Leviticus 18:16

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "Leviticus.18.16", "source": "עֶרְוַ֥ת אֵֽשֶׁת־אָחִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה עֶרְוַ֥ת אָחִ֖יךָ הִֽוא׃", "text": "*ʿerwat* *ʾēšet*-*ʾāḥîkā* *lōʾ* *təgallēh* *ʿerwat* *ʾāḥîkā* *hîʾ*", "grammar": { "*ʿerwat*": "noun, feminine singular construct - nakedness of", "*ʾēšet*": "noun, feminine singular construct - wife of", "*ʾāḥîkā*": "noun, masculine singular + 2nd masculine singular suffix - your brother", "*lōʾ*": "negative particle - not", "*təgallēh*": "Piel imperfect, 2nd masculine singular - you shall uncover", "*ʿerwat*": "noun, feminine singular construct - nakedness of", "*ʾāḥîkā*": "noun, masculine singular + 2nd masculine singular suffix - your brother", "*hîʾ*": "3rd feminine singular pronoun - she/it is" }, "variants": { "*ʿerwat*": "nakedness of/sexual parts of/shame of", "*təgallēh*": "you shall uncover/you shall expose/you shall have sexual relations with" } }

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

עֶרְוַ֥ת אֵֽשֶׁת־אָחִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה עֶרְוַ֥ת אָחִ֖יךָ הִֽוא׃

Transliteration

ʿerwat ʾēšet-ʾāḥîkā lōʾ təgallēh ʿerwat ʾāḥîkā hîʾ

Grammar Details

• *ʿerwat*: noun, feminine singular construct - nakedness of
• *ʾēšet*: noun, feminine singular construct - wife of
• *ʾāḥîkā*: noun, masculine singular + 2nd masculine singular suffix - your brother
• *lōʾ*: negative particle - not
• *təgallēh*: Piel imperfect, 2nd masculine singular - you shall uncover
• *hîʾ*: 3rd feminine singular pronoun - she/it is

Word Meanings

• *ʿerwat*: nakedness of/sexual parts of/shame of
• *təgallēh*: you shall uncover/you shall expose/you shall have sexual relations with

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonor your brother.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife: it is your brother's nakedness.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thou shalt not uncover{H1540} the nakedness{H6172} of thy brother's{H251} wife:{H802} it is thy brother's{H251} nakedness.{H6172}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thou shalt not uncover{H1540}{(H8762)} the nakedness{H6172} of thy brother's{H251} wife{H802}: it is thy brother's{H251} nakedness{H6172}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Thou shalt not vnheale the secrettes of thy brothers wife, for that is thy brothers preuyte.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Thou shalt not vncouer the preuytie of thy brothers wife, for it is thy brothers preuytie.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Thou shalt not discouer the shame of thy brothers wife. for it is thy brothers shame.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Thou shalt not vncouer the nakednesse of thy brothers wife, for that is thy brothers nakednesse.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it [is] thy brother's nakedness.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife: it is your brother's nakedness.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `The nakedness of thy brother's wife thou dost not uncover; it `is' thy brother's nakedness.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  You may not have sex relations with your brother's wife, for she is your brother's.

• World English Bible (2000)

  "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife: it is your brother's nakedness.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; she is your brother’s nakedness.

