Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 18

Introduction

Overview

Leviticus 18:1, Unlawful marriages, and unlawful lusts.

Verse 2

Leviticus 18:4, Leviticus 11:44, Leviticus 19:3, Leviticus 19:4, Leviticus 19:10, Leviticus 19:34, Leviticus 20:7, Genesis 17:7, Exodus 6:7, Exodus 20:2, Psalms 33:12, Ezekiel 20:5, Ezekiel 20:7, Ezekiel 20:19, Ezekiel 20:20

Reciprocal: Leviticus 18:30 - I am

Verse 3

the doings: Psalms 106:35, Ezekiel 20:7, Ezekiel 20:8, Ezekiel 23:8, Ephesians 5:7-11, 1 Peter 4:2-4

and after: Leviticus 20:23, Exodus 23:24, Deuteronomy 12:4, Deuteronomy 12:30, Deuteronomy 12:31, Jeremiah 10:2, Jeremiah 10:3, Romans 12:2

Reciprocal: Leviticus 18:30 - abominable 2 Kings 17:8 - walked Ezra 9:1 - doing according Proverbs 4:4 - keep Ezekiel 11:12 - but Hebrews 9:1 - had

Verse 4

Leviticus 18:26, Leviticus 19:37, Leviticus 20:22, Deuteronomy 4:1, Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 6:1, Psalms 105:45, Psalms 119:4, Ezekiel 20:19, Ezekiel 36:27, Ezekiel 37:24, Luke 1:6, John 15:14

Reciprocal: Leviticus 18:30 - I am Leviticus 20:8 - And ye Leviticus 22:31 - General Leviticus 26:3 - General Ezekiel 18:17 - that hath not Hebrews 9:1 - had

Verse 5

which if a man do: Ezekiel 20:11, Ezekiel 20:13, Ezekiel 20:21, Luke 10:28, Romans 10:5, Galatians 3:12

I am the Lord: Exodus 6:2, Exodus 6:6, Exodus 6:29, Malachi 3:6

Reciprocal: Exodus 21:1 - the judgments Leviticus 18:26 - keep Leviticus 19:37 - General Leviticus 20:8 - And ye Leviticus 20:22 - statutes Leviticus 22:31 - General Leviticus 26:3 - General Deuteronomy 4:1 - that ye may Deuteronomy 6:25 - General Deuteronomy 32:47 - General Nehemiah 9:29 - which Proverbs 7:2 - Keep Ezekiel 33:15 - walk Matthew 19:17 - but Romans 7:10 - General

Verse 6

near to kin: Heb. remainder of his flesh. Notwithstanding the prohibitions here, it must be evident, that in the infancy of the world, persons very near of kin, and even brothers and sisters, must have joined in matrimonial alliances; and therefore we cannot pronounce them immoral in themselves. But, in these first instances, necessity required it; but when this necessity no longer existed, the thing became inexpedient and improper for:

1. As human nature now is, it is very expedient that those who are so much together in youth, should, by such a restriction be taught to look upon all such intercourse as prohibited and incestuous; for unless such restrictions are made, it would be impossible to prevent the prevalence of very early corruption among young persons. - See Michaelis on the laws of Moses, Art. 108.

2. That the duties owing by nature to relatives might not be confounded with those of a social or political kind; for could a man be a brother and a husband, or a son and a husband at the same time, and fulfil the duties of both? Impossible.

3. That by intermarrying with other families, relationship and its endearments might be diffused. These prohibitions are, therefore, to be considered so eminently moral obligations as to be observed by all mankind.

to uncover: Leviticus 18:7-19, Leviticus 20:11, Leviticus 20:12, Leviticus 20:17-21

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:32 - seed Genesis 19:33 - drink Genesis 19:36 - General Leviticus 18:24 - Defile Leviticus 20:19 - uncovereth Leviticus 21:2 - General

Verse 7

Leviticus 20:11, Ezekiel 22:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:32 - seed Genesis 19:33 - drink Genesis 19:36 - General Leviticus 18:6 - to uncover

Verse 8

Leviticus 20:11, Genesis 35:22, Genesis 49:4, Deuteronomy 22:30, Deuteronomy 27:20, 2 Samuel 16:21, 2 Samuel 16:22, Ezekiel 22:10, Amos 2:7, 1 Corinthians 5:1

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 5:1 - forasmuch

Verse 9

Leviticus 20:17, Deuteronomy 27:22, 2 Samuel 13:11-14, Ezekiel 22:11

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 13:4 - my brother 2 Samuel 13:12 - no such thing ought

Verse 11

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 13:12 - no such thing ought

Verse 12

Leviticus 20:19, Exodus 6:20

Reciprocal: Numbers 26:59 - General

Verse 13

Reciprocal: Leviticus 20:19 - mother's Numbers 18:20 - General

Verse 14

Leviticus 20:20

Verse 15

Leviticus 20:12, Genesis 38:18, Genesis 38:19, Genesis 38:26, Ezekiel 22:11

Reciprocal: Numbers 18:20 - General Amos 2:7 - and a

Verse 16

Leviticus 20:21, Deuteronomy 25:5, Matthew 14:3, Matthew 14:4, Matthew 22:24, Mark 6:17, Mark 12:19, Luke 3:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:8 - General Mark 6:18 - It is

Verse 17

a woman: Leviticus 20:14, Deuteronomy 27:23, Amos 2:7

it is wickedness: Leviticus 20:14

Verse 18

wife: or, one wife to another, Genesis 4:19, Genesis 29:28, Exodus 26:3

to vex her: Genesis 30:15, 1 Samuel 1:6-8, Malachi 2:15

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:27 - week Genesis 31:50 - afflict 1 Kings 11:1 - together with

Verse 19

Leviticus 15:19, Leviticus 15:24, Leviticus 20:18, Ezekiel 18:6, Ezekiel 22:10

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 11:4 - purified

Verse 20

Leviticus 20:10, Exodus 20:14, Deuteronomy 5:18, Deuteronomy 22:22, Deuteronomy 22:25, 2 Samuel 11:3, 2 Samuel 11:4, 2 Samuel 11:27, Proverbs 6:25, Proverbs 6:29-33, Malachi 3:5, Matthew 5:27, Matthew 5:28, Romans 2:22, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Galatians 5:19, Hebrews 13:4

Reciprocal: Numbers 5:13 - General Ezekiel 18:6 - neither hath defiled Ezekiel 22:11 - committed

Verse 21

pass through: Molech signifies a king, or governor, of similar import with Baal, lord, or governor; and it is generally supposed that the sun was worshipped under this name; and more particularly as the fire appears to have been so much employed in his worship. It seems clear that children were not only consecrated to him by passing through the fire, which appears to be alluded to here, but that they were actually made a burnt offering to him - see the parallel passages. That the several abominations afterwards mentioned were actually practised by many heathen nations is abundantly attested by their own writers. Leviticus 20:2, Deuteronomy 12:31, Deuteronomy 18:10, 2 Kings 16:3, 2 Kings 21:6, 2 Kings 23:10, Psalms 106:37, Psalms 106:38, Jeremiah 7:31, Jeremiah 19:5, Ezekiel 20:31, Ezekiel 23:37

to Molech: 1 Kings 11:7, 1 Kings 11:33, Amos 5:26, Acts 7:43, Moloch.

profane: Leviticus 19:12, Leviticus 20:2-5, Leviticus 21:6, Leviticus 22:2, Leviticus 22:32, Ezekiel 36:20-23, Malachi 1:12, Romans 1:23, Romans 2:24

Reciprocal: Leviticus 20:3 - profane 1 Kings 11:5 - Milcom 2 Kings 17:17 - they caused 2 Kings 17:31 - burnt their children 2 Chronicles 28:3 - burnt 2 Chronicles 33:6 - caused Isaiah 57:5 - slaying Jeremiah 32:35 - which Ezekiel 16:21 - to pass Ezekiel 20:26 - in that Ezekiel 39:7 - and I will

Verse 22

Leviticus 20:13, Genesis 19:5, Judges 19:22, 1 Kings 14:24, Romans 1:26, Romans 1:27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10, Jude 1:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:7 - General Ezekiel 16:50 - and committed Ezekiel 18:12 - hath committed Romans 1:24 - between

