Leviticus 18
Lutheran reading notes
In Leviticus chapter 18, the story continues to develop the theme of holiness, priesthood, sacrifice, and covenant worship. Lutheran interpretation often highlights how the events reveal humanity’s need for God’s grace and the reliability of God's promises. The chapter illustrates both the reality of human weakness and the faithfulness of God who works through history.
1
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Leviticus 18:1 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 18:2 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.
Leviticus 18:3 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I {am} the LORD your God.
Leviticus 18:4 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I {am} the LORD.
Leviticus 18:5 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover {their} nakedness: I {am} the LORD. {near...: Heb. remainder of his flesh}
7
The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she {is} thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:7 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it {is} thy father's nakedness.
Leviticus 18:8 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, {whether she be} born at home, or born abroad, {even} their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.
Leviticus 18:9 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, {even} their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs {is} thine own nakedness.
Leviticus 18:10 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she {is} thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:11 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she {is} thy father's near kinswoman.
Leviticus 18:12 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she {is} thy mother's near kinswoman.
Leviticus 18:13 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she {is} thine aunt.
Leviticus 18:14 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she {is} thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:15 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it {is} thy brother's nakedness.
Leviticus 18:16 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; {for} they {are} her near kinswomen: it {is} wickedness.
Leviticus 18:17 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex {her}, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life {time}. {a wife...: or, one wife to another}
Leviticus 18:18 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
Leviticus 18:19 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.
Leviticus 18:20 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through {the fire} to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I {am} the LORD. {Molech: Gr. Moloch}
Leviticus 18:21 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it {is} abomination.
Leviticus 18:22 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it {is} confusion.
Leviticus 18:23 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
Leviticus 18:24 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.
Leviticus 18:25 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
26
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit {any} of these abominations; {neither} any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:
Leviticus 18:26 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
27
(For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which {were} before you, and the land is defiled;)
Leviticus 18:27 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
28
That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that {were} before you.
Leviticus 18:28 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
29
For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit {them} shall be cut off from among their people.
Leviticus 18:29 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
30
Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that {ye} commit not {any one} of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I {am} the LORD your God.
Leviticus 18:30 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.