Referenced Verses

• Lev 20:21 : 21 { "verseID": "Leviticus.20.21", "source": "וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִקַּ֛ח אֶת־אֵ֥שֶׁת אָחִ֖יו נִדָּ֣ה הִ֑וא עֶרְוַ֥ת אָחִ֛יו גִּלָּ֖ה עֲרִירִ֥ים יִהְיֽוּ׃", "text": "*wᵊ-ʾîš* *ʾăšer* *yiqqaḥ* *ʾet*-*ʾēšet* *ʾāḥîw* *niddāh* she *ʿerwat* *ʾāḥîw* *gillāh* *ʿărîrîm* *yihyû*", "grammar": { "*wᵊ-ʾîš*": "conjunction + noun, masculine singular - and a man", "*ʾăšer*": "relative pronoun - who/that", "*yiqqaḥ*": "imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - takes", "*ʾet*-*ʾēšet*": "direct object marker + noun, feminine singular construct - wife of", "*ʾāḥîw*": "noun, masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his brother", "*niddāh*": "noun, feminine singular - impurity", "*hîwʾ*": "3rd feminine singular personal pronoun - it is/she is", "*ʿerwat*": "noun, feminine singular construct - nakedness of", "*ʾāḥîw*": "noun, masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his brother", "*gillāh*": "perfect, 3rd masculine singular, Piel - he has uncovered", "*ʿărîrîm*": "adjective, masculine plural - childless", "*yihyû*": "imperfect, 3rd masculine plural - they shall be" }, "variants": { "*yiqqaḥ*": "takes/marries/has relations with", "*ʾēšet* *ʾāḥîw*": "his brother's wife/his sister-in-law", "*niddāh*": "impurity/menstrual impurity/uncleanness", "*ʿerwat* *ʾāḥîw* *gillāh*": "he has uncovered his brother's nakedness/he has dishonored his brother", "*ʿărîrîm* *yihyû*": "they shall be childless/they shall remain without offspring" } }
• Deut 25:5 : 5 { "verseID": "Deuteronomy.25.5", "source": "כִּֽי־יֵשְׁב֨וּ אַחִ֜ים יַחְדָּ֗ו וּמֵ֨ת אַחַ֤ד מֵהֶם֙ וּבֵ֣ן אֵֽין־ל֔וֹ לֹֽא־תִהְיֶ֧ה אֵֽשֶׁת־הַמֵּ֛ת הַח֖וּצָה לְאִ֣ישׁ זָ֑ר יְבָמָהּ֙ יָבֹ֣א עָלֶ֔יהָ וּלְקָחָ֥הּ ל֛וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֖ה וְיִבְּמָֽהּ׃", "text": "When *yēšbû* *ʾaḥîm* *yaḥdāw* *û-mēt* one of-them *û-bēn* none-to-him not *tihyeh* *ʾēšet*-the-*mēt* the-*ḥûṣāh* to-*ʾîš* *zār* *yəbāmāh* *yābōʾ* upon-her *û-ləqāḥāh* to-him to-*ʾiššāh* *wə-yibbəmāh*", "grammar": { "*kî*": "conjunction - when/if", "*yēšbû*": "qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - they dwell", "*ʾaḥîm*": "noun masculine plural - brothers", "*yaḥdāw*": "adverb - together", "*û-mēt*": "conjunction + qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - and dies", "*ʾaḥad*": "numeral - one", "*mē-hem*": "preposition + 3rd masculine plural suffix - from them", "*û-bēn*": "conjunction + noun masculine singular - and son", "*ʾên-lô*": "particle of negation + preposition + 3rd masculine singular suffix - there is not to him", "*lōʾ*": "negative particle - not", "*tihyeh*": "qal imperfect 3rd feminine singular - she shall be", "*ʾēšet*": "noun feminine singular construct - wife of", "*ha-mēt*": "definite article + qal participle masculine singular - the dead one", "*ha-ḥûṣāh*": "definite article + noun feminine singular - the outside/abroad", "*lə-ʾîš*": "preposition + noun masculine singular - to a man", "*zār*": "adjective masculine singular - strange/foreign", "*yəbāmāh*": "noun masculine singular + 3rd feminine singular suffix - her brother-in-law", "*yābōʾ*": "qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - he shall go", "*ʿālêhā*": "preposition + 3rd feminine singular suffix - upon her", "*û-ləqāḥāh*": "conjunction + qal perfect 3rd masculine singular + 3rd feminine singular suffix - and take her", "*lô*": "preposition + 3rd masculine singular suffix - to him", "*lə-ʾiššāh*": "preposition + noun feminine singular - as a wife", "*wə-yibbəmāh*": "conjunction + piel perfect 3rd masculine singular + 3rd feminine singular suffix - and perform levirate duty to her" }, "variants": { "*yēšbû*": "dwell/live/sit", "*ḥûṣāh*": "outside/abroad/to a stranger", "*zār*": "stranger/foreigner/outsider", "*yābōʾ ʿālêhā*": "come to her/have relations with her", "*yibbəmāh*": "perform levirate marriage/fulfill duty of brother-in-law" } }
