Leviticus 20:19

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 20:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother`s sister, nor of thy father`s sister; for he hath made naked his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother`s sister, nor of thy father`s sister; for he hath made naked his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.
Leviticus 20:19 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother`s sister, nor of thy father`s sister; for he hath made naked his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister, etc.] An aunt either by mother or father’s side, against which the law is, (<031813>Leviticus 18:13); for he uncovereth his near kin; as an aunt is to a man, and so an uncle to a woman, and both equally criminal; for it is a rule that holds good in all those cases, though not expressed, that what is binding upon one sex is upon the other, being in the same degree of relation, whether of consanguinity or affinity: they shall bear their iniquity; “both” of them, as the Vulgate Latin version, the man and his aunt, and so a woman and her uncle; the guilt of their sin shall be upon them, and the…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“mother's: Lev 18:12, 13-30; Exo 6:20 uncovereth: Lev 18:6 Leviticus 20:20”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“No civil punishment, on the other hand, to be inflicted by the magistrate or by the community generally, was ordered to follow marriage with an aunt, the sister of father or mother ( Lev 20:19, cf. Lev 18:12-13), with an uncle's wife ( Lev 20:20, cf. Lev 18:4), or with a sister-in-law, a brother's wife ( Lev 20:21, cf. Lev 18:16). In all these cases the threat is simply held out, "they shall bear their iniquity," and (according to Lev 20:20, Lev 20:21) "die childless;" that is to say, God would reserve the punishment to Himself (see at Lev 18:14). In the list of punishments no reference is made to intercourse with a mother ( Lev 18:7) or a granddaughter ( Lev 18:10), as it was taken for…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification