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What does the Bible say about incest?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible condemns sexual relations between close relatives as sinful, dishonoring to God, destructive to families, and contrary to his design for marriage. Leviticus 18:6-18 plainly forbids uncovering the nakedness of near relatives, including a parent, sibling, grandchild, aunt, or a brother’s wife; Leviticus 18:8 gives a specific prohibition concerning a father’s wife. Deuteronomy 27:20, 27:22, and 27:23 pronounce God’s curse on such acts. Genesis 35:22 records Reuben’s grievous sin, while 1 Corinthians 5:1 shows the church must not tolerate incest but call for repentance. Genesis 20:12 and Exodus 6:20 describe early family relationships without overturning God’s later clear moral commands. Christ offers forgiveness and cleansing to repentant sinners.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Leviticus 18:6

    "'None of you shall approach anyone who are his close relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:1

    It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father's wife.

  • Genesis 20:12

    Moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

  • Leviticus 18:6-18

    [6] "'None of you shall approach anyone who are his close relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh. [7] "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness. [8] "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife: it is your father's nakedness. [9] "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home, or born abroad. [10] "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter, or of your daughter's daughter, even their nakedness: for theirs is your own nakedness. [11] "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, conceived by your father, since she is your sister. "' [12] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister: she is your father's near kinswoman. [13] "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister: for she is your mother's near kinswoman. [14] "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, you shall not approach his wife: she is your aunt. [15] "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law: she is your son's wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness. [16] "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife: it is your brother's nakedness. [17] "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. You shall not take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are near kinswomen: it is wickedness. [18] "'You shall not take a wife to her sister, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is yet alive.

  • Deuteronomy 27:20

    Cursed be he who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's skirt. All the people shall say, Amen.

  • Deuteronomy 27:22

    Cursed be he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. All the people shall say, Amen.

  • Genesis 35:22

    It happened, while Israel lived in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

  • Deuteronomy 27:23

    Cursed be he who lies with his mother-in-law. All the people shall say, Amen.

  • Leviticus 18:8

    "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife: it is your father's nakedness.

  • Exodus 6:20

    Amram took Jochebed his father's sister to himself as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were a hundred and thirty-seven years.

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