Leviticus 18:15

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 18:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son`s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son`s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son`s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thou shall not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law, etc.] Shall not he with her in his son’s lifetime, or marry her after his death: she [is] that son’s wife; and so one flesh with him, and who is of the same flesh and blood with his father, and therefore the nearness of the relation forbids such incestuous copulation or marriage: thou shall not uncover her nakedness; or have carnal knowledge of her, whether in the life or after the death of his son, even then marriage with her is not lawful.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“18:15 Just as having sexual relations with your father’s wife would dishonor your father, having sexual relations with your daughter-in-law would dishonor your son. The law called for daughters-in-law to be treated like natural daughters (Exod 21:9; cp. Gen 38:1-30).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Lev 20:12; Gen 38:18, Gen 38:19, Gen 38:26; Eze 22:11 Leviticus 18:16”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Sexual connection with a daughter-in-law, a son's wife, is called תּבל in Lev 20:12, and threatened with death to both the parties concerned. תּבל, from בּלל to mix, to confuse, signifies a sinful mixing up or confusing of the divine ordinances by unnatural unchastity, like the lying of a woman with a beast, which is the only other connection in which the word occurs ( Lev 18:23). Leviticus 18:16”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification