“Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.”
Leviticus 18 contains a list of various sexual prohibitions given by God to the Israelites. These laws were designed to set the Israelites apart as a holy people and to establish standards of sexual morality within the community. Let’s explore the specific verse in question:
- “Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother”: This commandment forbids a man from engaging in any sexual relationship with his paternal uncle. The phrase “uncover the nakedness” is a euphemism for sexual relations. In this context, it refers to any form of sexual involvement with one’s father’s brother.
- “Thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt”: This part of the verse emphasizes that the wife of the father’s brother is considered the aunt of the individual in question. It reinforces the prohibition against having sexual relations with her.
The underlying principle behind these commandments is to preserve the sanctity of the family structure and to maintain appropriate boundaries within relationships. In this case, it specifically addresses the issue of incestuous relationships, which were forbidden by God.
It is important to note that these laws were given specifically to the Israelites in the context of their covenant relationship with God. While some moral principles from the Old Testament are still applicable today, many of the ceremonial and civil laws given to Israel were fulfilled and superseded by the coming of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
As Christians, we are called to follow the moral teachings of the New Testament, which emphasize love, purity, and fidelity in our relationships. Jesus summarized the commandments in Matthew 22:37-40, highlighting the greatest commandments as loving God with all our hearts and loving our neighbors as ourselves.
In summary, Leviticus 18:14 prohibits engaging in sexual relationships with one’s father’s brother and his wife, emphasizing the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries within family relationships. While this specific commandment was given to the Israelites, Christians today are called to live by the moral teachings of the New Testament and follow the example of Christ.
