Do not have sexual relations with a woman and her daughter's daughter

The Literal Commandment

You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, nor shall you take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are blood relatives. It is lewdness.(Leviticus 18:17)

 

The literal commandment is that a person must not "uncover the nakedness" of a woman and her daughter's daughter.

"To uncover the nakedness of" is a Biblical idiom for "having sexual relations with".

 

Messiah Says

Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

 

Pictures of Messiah

Marriage is the only context in which sexual intimacy is recognized and permitted. In order to "uncover the nakedness" of a woman and her daughter's daughter (the woman's granddaughter), a man would have to be married to both of them. This means his attention and affections would have to be split between two women which would likely result in jealousy and rivalry. Scripture uses the physical reality of a relationship between a man and his bride to picture the reality of the relationship between Messiah and His spiritual bride.

The marriage of a man to a woman and her daughter's daughter would provide an incorrect picture of a spiritual truth regarding Messiah and therefore is forbidden.

 

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah fulfilled this commandment by abstaining from marrying and having sexual relations with a woman and her daughter's daughter.

 

Traditional Observance

The traditional observance of this commandment is found in its literal sense: not being conjugally intimate with a woman and her daughter's daughter.

 

Other Notes

The end of the verse declares "it is lewdness" in the NASB. The Hebrew of this verse [זִמָּה הִוא] literally says "it is a wicked/evil plan".

 

We are able to fulfill this commandment today and should not uncover the nakedness a woman and her daughter's daughter.

 

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Commandment Details

  • Mishneh Torah # 148
  • Mishneh Torah Book # 5
  • Mishneh Torah Book Holiness
  • Mishneh Torah Category 25- Forbidden Sexual Relations
  • Reference Leviticus 18:17
  • Scripture Book Leviticus
  • Chapter 18
  • Verse 17
  • English You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, nor shall you take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are blood relatives. It is lewdness.
  • Hebrew יז עֶרְוַת אִשָּׁה וּבִתָּהּ, לֹא תְגַלֵּה: אֶת-בַּת-בְּנָהּ וְאֶת-בַּת-בִּתָּהּ, לֹא תִקַּח לְגַלּוֹת עֶרְוָתָהּ--שַׁאֲרָה הֵנָּה, זִמָּה הִוא.
  • Greek 17 ἀσχημοσύνην γυναικὸς καὶ θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις· τὴν θυγατέρα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτῆς καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς οὐ λήμψῃ ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῶν· οἰκεῖαι γάρ σού εἰσιν, ἀσέβημά ἐστιν.
  • Parashah 29- Acharei Mot
  • Positive/Negative Negative
  • Sefer Hachinuch # 205
  • Sef. Hach. Command The prohibition of conjugal intimacy with both a woman and her daughter's daughter
  • Category Forbidden Sexual Relationships
  • We can fulfill today Yes

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