Leviticus 18

The LORD said to Moses,

“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.

You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived. You shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes.

You shall do my ordinances. You shall keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God.

You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances, which if a man does, he shall live in them. I am the LORD.

“‘None of you shall approach any close relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.

“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness.

“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife. It is your father’s nakedness.

“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or born abroad.

“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son’s daughter, or of your daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness; for theirs is your own nakedness.

“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, conceived by your father, since she is your sister.

“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister. She is your father’s near kinswoman.

“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s near kinswoman.

“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife. She is your aunt.

“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.

“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife. It is your brother’s nakedness.

“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. You shall not take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near kinswomen. It is wickedness.

“‘You shall not take a wife in addition to her sister, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is still alive.

“‘You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.

“‘You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, and defile yourself with her.

“‘You shall not give any of your children as a sacrifice to Molech. You shall not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

“‘You shall not lie with a man as with a woman. That is detestable.

“‘You shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it. No woman may give herself to an animal, to lie down with it: it is a perversion.

“‘Don’t defile yourselves in any of these things; for in all these the nations which I am casting out before you were defiled.

The land was defiled. Therefore I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out her inhabitants.

You therefore shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the native-born, nor the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you

(for the men of the land that were before you had done all these abominations, and the land became defiled),

that the land not vomit you out also, when you defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.

“‘For whoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people.

Therefore you shall keep my requirements, that you do not practice any of these abominable customs which were practiced before you, and that you do not defile yourselves with them. I am the LORD your God.’”

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter sets forth the Lord’s requirements for sexual purity and familial boundaries as part of Israel’s calling to live distinctly before Him. It centers on prohibitions against various forms of incest, adultery, child sacrifice, homosexual relations, and bestiality, grounding these laws in Israel’s identity as a people set apart by God. The chapter emphasizes that moral holiness is essential to maintaining life in the Promised Land and reflects the seriousness with which God views covenant fidelity and bodily purity.

Flow.

Begins with a call to reject the practices of Egypt and Canaan and instead uphold God’s statutes as the path to life (vv. 1–5).
Details specific prohibitions concerning sexual relations with close relatives, structured around familial relationships (vv. 6–18).
Expands to include prohibitions on sexual relations during menstruation, adultery, child sacrifice, homosexual acts, and bestiality (vv. 19–23).
Concludes with a warning that defiling these commands leads to defilement of the land and expulsion, as happened to the nations before Israel (vv. 24–30).

Connections.
Following chapter 17, which establishes the sanctity of blood and the exclusive worship of God in matters of sacrifice and slaughter, chapter 18 extends holiness into the realm of personal and familial conduct. The transition from ritual purity to moral and sexual ethics shows that holiness applies not only to the altar but to the household. The call to separation from the practices of the surrounding nations prepares the way for chapter 19, which broadens the scope of holiness to include justice, love of neighbor, and reverence for God in everyday life, showing that all of life must reflect the character of a holy God.

What it teaches.
God’s people are called to moral purity because they belong to Him; their bodies and relationships are to reflect His holiness. The sexual boundaries prescribed protect the integrity of the family, honor covenantal order, and distinguish Israel from pagan nations who defiled themselves (; cf. WCF 19.2). The warning that the land “vomited out” its prior inhabitants underscores that persistent sin has both moral and cosmic consequences. The command to “live in them” by keeping God’s statutes () does not teach salvation by works but highlights the connection between obedience and covenant blessing (HC LD 4, Q&A 93). Perversion of God’s created order—especially in matters of family and sexuality—is a grave offense against His design (BC, Art. 14; LD 41).

Apply.
God’s design for human sexuality is not arbitrary but woven into the fabric of created order and communal holiness, calling His people to honor Him in the most intimate aspects of life.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.