Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Leviticus 18:6

Leviticus 18:6

None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.

a. NLT: “You must never have sexual relations with a close relative, for I am the LORD.

b. NIV: “ ‘No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.

c. Amplified Bible: None of you shall approach anyone close of kin to him to have sexual relations. I am the Lord.

d. Septuagint: No man shall draw nigh to any of his near kindred to uncover their nakedness; I [am] the Lord.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: Any man shall not approach his close relative to uncover nakedness; I am HASHEM.

1. “None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him…”

a. approach [7126 *qarab][Strong: a primitive root; to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose:--(cause to) approach, (cause to) bring (forth, near), (cause to) come (near, nigh), (cause to) draw near (nigh), go (near), be at hand, join, be near, offer, present, produce, make ready, stand, take.]

1). Other than the applications from Strong’s, Gesenius gives at least two examples used in connection with sexual intercourse. The use of it in Leviticus 18:6 is clearly in use for sexual intercourse.

a). Genesis 20:4  But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

b). Isaiah 8:3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.

b. any [376 * ‘iysh] [Strong: contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, + champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people, person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.]

c. near [7607 * she’er] [Strong: from 7604; flesh (as swelling out), as living or for food; generally food of any kind; figuratively, kindred by blood:-- body, flesh, food, (near) kin(-sman, -swoman), near (nigh) (of kin).]

1). From the time of Adam up to the time of Moses, approximately 2500 years, mankind practiced incest in one form or another. In fact it was necessary after the Creation and the flood in Noah’s day to insure the propagation of humanity. Biblical examples that would have been forbidden after this new legislation are Abraham marrying his half sister Sarah (Genesis 11:29; 20:12), and Moses father marrying his aunt Exodus 6:20). This new divine legislation was implemented because as the generations continued to be born and die, the effects of sin multiplied the generational defects within men and women. Just as the spiritual effects of sin produced more wickedness in the next generations, the physical defects from sin also multiplied to the point that intermarriage between close relatives  made birth defects inevitable, and to prevent that, God in his wisdom gave the commandments forbidding these marriages.

d. kin [1320 * basar] [Strong: from 1319; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphem.) the pudenda of a man:--body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-)kind, + nakedness, self, skin.]

2. “…to uncover their nakedness…”

a. uncover [1540 * galah][Strong; a primitive root; to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal:--+ advertise, appear, bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity), depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, X plainly, publish, remove, reveal, X shamelessly, shew, X surely, tell, uncover.][AMG Complete Word Study Dictionary Old Testament: A verb meaning to reveal, to uncover, to remove, go into exile, to expose, to disclose. It is used with the words ear (1 Samuel 9:15; 20:2, 12, 13) and eyes (Numbers 24:4), meaning to reveal. On occasion, it is used in the expression to uncover the nakedness of, which often implies sexual relations.]

b. nakedness [6172 * ‘ervah][Strong: nudity, literally (especially the pudenda) or figuratively (disgrace, blemish):--nakedness, shame, unclean(-ness).][AMG Complete Word Study Dictionary Old Testament: A feminine noun expressing nakedness. This word scan pertain to physical nakedness of a man or woman (Genesis9:22, 23; Exodus 20:26)…When used with the verb galah (1540), meaning to uncover or remove, and ra’ah (7200), meaning to see, one finds a common euphemism for sexual relations.]

c. There are three words used in this one verse that are used elsewhere as euphemisms for sexual intercourse. The Hebrew words translated into English are, approach [7126 *qarab]; uncover [1540 * galah]; and nakedness [6172 * ‘ervah].

d. Leviticus 18:6 gives the initial command not to marry or have sex with close relatives and Leviticus 18:7-18 defines a close relative. 

No comments: