What is the meaning of Leviticus 18:19? You must not approach a woman • The command begins by restricting even the approach, emphasizing intentional distance before temptation arises (Proverbs 4:14-15; 2 Timothy 2:22). • God regularly tells His people to draw clear boundaries, protecting both parties from sin and from ceremonial defilement (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; 1 Corinthians 6:18). • The wording shows the responsibility placed on the one initiating contact; holiness requires proactive self-control (1 Peter 1:15-16). to have sexual relations with her • Scripture celebrates marital intimacy (Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4), yet it also sets times when even married couples are to refrain. • This phrase identifies the specific act forbidden in this moment, guarding the marriage bed from misuse (Ephesians 5:3). • The prohibition is moral, not misogynistic; it protects the woman’s vulnerability and upholds God’s design for purity (Colossians 3:5). during her menstrual period • Menstruation rendered a woman ceremonially unclean under the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 15:19-24), and anyone contacting her blood shared that status. • Blood represents life (Leviticus 17:11); mixing sexual union with a state associated with loss of blood blurred divine symbols of life and purity (Ezekiel 36:17). • The command also provided practical health protections long before modern medicine understood infection risks. • Old-covenant ceremonial uncleanness no longer applies to our standing before God (Hebrews 9:13-14), yet the moral principle of reverencing God-given boundaries and showing considerate care within marriage still endures (Ephesians 5:25). summary Leviticus 18:19 literally forbids sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman, underscoring God’s call to holiness, self-control, and respect for the sacred symbol of blood. The verse teaches believers to honor God-given boundaries, protect one another’s dignity, and pursue purity in every aspect of marital intimacy. |
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