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18 You must not take a woman in marriage and then marry her sister as a rival wife[a] while she is still alive,[b] to have sexual relations with her.

19 “‘You must not approach a woman in her menstrual impurity[c] to have sexual relations with her. 20 You must not have sexual relations[d] with the wife of your fellow citizen to become unclean with her.

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 18:18 tn Or “as a concubine”; Heb “And a woman to her sister you shall not take to be a second wife [or “to be a concubine”].” According to HALOT 1059 s.v. III צרר, the infinitive “to be a second wife” (לִצְרֹר, litsror) is a denominative verb from II צָרָה A (“concubine; second wife”), which, in turn, derives from II צר “to treat with hostility” (cf. J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 283, and B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 122).
  2. Leviticus 18:18 tn Heb “on her in her life.”
  3. Leviticus 18:19 tn Heb “in the menstruation of her impurity”; NIV “during the uncleanness of her monthly period.”
  4. Leviticus 18:20 tn Heb “And to the wife of your fellow citizen you shall not give your layer for seed.” The meaning of “your layer” (שְׁכָבְתְּךָ, shekhavtekha) is uncertain (see B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 122, “you shall not place your layer of semen”; but cf. also J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 283, and the literature cited there for understanding the term to refer to the male member). The Hebrew word שְׁכֹבֶת (shekhovet) is related to the noun מִשְׁכָּב (mishkav) “bed” and the verb שָׁכַב (shakhav) “to lie down,” which also acts as a euphemism for sexual relations.

18 “‘Do not take your wife’s sister(A) as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.

19 “‘Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness(B) of her monthly period.(C)

20 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife(D) and defile yourself with her.

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