What is the meaning of Leviticus 18:11? You must not have sexual relations • The command is clear and absolute: “You must not…” (Leviticus 18:11). • God draws a firm moral boundary, reflecting the same purity standard found in Leviticus 18:6 and reaffirmed in 1 Corinthians 6:18 and Hebrews 13:4. • Sexual intimacy is a gift reserved for marriage (Genesis 2:24); any use outside that covenant violates God’s design. with the daughter • The term “daughter” widens the prohibition beyond direct offspring to every female child in the household, protecting the vulnerable and preserving family trust. • Similar safeguards appear in Leviticus 18:10 and Deuteronomy 27:22, underscoring God’s concern for familial integrity. • Scripture consistently shields children from exploitation (Matthew 18:6). of your father’s wife • This phrase targets relationships created through remarriage or concubinage—today we would say “step-sister.” • God forbids sexual access even where there is no shared mother, removing any loophole (cf. Deuteronomy 22:30; 1 Corinthians 5:1 for a tragic New-Testament example of ignoring this command). • The family unit is meant to be a place of safety, not temptation. born to your father • The law clarifies that blood relation seals the prohibition. Half-siblings are fully siblings in God’s eyes. • Abraham’s earlier marriage to his half-sister Sarah (Genesis 20:12) happened before the law; Leviticus now closes that door. • The heartbreaking story of Amnon and Tamar (2 Samuel 13:1-14) illustrates the devastation that follows when this boundary is crossed. she is your sister • God’s final declaration removes all doubt: regardless of household complexity, “she is your sister.” • Brothers are to honor sisters with purity and respect (1 Timothy 5:2; Ephesians 6:2). • Violation carried severe penalty (Leviticus 20:17), highlighting how seriously the Lord guards the sanctity of family. summary Leviticus 18:11 literally forbids any sexual relationship with a half-sister or step-sister. God establishes this boundary to protect family purity, honor, and safety. The verse closes loopholes, upholds marriage as the only God-approved context for sexual union, and treats every sister—full, half, or step—as worthy of lifelong honor. |
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