What is the meaning of Leviticus 18:15?

You must not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law

• God’s command is direct and comprehensive, leaving no room for exceptions.

• Sexual intimacy is reserved for covenant marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6). Any deviation violates His design.

• This particular prohibition safeguards the family’s sanctity, preventing destructive rivalries and emotional upheaval (compare Genesis 35:22; 2 Samuel 16:21-22).

• The same standard reappears in Leviticus 20:12, where such sin warrants capital punishment, underscoring its seriousness.

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She is your son’s wife

• By identifying her relationship to the man, God highlights the covenant chain already in place. Breaking it dishonors both son and daughter-in-law (Exodus 20:12).

• Marriage binds two into “one flesh” (Ephesians 5:31). An intrusion from the father fractures that sacred unity.

• This clause also protects lineage integrity; inheritance and tribal identity depended on clear parentage (Numbers 27:8-11).

• The account of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38 serves as a negative example, showing the chaos and shame that follow when family roles blur.

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You are not to have sexual relations with her

• God restates His mandate for emphasis—a teaching tactic seen elsewhere (Deuteronomy 17:16-17; Philippians 4:4). Repetition drives home non-negotiable truth.

• Sin begins in the heart (Matthew 5:28). The double warning calls the man to guard his thoughts long before actions arise.

• Obedience here models the holiness God demands of His people: “Be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16).

• Faithfulness within the household projects God’s faithfulness to the wider community (Malachi 2:15-16; Hebrews 13:4).

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summary

Leviticus 18:15 literally prohibits sexual relations between a man and his daughter-in-law, affirming God’s design for purity, honoring established family bonds, and preserving generational integrity. Obeying this command protects the family, upholds covenant marriage, and reflects God’s own holiness to the world.