly in line with surrounding attitudes at the time.[47][48] Such readings have also been responded to and countered in research.[48][49][50]

Lesbianism is not explicitly prohibited in the Torah; however, the rabbi and Jewish scholar Maimonides ruled that lesbianism was prohibited nonetheless as an "Egyptian practice"[c] and deserving of punishment by beating.[51]

Weekly Torah portion

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The whole chapter is part of the weekly Torah portion (parashah) Acharei Mot (אַחֲרֵי מוֹת‎) which comprises Leviticus 17:1–18:30.[52][53]

Notes

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  1. ^ The word מִשְׁכְּבֵי‎, miš-kə-ḇê is the construct form of the masculine noun מִשְׁכַּב‎, miš-kaḇ, which in turn comes from the verb שָׁכַב‎, šā-ḵaḇ, meaning 'to lie [down]'.[19][20] The noun מִשְׁכַּב‎, miš-kaḇ is defined as both a physical place of lying-down (i.e. bed, couch, bier) and the act of lying-down (i.e. for sleep, for intercourse).[21] Strong's Concordance lists 46 occurrences of מִשְׁכַּב‎, miš-kaḇ.[19] Of those 46, the KJV translates it as 'bed' 34 times, 'bedchamber' 4 times, 'couch' 1 time, and miscellaneous verb forms of 'lying' 7 times.[22] The construct מִשְׁכְּבֵי‎, miš-kə-ḇê appears only three times in the Bible – twice in Leviticus as מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אִשָּׁ֑ה‎, miš-kə-ḇê 'iš-šāh[23] and once in Genesis 49:4[24] as מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ‎, miš-kə-ḇê 'ā·ḇî·ḵā, which is translated as "[to] the bed of your father."[25][26] Therefore, מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אִשָּׁ֑ה‎, miš-kə-ḇê 'iš-šāh can mean either 'the bed of a woman' or 'the lying-down of a woman'.[27][28][29][30][31]
  2. ^ According to Henry Barclay Swete's 1930 critical edition of the Septuagint, the original word was γυναικός (meaning 'of a woman/wife') rather than γυναικείαν (meaning 'female').[33] However, Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton's Septuagint edition of 1879 agrees with γυναικείαν.[34]: 169 
  3. ^ Verse 3.

References

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  1. ^ Leviticus 17–26
  2. ^ Leviticus 20
  3. ^ Leviticus 18
  4. ^ Interpreter's Bible. Vol. 2. Abingdon Press. 1953. pp. 93 & 103 – via Internet Archive. 16. There is curiously no reference here to the so-called Levirate marriage, at one time practiced in Israel, whereby, if a man died childless, his brother would take his wife in order to raise up descendants for him. (Deut. 25:5-10). [...] 21. So-called Levirate marriage is presumably excepted (see Deut. 25:5 ff.).
  5. ^ "Yevamot 3a". sefaria.org.
  6. ^ a b c "Incest". Jewish Encyclopedia.
  7. ^ Samuel ben Meir, Commentary, ad loc.
  8. ^ Leviticus 18:17
  9. ^ Leviticus 18:6
  10. ^ Cheyne; Black. "Marriage: choice of bride". Encyclopaedia Biblica.
  11. ^ Thompson, Thomas L. (2007). The Mythic Past: Biblical Archaeology and the Myth of Israel. Basic Books. ISBN 978-0465010523.
  12. ^ Genesis 20:12
  13. ^ Genesis 29:16
  14. ^ Genesis 29:23
  15. ^ Genesis 29:28
  16. ^ Exodus 6:10
  17. ^ "Leviticus 18:22". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  18. ^ "Leviticus 18:22 Hebrew Text Analysis". biblehub.com. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  19. ^ a b "Strong's H4904 - mishkab". Blue Letter Bible. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Strong's H7901 - shakab". Blue Letter Bible. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Strong's Number 4904 Hebrew Dictionary of the Old Testament". Lexicon & Concordance.
  22. ^ "Logos Web App – מִשְׁכָּב". Logos Bible Software.
  23. ^ Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13
  24. ^ Genesis 49:4
  25. ^ "Hebrew Concordance: miš·kə·ḇê — 3 Occurrences". biblehub.com. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  26. ^ "Genesis 49:4 Hebrew Text Analysis". biblehub.com. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  27. ^ Wells, Bruce. "The Bible and Homosexuality". BibleOdyssey. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  28. ^ Joosten, Jan (19 March 2020). "A New Interpretation of Leviticus 18:22 (Par. 20:13) and its Ethical Implications". The Journal of Theological Studies. 71 (1): 1–10. doi:10.1093/jts/flaa002. ISSN 0022-5185.
  29. ^ Pigott, Susan (28 February 2014). "Leviticus Defiled: The Perversion of Two Verses".
  30. ^ Lings, K. Renato (2013). Love lost in translation: homosexuality and the Bible. Trafford. ISBN 978-1-4669-8789-0. OCLC 849493707.
  31. ^ Confalonieri, Luca Badini (4 May 2021). "Christian Objections to Same Sex Relationships: An Academic Assessment".
  32. ^ Van der Pool, Charles (1996). "Leviticus 18 Apostolic Bible Polyglot". Biblehub.com. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  33. ^ "Leviticus 18 Swete's Septuagint". Biblehub.com. 1930. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  34. ^ Brenton, Lancelot Charles Lee (1879). The Septuagint version of the OT, with an English translation (PDF). London: Samuel Bagster. p. 1156. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  35. ^ Leviticus 18:22
  36. ^ Leviticus 18:22
  37. ^ Leviticus 18:22
  38. ^ Leviticus 18:22
  39. ^ For an overview of some of the scholarly views on the question, see Walsh (2001).
  40. ^ Greenberg (1988), p. 191; Wenham (1979), p. 259; Kahn (1984), p. 49
  41. ^ Robinson 2016.
  42. ^ Talmud, b. Sanhedrin 54a-54b; Josephus, Flavius. Against Apion II. p. 199.; and Philo, Abraham 135. Some modern authors stating this view include Alter (2004), p. 623, 632; Boyarin (1995), p. 339, 343; Brooten (1996), p. 61; Cohen (1990), p. 6; Daube (1986), p. 447; Milgrom (2000), p. 1568; Olyan (1994), p. 185; Thurston (1990), p. 16; Walsh (2001), p. 208; and Brodsky (2009).
  43. ^ "Leviticus 18 Gill's Exposition". 2022. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022.
  44. ^ "In Hebrew, does Leviticus 18:22 really say "while with" a woman?". www.gaychristian101.com. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  45. ^ Robinson (2016); Barenblat (2004); Paul (2015); Honeycutt (2012)
  46. ^ "Leviticus 18:22/20:13 in Context: The Prohibition of Using Sex to Humiliate". Sojourn. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  47. ^ Dershowitz, Idan (21 July 2018). "Opinion | The Secret History of Leviticus". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  48. ^ a b Honeycutt 2012.
  49. ^ Wright, David F. (1989). "Homosexuality: The Relevance of the Bible". Evangelical Quarterly. 61 (4): 291–300. doi:10.1163/27725472-06104002. S2CID 252175136.
  50. ^ Olyan (1994).
  51. ^ "Homosexuality and Halakhah (Jewish Law)". My Jewish Learning. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  52. ^ Leviticus 16:1–18:30
  53. ^ "Parashah calendar". hebcal.com.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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