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Douay-Rheims Bible

Leviticus 20:17

If any man take his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother, and see her nakedness, and she behold her brother’s shame: they have committed a crime. They shall be slain, in the sight of their people, because they have discovered one another’s nakedness. And they shall bear their iniquity.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Incest;   Marriage;   Sanitation;   The Topic Concordance - Sexual Activities;   Wickedness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Fornication;   Marriage;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Immorality, Sexual;   Kill, Killing;   Marriage;   Sexuality, Human;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Bastard;   Capital Punishment;   Crimes and Punishments;   Father's House;   Incest;   Leviticus;   Naked;   Pentateuch;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Canon of the Old Testament;   Congregation, Assembly;   Crimes and Punishments;   Deuteronomy;   Hexateuch;   Holiness;   Law;   Leviticus;   Priests and Levites;   Sanctification, Sanctify;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Stoning;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bastard;   Genesis;   Iniquity;   Leviticus;   Relationships, Family;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Brother;   Incest;   Leviticus;   Marriage Laws;   Targum;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
If a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: he has uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
King James Version
And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
Lexham English Bible
"‘As for a man who takes his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, and he sees her nakedness and she herself sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace, and they shall be cut off before the eyes of their people; he has exposed his sister's nakedness—he must bear his guilt.
New Century Version
"‘It is shameful for a brother to marry his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, and to have sexual relations with her. In front of everyone they must both be cut off from their people. The man has shamed his sister, and he is guilty of sin.
New English Translation
"‘If a man has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or his mother, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has exposed his sister's nakedness; he will bear his punishment for iniquity.
Amplified Bible
'If a man takes his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the sons of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness; he bears [responsibility for] his guilt.
New American Standard Bible
'If there is a man who takes his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the sons of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness; he bears his guilt.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Also the man that taketh his sister, his fathers daughter, or his mothers daughter, & seeth her shame and she seeth his shame, it is villenie: therefore they shall be cut off in the sight of their people, because he hath vncouered his sisters shame, he shall beare his iniquitie.
Legacy Standard Bible
‘If there is a man who takes his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the sons of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness; he bears his guilt.
Contemporary English Version
If you marry one of your sisters, you will be punished, and the two of you will be disgraced by being openly forced out of the community.
Complete Jewish Bible
If a man takes his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, and has sexual relations with her, and she consents, it is a shameful thing; they are to be cut off publicly — he has had sexual relations with his sister, and he will bear the consequences of their wrongdoing.
Darby Translation
And if a man take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness, that is a disgrace; and they shall be cut off before the eyes of the children of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
Easy-to-Read Version
"It is a shameful thing for a brother and his sister or half-sister to marry each other and have sexual relations with each other. They must be punished in public. They must be separated from their people. The man who has sexual relations with his sister must be punished for his sin.
English Standard Version
"If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace, and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness, and he shall bear his iniquity.
George Lamsa Translation
And if a man shall take his sister, his fathers daughter or his mothers daughter, and be intimate with her and she be intimate with him, it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people; he has uncovered his sisters nakedness; they shall suffer for their iniquity.
Good News Translation
If a man marries his sister or half sister, they shall be publicly disgraced and driven out of the community. He has had intercourse with his sister and must suffer the consequences.
Christian Standard Bible®
If a man marries his sister, whether his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They are to be cut off publicly from their people. He has had sexual intercourse with his sister; he will bear his iniquity.
Literal Translation
And if a man takes his sister, the daughter of his father or daughter of his mother, and he has seen her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a shame. And they shall be cut off before the eyes of the sons of their people; hehas uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf eny man take his sister, his fathers doughter, or his mothers doughter, and se hir preuyte, and she agayne se his secretes, it is a wicked thinge. They shalbe roted out in the sight of their people. For he hath vncouered his sisters preuyte, he shal beare his synne.
American Standard Version
And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
Bible in Basic English
And if a man takes his sister, daughter of his father or his mother, and has sex relations with her and she with him, it is an act of shame: they are to be cut off before the children of their people; he has had sex relations with his sister, and his sin will be on him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
If a man take his sister, his fathers daughter, or his mothers daughter, & see her nakednesse, and she his nakednesse, it is a wicked thing, they shalbe cut of in the sight of their people: he hath vncouered his sisters nakednesse, he shall beare his sinne.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness: it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
King James Version (1611)
And if a man shall take his sister, his fathers daughter, or his mothers daughter, and see her nakednesse, and she see his nakednesse, it is a wicked thing, and they shall bee cut off in the sight of their people: he hath vncouered his sisters nakednesse, he shall beare his iniquitie.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Whosoever shall take his sister by his father or by his mother, and shall see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness, it is a reproach: they shall be destroyed before the children of their family; he has uncovered his sister’s nakedness, they shall bear their sin.
English Revised Version
And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
Berean Standard Bible
If a man marries his sister, whether the daughter of his father or of his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off in the sight of their people. He has uncovered the nakedness of his sister; he shall bear his iniquity.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He that takith his sistir `the douytir of his fadir, ether the douyter of his modir, and seeth hir filthe, and sche seeth the schenschip of the brothir, thei han wrouyt an vnleueful thing, bothe schulen be slayn in the siyt of her puple; for thei schewiden togidere her filthe, and thei schulen bere her wickidnesse.
Young's Literal Translation
`And a man who taketh his sister, a daughter of his father or daughter of his mother, and he hath seen her nakedness, and she seeth his nakedness: it is a shame; and they have been cut off before the eyes of the sons of their people; the nakedness of his sister he hath uncovered; his iniquity he beareth.
Update Bible Version
And if a man shall have sex with his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the sons of their people: he has uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
Webster's Bible Translation
And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it [is] a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
World English Bible
If a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: he has uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
New King James Version
"If a man takes his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, and sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a wicked thing. And they shall be cut off in the sight of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness. He shall bear his guilt.
New Living Translation
"If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a shameful disgrace. They must be publicly cut off from the community. Since the man has violated his sister, he will be punished for his sin.
New Life Bible
‘If a man takes his sister, his father's or mother's daughter, and he sees her without clothes on and she sees him, it is a shame. They will be punished in front of their people. He has taken off his sister's clothes. He will suffer for his own sin.
New Revised Standard
If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace, and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people; he has uncovered his sister's nakedness, he shall be subject to punishment.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, any man, who taketh his sister - his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, and vieweth her shame, and, she, vieweth his shame, a disgrace, it is, - they shall therefore be cut off in the sight of the sons of their people, - the shame of his sister, hath he uncovered - his iniquity, shall he bear.
Revised Standard Version
"If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a shameful thing, and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people; he has uncovered his sister's nakedness, he shall bear his iniquity.
THE MESSAGE
"If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or mother, and they have sex, that's a disgrace. They must be publicly cut off from their people. He has violated his sister and will be held responsible.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'If there is a man who takes his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the sons of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness; he bears his guilt.