• Matt 22:24 : 24 { "verseID": "Matthew.22.24", "source": "Λέγοντες, Διδάσκαλε, Μωσῆς εἶπεν, Ἐάν τις ἀποθάνῃ, μὴ ἔχων τέκνα, ἐπιγαμβρεύσει ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀναστήσει σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ.", "text": "*Legontes*, *Didaskale*, *Mōsēs* *eipen*, If anyone *apothanē*, not *echōn* *tekna*, shall *epigambreusei* the *adelphos* of him the *gynaika* of him, and shall *anastēsei* *sperma* to the *adelphō* of him.", "grammar": { "*Legontes*": "present active participle, nominative, masculine, plural - saying", "*Didaskale*": "vocative, masculine, singular - Teacher!", "*Mōsēs*": "nominative, masculine, singular - Moses", "*eipen*": "aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular - said", "*apothanē*": "aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - he might die", "*echōn*": "present active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having", "*tekna*": "accusative, neuter, plural - children", "*epigambreusei*": "future active indicative, 3rd person singular - shall marry as next of kin", "*adelphos*": "nominative, masculine, singular - brother", "*gynaika*": "accusative, feminine, singular - wife/woman", "*anastēsei*": "future active indicative, 3rd person singular - shall raise up", "*sperma*": "accusative, neuter, singular - seed/offspring", "*adelphō*": "dative, masculine, singular - to brother" }, "variants": { "*Didaskale*": "Teacher/Master/Instructor", "*apothanē*": "he might die/should die", "*tekna*": "children/offspring/descendants", "*epigambreusei*": "shall marry as next of kin/take in levirate marriage", "*gynaika*": "wife/woman", "*anastēsei*": "shall raise up/produce/cause to stand", "*sperma*": "seed/offspring/descendants" } }
• Mark 12:19 : 19 { "verseID": "Mark.12.19", "source": "Διδάσκαλε, Μωσῆς ἔγραψεν ἡμῖν, Ὅτι ἐάν τινος ἀδελφὸς ἀποθάνῃ, καὶ καταλίπῃ γυναῖκα, καὶ τέκνα μὴ ἀφῇ, ἵνα λάβῃ ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐξαναστήσῃ σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ.", "text": "*Didaskale*, *Mōsēs egrapsen* to-us, That if anyone's *adelphos apothanē*, and *katalipē gynaika*, and *tekna mē aphē*, *hina labē ho adelphos* of-him *tēn gynaika* of-him, and *exanastēsē sperma tō adelphō* of-him.", "grammar": { "*Didaskale*": "vocative singular masculine - Teacher", "*Mōsēs*": "nominative singular masculine - Moses", "*egrapsen*": "aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - wrote", "*adelphos*": "nominative singular masculine - brother", "*apothanē*": "aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular - might die", "*katalipē*": "aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular - might leave behind", "*gynaika*": "accusative singular feminine - wife/woman", "*tekna*": "accusative plural neuter - children", "*mē aphē*": "negative particle + aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular - not leave", "*hina*": "conjunction + subjunctive - so that/in order that", "*labē*": "aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular - might take", "*ho adelphos*": "nominative singular masculine article + noun - the brother", "*tēn gynaika*": "accusative singular feminine article + noun - the wife", "*exanastēsē*": "aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular - might raise up", "*sperma*": "accusative singular neuter - seed/offspring", "*tō adelphō*": "dative singular masculine article + noun - for the brother" }, "variants": { "*Didaskale*": "Teacher/Master/Rabbi", "*Mōsēs*": "Moses", "*egrapsen*": "wrote/recorded", "*adelphos*": "brother/male sibling", "*apothanē*": "might die/should die", "*katalipē*": "might leave behind/leave remaining", "*gynaika*": "wife/woman", "*tekna*": "children/offspring", "*aphē*": "leave/leave behind", "*labē*": "might take/should take", "*exanastēsē*": "might raise up/produce", "*sperma*": "seed/offspring/descendants", "*adelphō*": "for the brother/to the brother" } }
