Leviticus

Leviticus 20:19–21

¹⁹You must not have sexual relations with the sister of your mother or your father, for it is exposing one’s own kin; both shall bear their iniquity.

²⁰If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered the nakedness of his uncle. They will bear their sin; they shall die childless.

²¹If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
You must not	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
have sexual relations with	וְעֶרְוַ֨ת	wə·‘er·waṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct	H6172 nakedness, pudenda
the sister	אֲח֧וֹת	’ă·ḥō·wṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H269 sister
of your mother	אִמְּךָ֛	’im·mə·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H517 mother
or your father	אָבִ֖יךָ	’ā·ḇî·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H1 father
for	כִּ֧י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
it is exposing	הֶעֱרָ֖ה	he·‘ĕ·rāh	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6168 be naked, bare
one’s own kin	שְׁאֵר֛וֹ	šə·’ê·rōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H7607 flesh
both shall bear	יִשָּֽׂאוּ׃	yiś·śā·’ū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5375 lift, take, carry
their iniquity	עֲוֺנָ֥ם	‘ă·wō·nām	Noun - common singular construct; third person masculine plural	H5771 iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If a man	וְאִ֗ישׁ	wə·’îš	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
lies	יִשְׁכַּב֙	yiš·kaḇ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7901 lie down
with	אֶת־	’eṯ-	Preposition	H853 mark of the accusative
his uncle’s wife	דֹּ֣דָת֔וֹ	dō·ḏā·ṯōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1733 aunt
he has uncovered	גִּלָּ֑ה	gil·lāh	Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1540 uncover, remove
the nakedness	עֶרְוַ֥ת	‘er·waṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H6172 nakedness, pudenda
of his uncle	דֹּד֖וֹ	dō·ḏōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1730 beloved, love
They will bear	יִשָּׂ֖אוּ	yiś·śā·’ū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5375 lift, take, carry
their sin	חֶטְאָ֥ם	ḥeṭ·’ām	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H2399 sin
they shall die	יָמֻֽתוּ׃	yā·mu·ṯū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H4191 die
childless	עֲרִירִ֥ים	‘ă·rî·rîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H6185 stripped

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If a man	וְאִ֗ישׁ	wə·’îš	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
marries	יִקַּ֛ח	yiq·qaḥ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3947 take
his brother’s	אָחִ֖יו	’ā·ḥîw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H251 brother
wife	אֵ֥שֶׁת	’ê·šeṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H802 woman, wife, female
it	הִ֑וא	hî	Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
is an act of impurity	נִדָּ֣ה	nid·dāh	Noun - feminine singular	H5079 impurity
He has uncovered	גִּלָּ֖ה	gil·lāh	Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1540 uncover, remove
the nakedness	עֶרְוַ֥ת	‘er·waṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H6172 nakedness, pudenda
of his brother	אָחִ֛יו	’ā·ḥîw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H251 brother
they shall be	יִהְיֽוּ׃	yih·yū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
childless	עֲרִירִ֥ים	‘ă·rî·rîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H6185 stripped

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Leviticus 20:19 Leviticus 18:6

Leviticus 20:20 Leviticus 18:14

Leviticus 20:21 Leviticus 18:16 · Matthew 14:3–4

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.