Contextual Overview

10 If any man commit adultery with the wife of another, and defile his neighbour’s wife: let them be put to death, both the adulterer and the adulteress. 11 If a man lie with his stepmother, and discover the nakedness of his father, let them both be put to death: their blood be upon them. 12 If any man lie with his daughter in law: let both die, because they have done a heinous crime. Their blood be upon them. 13 If any one lie with a man as with a woman, both have committed an abomination: let them be put to death. Their blood be upon them. 14 If any man after marrying the daughter, marry her mother, he hath done a heinous crime. He shall be burnt alive with them: neither shall so great an abomination remain in the midst of you. 15 He that shall copulate with any beast or cattle, dying let him die: the beast also ye shall kill. 16 The woman that shall lie under any beast, shall be killed together with the same. Their blood be upon them. 17 If any man take his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother, and see her nakedness, and she behold her brother’s shame: they have committed a crime. They shall be slain, in the sight of their people, because they have discovered one another’s nakedness. And they shall bear their iniquity. 18 If any man lie with a woman in her flowers, and uncover her nakedness, and she open the fountain of her blood: both shall be destroyed out of the midst of their people. 19 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy aunt by thy mother, and of thy aunt by thy father. He that doth this, hath uncovered the shame of his own flesh: both shall bear their iniquity.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Leviticus 18:9, Genesis 20:12, Deuteronomy 27:22, 2 Samuel 13:12, Ezekiel 22:11

Reciprocal: Leviticus 5:1 - bear Leviticus 7:18 - bear Leviticus 17:16 - General Leviticus 18:6 - to uncover Leviticus 24:15 - bear his sin Numbers 5:31 - bear 2 Samuel 13:4 - my brother

Cross-References

Genesis 20:7
Now therefore restore the man his wife, for he is a prophet: and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: but if thou wilt not restore her, know that thou shalt surely die, thou and all that are thine.
Genesis 20:9
And Abimelech called also for Abraham, and said to him: What hast thou done to us? what have we offended thee in, that thou hast brought upon me and upon my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done to us what thou oughtest not to do.
Genesis 20:10
And again he expostulated with him, and said: What sawest thou, that thou hast done this?
Genesis 20:11
Abraham answered: I thought with myself, saying: Perhaps there is not the fear of God in this place: and they will kill me for the sake of my wife:
Genesis 20:12
Howbeit, otherwise also she is truly my sister, the daughter of my father, and not the daughter of my mother, and I took her to wife.
Genesis 29:31
And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
Ezra 6:10
And let them offer oblations to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his children.
Proverbs 15:8
The victims of the wicked are abominable to the Lord: the vows of the just are acceptable.
Proverbs 15:29
The Lord is far from the wicked: and he will hear the prayers of the just.
Isaiah 45:11
Thus saith the Lord the Holy One of Israel, his maker: Ask me of things to come, concerning my children, and concerning the work of my hands give ye charge to me.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter,.... Take her to be his wife, or commit lewdness with her, whether she be his sister by both father and mother's side, or whether by one only, either way she is his sister, and it is not lawful to marry her, or lie with her, see Leviticus 18:9:

and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; which is not to be understood of an immodest view, exposing to each other what should not be seen, and pleasing themselves wills such obscene sights, but of the act of lying together, for so it is afterwards explained by a phrase frequently used to express that action by; and it denotes, as Aben Ezra observes, their mutual consent and agreement in it:

it [is] a wicked thing; and by no means to be done; it is a breach of a former law, it is a scandalous and reproachful thing, and the word is sometimes used for reproach, as in Proverbs 14:34;

and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people; by death, either by the hand of the civil magistrate, or by the hand of God, by the pestilence, as the Targum of Jonathan; Ben Gersom interprets it, of their dying childless, as in some following cases, Leviticus 20:20;

he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; or lay with her, which explains a preceding clause:

he shall bear his iniquity; the punishment of it, and he alone, as Aben Ezra observes.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Cut off ... - See Exodus 31:14 note. The more full expression here used probably refers to some special form of public excommunication, accompanied, it may be, by expulsion from the camp.


 
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