If a man marries his brother's wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless. If a man marries his brother’s wife,Marriage to a brother’s wife violated the boundaries God established for the household and for the preservation of family honor. The one exception was levirate marriage, required when a man died without a son; his surviving brother was to raise up offspring in the dead brother’s name and preserve his inheritance within Israel (Deuteronomy 25:5–10). That provision did not permit a man to take the wife of a living brother. Deu 25:5-6 When brothers dwell together and one of them dies… it is an act of impurity. Such conduct brought moral defilement because it rejected God’s holy order for marriage, kinship, and covenant faithfulness. Israel’s calling to holiness included honoring the family relationships through which God preserved households, land inheritance, and the covenant people. Lev 18:24-25 Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices,… He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; Sexual union with a brother’s wife was treated as an offense against the brother himself, dishonoring both the marriage covenant and the bond between brothers. The law guarded against the betrayal, rivalry, and disorder that such unions would bring into a household. Lev 18:16 You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife;… they shall be childless. Childlessness represented divine judgment rather than merely personal sorrow. Children were a gift from the Lord and the means by which a family’s name and inheritance continued in Israel. Those who despised God’s boundaries would not enjoy the fruitfulness associated with His blessing. Gen 38:8-10 Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife.… Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe author of Leviticus, who received the laws from God to instruct the Israelites. 2. Israelites The chosen people of God, to whom the laws in Leviticus were given as part of their covenant relationship with Him. 3. Canaan The land where the Israelites were headed, which had practices that God wanted them to avoid, including those related to marriage and family. 4. Brother's Wife The specific relationship mentioned in this verse, highlighting the importance of family integrity and purity. 5. God The ultimate lawgiver, whose holiness and standards are reflected in the laws given to the Israelites. Teaching Points Understanding God's HolinessGod's laws reflect His holy nature and His desire for His people to be set apart from the surrounding nations. The Importance of Family Integrity The prohibition against marrying a brother's wife underscores the value God places on family relationships and the need to honor them. Consequences of Disobedience The warning of childlessness serves as a reminder that disobedience to God's commands can lead to serious consequences. Contextual Application While the specific law may not apply directly today, the principle of maintaining purity and honoring family relationships remains relevant. Respecting God's Design for Marriage This passage encourages believers to respect and uphold God's design for marriage as a sacred covenant. Bible Study Questions 1. How does understanding the cultural and historical context of Leviticus 20:21 help us apply its principles today?2. In what ways does the prohibition in Leviticus 20:21 reflect God's concern for family integrity and purity? 3. How can we reconcile the law in Leviticus 20:21 with the practice of levirate marriage described in Deuteronomy 25:5-10? 4. What are some modern-day applications of the principle of honoring family relationships as seen in Leviticus 20:21? 5. How can the church today address issues of sexual immorality and uphold the sanctity of marriage in light of passages like Leviticus 20:21 and 1 Corinthians 5:1-2? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 25:5-10Discusses the practice of levirate marriage, which is an exception to the rule in Leviticus 20:21, showing the importance of context and purpose in God's laws. Matthew 22:23-33 Jesus addresses the Sadducees' question about marriage at the resurrection, which indirectly touches on the complexities of marriage laws. 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 Paul addresses sexual immorality in the church, emphasizing the need for purity and discipline within the Christian community. Genesis 38:6-10 The account of Judah and Tamar, which involves levirate marriage and highlights the consequences of failing to fulfill familial duties.
People Molech, MosesPlaces TemanTopics Abhorrent, Act, Brother, Brother's, Childless, Dishonored, Impurity, Marries, Nakedness, Shame, Takes, Taketh, Unclean, Uncovered, WifeDictionary of Bible Themes Leviticus 20:21 6188 immorality, sexual Library Tenth Day. Holiness and Separation. I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people. And ye shall be holy unto me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from other people that ye should be Mine.'--Lev. xx. 24, 26. 'Until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy.... All the days of his separation he is holy unto the Lord.'--Num. vi. 5, 8. 'Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered without the … Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ Seventh Day. Holiness and Obedience. Annunciation to Joseph of the Birth of Jesus. Self-Denial. Epistle Lxiv. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli . Eleventh Day. The Holy one of Israel. Jesus Fails to Attend the Third Passover. The Holiness of God The Call of Matthew - the Saviour's Welcome to Sinners - Rabbinic Theology as Regards the Doctrine of Forgiveness in Contrast to the Gospel of Christ Leviticus Links Leviticus 20:21 NIVLeviticus 20:21 NLT Leviticus 20:21 ESV Leviticus 20:21 NASB Leviticus 20:21 KJV Leviticus 20:21 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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