Lev 20:17-21 | NET2full | STEP | “‘If a man has marital relations with his sister , whether the daughter of his father or of his mother , so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness , it is a disgrace . They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people . He has exposed his sister’s nakedness ; he will bear his punishment for iniquity .

Leviticus 20:17-21

17 “‘If a man has marital relations with ^{▼▼tn The Hebrew verb לָקַח (laqakh) “to take” sometimes means to take a woman in marriage (cf. Gen 34:16; Lev 20:14; and see HALOT 534 s.v. לקח) as understood by, e.g., NIV, NCV, TEV, CEV. It is possible that expression here simply means to have sexual relations, or that it does so in combination with the following two clauses. See note at v. 14.} his sister, whether the daughter of his father or of his mother, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. ^{▼▼tn Regarding the “cut off” penalty, see the note on Lev 7:20.} He has exposed his sister’s nakedness; he will bear his punishment for iniquity. ^{▼▼tn See the note on Lev 17:16 above.} 18 If a man goes to bed ^{▼▼tn Heb “lies down with.” See note at v. 11.} with a menstruating woman and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her fountain of blood, and she has exposed the fountain of her blood, so both of them ^{▼▼tn Heb “and the two of them.”} must be cut off from the midst of their people. 19 You must not expose the nakedness of your mother’s sister or your father’s sister, for such a person has exposed his own close relative. ^{▼▼tn Heb “his flesh.”} They must bear their punishment for iniquity. ^{▼▼tn See the note on Lev 17:16 above.} 20 If a man goes to bed ^{▼▼tn Heb “lies down with.” See note at v. 11.} with his aunt, he has exposed his uncle’s nakedness; they must bear responsibility for their sin, they will die childless. 21 If a man has marital relations with ^{▼▼tn Heb “takes.” See notes at vv. 14 and 17.} ^{▼▼sn It must be assumed that the brother is still alive in this situation, since Deut 25:5 requires a man to marry his brother’s widow and have a child in his brother’s name. It is less clear whether the brother in this case has divorced his wife.} his brother’s wife, it is indecency. He has exposed his brother’s nakedness; ^{▼▼sn See the note on Lev 18:7 above.} they will be childless.