• Luke 3:19 : 19 { "verseID": "Luke.3.19", "source": "Ὁ δὲ Ἡρώδης ὁ τετράρχης, ἐλεγχόμενος ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ περὶ Ἡρωδιάδος τῆς γυναικὸς Φιλίππου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ περὶ πάντων ὧν ἐποίησεν πονηρῶν ὁ Ἡρώδης,", "text": "The *de* *Herodes* the *tetrarches*, *elegchomenos* by him concerning *Herodiados* the *gynaikos* of-*Philippou* the *adelphou* of-him, and concerning all which *epoiesen* *poneron* the *Herodes*,", "grammar": { "*de*": "postpositive particle - but/and/now", "*Herodes*": "nominative, masculine, singular - Herod", "*tetrarches*": "nominative, masculine, singular - tetrarch", "*elegchomenos*": "present passive participle, nominative, masculine, singular - being reproved", "*Herodiados*": "genitive, feminine, singular - of Herodias", "*gynaikos*": "genitive, feminine, singular - wife/woman", "*Philippou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - of Philip", "*adelphou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - brother", "*epoiesen*": "aorist, active, indicative, 3rd person, singular - did/made", "*poneron*": "genitive, neuter, plural - of evil things" }, "variants": { "*tetrarches*": "tetrarch/ruler of a fourth part", "*elegchomenos*": "being reproved/being rebuked/being convicted", "*gynaikos*": "wife/woman", "*adelphou*": "brother/kinsman", "*epoiesen*": "did/made/performed", "*poneron*": "evil things/wicked things/bad things" } }
• Mark 6:17 : 17 { "verseID": "Mark.6.17", "source": "Αὐτὸς γὰρ ὁ Ἡρώδης ἀποστείλας ἐκράτησεν τὸν Ἰωάννην, καὶ ἔδησεν αὐτὸν ἐν φυλακῇ διὰ Ἡρωδιάδα, τὴν γυναῖκα Φιλίππου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ: ὅτι αὐτὴν ἐγάμησεν.", "text": "Himself for the *Hērōdēs* *aposteilas* *ekratēsen* the *Iōannēn*, and *edēsen* him in *phylakē* because of *Hērōdiada*, the *gynaika* of *Philippou* the *adelphou* of him: because her he *egamēsen*.", "grammar": { "*aposteilas*": "aorist active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having sent", "*ekratēsen*": "aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - seized/arrested [completed action]", "*edēsen*": "aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - bound [completed action]", "*phylakē*": "dative, feminine, singular - prison", "*gynaika*": "accusative, feminine, singular - wife/woman", "*adelphou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - brother", "*egamēsen*": "aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - married [completed action]" }, "variants": { "*aposteilas*": "sending/having sent", "*ekratēsen*": "seized/arrested/took into custody", "*edēsen*": "bound/tied up/imprisoned", "*phylakē*": "prison/jail/place of confinement", "*gynaika*": "wife/woman", "*adelphou*": "brother/male sibling", "*egamēsen*": "married/took as wife" } }
• Matt 14:3-4 : 3 { "verseID": "Matthew.14.3", "source": "¶Ὁ γὰρ Ἡρώδης κρατήσας τὸν Ἰωάννην, ἔδησεν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἔθετο ἐν φυλακῇ, διὰ Ἡρωδιάδα τὴν γυναῖκα Φιλίππου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ.", "text": "For the *Hērōdēs* *kratēsas* the *Iōannēn*, *edēsen* him, and *etheto* in *phylakē*, because of *Hērōdiada* the *gynaika* of *Philippou* the *adelphou* of him.", "grammar": { "*Hērōdēs*": "nominative, masculine, singular - Herod", "*kratēsas*": "aorist, active, participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having seized", "*Iōannēn*": "accusative, masculine, singular - John", "*edēsen*": "aorist, active, indicative, 3rd person singular - bound", "*etheto*": "aorist, middle, indicative, 3rd person singular - put/placed", "*phylakē*": "dative, feminine, singular - prison/guard", "*Hērōdiada*": "accusative, feminine, singular - Herodias", "*gynaika*": "accusative, feminine, singular - wife/woman", "*Philippou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - of Philip", "*adelphou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - brother" }, "variants": { "*kratēsas*": "having seized/arrested/taken hold of", "*edēsen*": "bound/tied up/imprisoned", "*etheto*": "put/placed/committed" } } 4 { "verseID": "Matthew.14.4", "source": "Ἔλεγεν γὰρ αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰωάννης, Οὐκ ἔξεστίν σοι ἔχειν αὐτήν.", "text": "For *elegen* to him the *Iōannēs*, Not *exestin* to you *echein* her.", "grammar": { "*elegen*": "imperfect, active, indicative, 3rd person singular - was saying", "*Iōannēs*": "nominative, masculine, singular - John", "*exestin*": "present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular - it is lawful", "*echein*": "present, active, infinitive - to have" }, "variants": { "*elegen*": "was saying/used to say/kept saying", "*exestin*": "it is lawful/permitted/allowed" } }