Do not have sexual relations with your father's wife's daughter

The Literal Commandment

The nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, born to your father, she is your sister, you shall not uncover her nakedness. (Leviticus 18:11)

 

The literal commandment is that a person must not "uncover the nakedness" of your father's wife's daughter, your sister... either a full sister or (more specifically) a half sister.

"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

Just like there are certain animals that were not created to be eaten, there are certain people that were not created to be married (the only context in which conjugal intimacy is permitted). G-d is a G-d of order and structure and we are not to violate the order He puts in place.

In a similar fashion, the Messiah is for salvation. There are no other human beings intended for that purpose in G-d's economy. Trying to find salvation in any other person is like trying to have marital relations with your sister: G-d says "no".

 

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah fulfilled this commandment by not uncovering the nakedness of any of His sisters.

 

Traditional Observance

The traditional observance of this commandment is found in its literal sense: not being conjugally intimate with one's sister whether a full-sister or half-sister.

 

Other Notes

We are able to fulfill this commandment today and should not uncover the nakedness of our sisters.

 

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Commandment Details

  • Mishneh Torah # 142
  • Mishneh Torah Book # 5
  • Mishneh Torah Book Holiness
  • Mishneh Torah Category 25- Forbidden Sexual Relations
  • Reference Leviticus 18:11
  • Scripture Book Leviticus
  • Chapter 18
  • Verse 11
  • English The nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, born to your father, she is your sister, you shall not uncover her nakedness.
  • Hebrew יא עֶרְוַת בַּת-אֵשֶׁת אָבִיךָ מוֹלֶדֶת אָבִיךָ, אֲחוֹתְךָ הִוא--לֹא תְגַלֶּה, עֶרְוָתָהּ. {ס}
  • Greek 11 ἀσχημοσύνην θυγατρὸς γυναικὸς πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις· ὁμοπατρία ἀδελφή σού ἐστιν, οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς.
  • Parashah 29- Acharei Mot
  • Positive/Negative Negative
  • Sefer Hachinuch # 196
  • Sef. Hach. Command The prohibition of conjugal relations with a sister on the father's side who is the father's wife's daughter
  • Category Forbidden Sexual Relationships
  • We can fulfill today Yes

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