What is the meaning of Leviticus 20:19? You must not have sexual relations Leviticus 20:19 opens with a direct, unambiguous command—“You must not have sexual relations.” God is setting a moral fence, similar to the broader call to holiness in Leviticus 18:6, “No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations.” The clarity reminds us that sexual boundaries are God-given, not culturally negotiable. Paul echoes this permanence in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, urging believers to “abstain from sexual immorality” and to control their bodies in holiness and honor. with the sister of your mother or your father The Lord specifies the relationship: an aunt, whether maternal or paternal. By naming both sides of the family, He removes loopholes that fallen hearts might seek. Genesis 12:13 and 20:12 highlight how blurred family lines once led to moral confusion, yet here God eliminates confusion by spelling it out. Deuteronomy 27:22 repeats the same prohibition, underscoring its ongoing seriousness in Israel’s life. for it is exposing one’s own kin The phrase “exposing one’s own kin” points to the intimacy and vulnerability God intends to protect within family bonds. Sexual sin here is not merely a private act; it tears at the fabric of kinship. Leviticus 18:7-8 links sexual exposure to the shame of uncovering “your father’s nakedness,” reinforcing that family relationships carry a sacred covering. In 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 Paul reproves the church for a man living with his father’s wife, showing the same principle carries into New Testament ethics. both shall bear their iniquity Consequences fall on both parties; guilt is shared. Numbers 30:15 and Ezekiel 18:20 affirm that each person answers for personal sin, yet here God also underscores joint responsibility. Romans 6:23 reminds us that “the wages of sin is death,” reflecting the seriousness Leviticus attaches to violating God’s sexual order. While Christ offers forgiveness (1 John 1:9), the principle of accountability remains: sin always costs. summary Leviticus 20:19 forbids sexual intimacy with an aunt, safeguarding the purity, honor, and boundaries God established for family life. The verse shows that God’s design for sexuality is specific, protective, and morally binding; violating it wounds individuals, families, and communities, and brings shared accountability before God. |
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