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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Leviticus 20:17–21

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.
And if a man shall lie with his uncle’s wife, he hath uncovered his uncle’s nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

19 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 17

  1. Leviticus 18:9Rank 1 from verse 17
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    9The 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.

  2. Deuteronomy 27:22Rank 2 from verse 17
    Open

    22Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

  3. 2 Samuel 13:12Rank 3 from verse 17
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    12And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

  4. Ezekiel 22:11Rank 4 from verse 17
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    11And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour’s wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father’s daughter.

  5. Genesis 20:12Rank 5 from verse 17
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    12And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

From verse 18

  1. Leviticus 15:24Rank 1 from verse 18
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    24And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.

  2. Leviticus 18:19Rank 2 from verse 18
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    19Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.

  3. Ezekiel 18:6Rank 3 from verse 18
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    6And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,

  4. Ezekiel 22:10Rank 4 from verse 18
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    10In thee have they discovered their fathers’ nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.

From verse 19

  1. Leviticus 18:6Rank 1 from verse 19
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    6¶ None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the Lord.

  2. Exodus 6:20Rank 2 from verse 19
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    20And Amram took him Jochebed his father’s sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.

  3. Leviticus 18:12–30Rank 3 from verse 19
    Open

    12Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister: she is thy father’s near kinswoman.

    13Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister: for she is thy mother’s near kinswoman.

    14Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.

    15Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son’s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

    16Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness.

    17Thou 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.

    18Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.

    19Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.

    20Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour’s wife, to defile thyself with her.

    21And 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.

    22Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

    23Neither 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.

    24Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:

    25And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

    26Ye 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:

    27(For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)

    28That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.

    29For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.

    30Therefore 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.

From verse 20

  1. Leviticus 18:14Rank 1 from verse 20
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    14Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.

  2. Jeremiah 22:30Rank 2 from verse 20
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    30Thus saith the Lord, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

  3. Job 18:19Rank 3 from verse 20
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    19He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.

  4. Luke 1:25Rank 4 from verse 20
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    25Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

  5. Luke 1:7Rank 5 from verse 20
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    7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

From verse 21

  1. Leviticus 18:16Rank 1 from verse 21
    Open

    16Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness.

  2. Matthew 14:3–4Rank 2 from verse 21
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    3¶ For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.

    4For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Leviticus 20:17

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

take

↗

To receive, seize, carry, accept, choose, or lay hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

mother

↗

Sense 1: A female parent. Sense 2: Figuratively, a source, chief city, or maternal relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

see

↗

Sense 1: To perceive or behold with the eyes or in a vision. Sense 2: To observe, examine, discover, ascertain, consider, understand, know, or recognize. Sense 3: To visit, meet, converse with, or be in the presence of. Sense 4: To experience, undergo, endure, or enjoy. Sense 5: To attend to, take care, ensure, or beware.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

cut

↗

Sense 1: To divide, sever, remove, or wound with a sharp instrument. Sense 2: Figuratively, to grieve deeply or bring to an end.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sight

↗

1. The act or power of seeing. 2. A thing seen, view, or appearance. 3. Presence or observation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

people

↗

Persons collectively; a nation, community, or group considered as a body.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bear

↗

Sense 1: To carry, support, convey, endure, sustain, or be answerable for. Sense 2: To produce or bring forth offspring, fruit, or another result. Sense 3: In ‘bear witness’ or ‘bear record,’ to testify or give witness. Sense 4: A large wild animal.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

iniquity

↗

Wickedness, unrighteousness, transgression, or sin; the guilt or burden of such wrongdoing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Leviticus 20:18

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

lie

↗

Sense 1: To recline, rest, remain, or be situated. Sense 2: In ‘lie with,’ to have sexual intercourse. Sense 3: To speak falsely. Sense 4: A false statement or deception.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

discovered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of discover, meaning to uncover; to lay bare; to reveal.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

blood

↗

Sense 1: The bodily fluid associated with physical life. Sense 2: Life taken, bloodshed, or guilt and responsibility for it. Sense 3: Kindred, shared human descent, or natural human nature. Sense 4: The juice of grapes.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

cut

↗

Sense 1: To divide, sever, remove, or wound with a sharp instrument. Sense 2: Figuratively, to grieve deeply or bring to an end.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

people

↗

Persons collectively; a nation, community, or group considered as a body.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Leviticus 20:19

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

mother

↗

Sense 1: A female parent. Sense 2: Figuratively, a source, chief city, or maternal relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

kin

↗

Relatives, family, kindred, or persons connected by blood or close family relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

bear

↗

Sense 1: To carry, support, convey, endure, sustain, or be answerable for. Sense 2: To produce or bring forth offspring, fruit, or another result. Sense 3: In ‘bear witness’ or ‘bear record,’ to testify or give witness. Sense 4: A large wild animal.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

iniquity

↗

Wickedness, unrighteousness, transgression, or sin; the guilt or burden of such wrongdoing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Leviticus 20:20

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

lie

↗

Sense 1: To recline, rest, remain, or be situated. Sense 2: In ‘lie with,’ to have sexual intercourse. Sense 3: To speak falsely. Sense 4: A false statement or deception.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bear

↗

Sense 1: To carry, support, convey, endure, sustain, or be answerable for. Sense 2: To produce or bring forth offspring, fruit, or another result. Sense 3: In ‘bear witness’ or ‘bear record,’ to testify or give witness. Sense 4: A large wild animal.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sin

↗

1. Wrongdoing against God and his law; transgression or unrighteousness. 2. The guilt or burden of such wrongdoing, or the inward principle so named. 3. As a verb, to commit such wrongdoing.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Leviticus 20:21

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

take

↗

To receive, seize, carry, accept, choose, or lay hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

brother

↗

Sense 1: A male sibling; a near kinsman. Sense 2: A fellow member of a people or faith.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

unclean

↗

Not clean; ceremonially unfit; physically foul; or morally defiled or impure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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Related Concepts

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Surrounding Verses

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16And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

17And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.

Selected passage

18And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

Selected passage

19And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.

Selected passage

20And if a man shall lie with his uncle’s wife, he hath uncovered his uncle’s nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.

Selected passage

21And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless.

Selected passage

22¶ Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.

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