Verse 23

any beast: Leviticus 20:15, Leviticus 20:16, Exodus 22:19

confusion: Leviticus 20:12

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 27:21 - General

Verse 24

Defile: Leviticus 18:6-23, Leviticus 18:30, Jeremiah 44:4, Matthew 15:18-20, Mark 7:10-23, 1 Corinthians 3:17

for: Leviticus 20:22, Leviticus 20:23, Deuteronomy 12:31, Deuteronomy 18:12

Reciprocal: Exodus 34:24 - I will Leviticus 18:27 - General Leviticus 20:16 - And if a woman Deuteronomy 9:4 - for the wickedness Deuteronomy 24:4 - thou shalt 1 Kings 9:7 - will I cut 2 Chronicles 33:2 - like unto 2 Chronicles 33:9 - the heathen Ezra 9:1 - doing according Ezra 9:11 - The land Psalms 53:1 - have done Isaiah 24:5 - defiled Jeremiah 2:7 - ye defiled Jeremiah 3:1 - shall not that Ezekiel 11:12 - but Ezekiel 28:16 - therefore Ezekiel 31:11 - I have driven Ezekiel 36:17 - they defiled Micah 2:10 - because Malachi 2:11 - and an

Verse 25

the land: Numbers 35:33, Numbers 35:34, Psalms 106:38, Isaiah 24:5, Jeremiah 2:7, Jeremiah 16:18, Ezekiel 36:17, Ezekiel 36:18, Romans 8:22

therefore: Psalms 89:32, Isaiah 26:21, Jeremiah 5:9, Jeremiah 5:29, Jeremiah 9:9, Jeremiah 14:10, Jeremiah 23:2, Hosea 2:13, Hosea 8:13, Hosea 9:9

vomiteth: Leviticus 18:28, Leviticus 20:22

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:19 - General Leviticus 20:16 - And if a woman Deuteronomy 9:4 - for the wickedness Deuteronomy 21:23 - thy land Joshua 22:19 - unclean 1 Kings 21:26 - according to 2 Kings 21:2 - after the abominations Jeremiah 9:19 - our Ezekiel 33:26 - and shall

Verse 26

keep: Leviticus 18:5, Leviticus 18:30, Deuteronomy 4:1, Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 4:40, Deuteronomy 12:32, Psalms 105:44, Psalms 105:45, Luke 8:15, Luke 11:28, John 14:15, John 14:21-23, John 15:14

nor any stranger: Leviticus 17:8, Leviticus 17:10

Reciprocal: Exodus 21:1 - the judgments Exodus 23:24 - do after Leviticus 18:4 - General Leviticus 20:22 - statutes Deuteronomy 12:31 - Thou Deuteronomy 18:9 - General Ezekiel 18:12 - hath committed Ezekiel 18:17 - that hath not Ezekiel 33:26 - work

Verse 27

Leviticus 18:24, Deuteronomy 20:18, Deuteronomy 23:18, Deuteronomy 25:16, Deuteronomy 27:15, 1 Kings 14:24, 2 Kings 16:3, 2 Kings 21:2, 2 Chronicles 36:14, Ezekiel 16:50, Ezekiel 22:11, Hosea 9:10

Reciprocal: Leviticus 18:30 - abominable Leviticus 20:23 - therefore Deuteronomy 18:9 - General Deuteronomy 18:12 - General Deuteronomy 32:16 - abominations 2 Kings 17:8 - walked Jeremiah 16:13 - will I Jeremiah 16:18 - they have defiled

Verse 28

Leviticus 18:25, Leviticus 20:22, Jeremiah 9:19, Ezekiel 36:13, Ezekiel 36:17, Romans 8:22, Revelation 3:16

Reciprocal: Numbers 33:56 - General Deuteronomy 4:26 - ye shall Jeremiah 16:13 - will I Jeremiah 16:18 - they have defiled Ezekiel 33:26 - and shall Hosea 9:3 - shall not

Verse 29

Leviticus 17:10, Leviticus 20:6 Exodus 12:15

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:14 - cut Leviticus 7:21 - cut off Leviticus 17:4 - be cut off Malachi 2:12 - cut Romans 12:2 - be not

Verse 30

abominable: Leviticus 18:3, Leviticus 18:26, Leviticus 18:27, Leviticus 20:23, Deuteronomy 18:9-12

that ye defile: Leviticus 18:24

I am: Leviticus 18:2, Leviticus 18:4

Reciprocal: Exodus 29:46 - I am 2 Chronicles 15:8 - abominable idols Jeremiah 10:3 - customs Ezekiel 18:17 - that hath not Romans 12:2 - be not Hebrews 9:1 - had