Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 15

I am disgruntled every time I must go out to accomplish anything during this pandemic.  Still, I sense the Holy Spirit pumping God’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness into me like a racing heart.  And my God will supply your every need, Paul wrote believers in Philippi, according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.[1]  As I look around me, waiting in line, it’s hard to imagine that others aren’t feeling something of the same frustration inwardly, yet outwardly they are as placid and pleasant as I am.

I’ve been considering yehôvâh’s (יהוה) fearful pronouncement: I punish (pâqadפקדthe sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons for the sin of the fathers who reject me[2]  There is a fairly succinct review in another essay.  I hope to wrap up this side excursion with what seems to me like the single most irrelevant law in Leviticus.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Leviticus 20:19, 20 (Tanakh) Leviticus 20:19, 20 (NET) Leviticus 20:19, 20 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:19, 20 (Elpenor English)

And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness (וְעֶרְוַ֨ת) of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister; for he hath made naked his near kin; they shall bear (יִשָּֽׂאוּ) their iniquity (עֲו‍ֹנָ֥ם). You must not expose the nakedness (ʽervâh, וערות) of your mother’s sister or your father’s sister, for such a person has exposed his own close relative.  They must bear (nâśâʼ, ישׁאו) their punishment for iniquity (ʽâvôn, עונם). And you shall not uncover the shame (ἀσχημοσύνην) of your father’s sister or of your mother’s sister, for one has laid bare one’s own blood family; they shall carry (ἀποίσονται) guilt (ἁμαρτίαν). And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness (ἀσχημοσύνην) of thy father’s sister, or of the sister of thy mother; for that man has uncovered the nakedness of one near akin: they shall bear (ἀποίσονται) their iniquity (ἁμαρτίαν).
And if a man shall lie with his uncle’s wife—he hath uncovered his uncle’s nakedness (עֶרְוַ֥ת)—they shall bear (יִשָּׂ֖אוּ) their sin;[3] they shall die childless. If a man goes to bed with his aunt, he has exposed his uncle’s nakedness (ʽervâh, ערות); they must bear (nâśâʼ, ישׁאו) responsibility for their sin, they will die childless. He who lies with one who is his relative—he has uncovered the shame (ἀσχημοσύνην) of his kinship; they shall die childless. Whosoever shall lie with his near kinswoman, has uncovered the nakedness (ἀσχημοσύνην) of one near akin to him: they shall die childless.

For all of my ἀσέβειαν (ἀσεβείας? NET: ungodliness) and all my many sins it never entered my mind to even want to see any of my aunts naked, much less to uncover their nakedness, have sex with them or children by them.  Granted, none of my ten uncles or three great uncles had married women anywhere near my age.  If they had, well, who knows?

The Hebrew words translated nakedness were וְעֶרְוַ֨ת (ʽervâh) and עֶרְוַ֥ת (ʽervâh).  The rabbis chose ἀσχημοσύνην (a form of ἀσχημοσύνη).  This is not the naked of Genesis.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Genesis 2:25 (Tanakh) Genesis 2:25 (NET) Genesis 2:25 (NETS)

Genesis 2:25 (Elpenor English)

And they were both naked (עֲרוּמִּ֔ים), the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. The man and his wife were both naked (ʽârôm, ערומים), but they were not ashamed. And the two were naked (γυμνοί), both Adam and his wife, and were not ashamed. And the two were naked (γυμνοί), both Adam and his wife, and were not ashamed.

There is a table below listing all occurrences of forms of עָרוֹם (ʽârôm) in the Old Testament along with their translations in the Septuagint (all forms of γυμνὸς).   Here is the first occurrence of עֶרְוַ֣ת (ʽervâh) in the Masoretic text.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Genesis 9:22, 23 (Tanakh) Genesis 9:22, 23 (NET) Genesis 9:22, 23 (NETS)

Genesis 9:22, 23 (Elpenor English)

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness (עֶרְוַ֣ת) of his father, and told his two brethren without. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness (ʽervâh, ערות) and told his two brothers who were outside. And Cham, the father of Channan, saw the nakedness (γύμνωσιν) of his father, and after he had gone out he told his two brothers outside. And Cham the father of Chanaan saw the nakedness (γύμνωσιν) of his father, and he went out and told his two brothers without.
And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness (עֶרְוַ֣ת) of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness (וְעֶרְוַ֥ת). Shem and Japheth took the garment and placed it on their shoulders.  Then they walked in backwards and covered up their father’s nakedness (ʽervâh, ערות).  Their faces were turned the other way so they did not see their father’s nakedness (ʽervâh, וערות). And Sem and Iapheth, when they had taken the garment, laid it on their two backs and walked backward and covered the nakedness (γύμνωσιν) of their father, and their face was looking backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness (γύμνωσιν). And Sem and Japheth having taken a garment, put it on both their backs and went backwards, and covered the nakedness (γύμνωσιν) of their father; and their face [was] backward, and they saw not the nakedness (γύμνωσιν) of their father.

The rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose γύμνωσιν (a form of γύμνωσις).  They didn’t begin to use forms of ἀσχημοσύνη until Exodus (Table below).  Christopher Fisher in his essay “was Canaan the child of Ham and Noah’s wife” quoted Leviticus 20:11 to make his point.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Leviticus 20:11 (Tanakh) Leviticus 20:11 (NET) Table Leviticus 20:11 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:11 (Elpenor English)

And the man that lieth with his father’s wife–he hath uncovered (גִּלָּ֑ה) his father’s nakedness–both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. If a man goes to bed with his father’s wife, he has exposed (galah, גלה) his father’s nakedness.  Both of them must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves. And if anyone lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered (ἀπεκάλυψεν) his father’s shame; let both of them by death be put to death; they are liable. And if any one should lie with his father’s wife, he has uncovered (ἀπεκάλυψε) his father’s nakedness: let them both die the death, they are guilty.

By equating Hamsaw (râʼâh, וַיַּ֗רְא; Septuagint: εἶδε(ν), a form of ὁράω) the nakedness of his father with he hath uncovered (galah, גִּלָּ֑ה; Septuagint: ἀπεκάλυψε(ν), a form of ἀποκαλύπτω) his father’s nakedness, Mr. Fisher argued that the former was a euphemism for Ham’s seduction/rape of his mother.

Gen 9:22 Ham (father of Canaan is highlighted) seeing that his father is incapacitated makes advances on his mother. After all, sex is pleasurable, men tend to desire multiple partners, not many women are available after a global flood, and his mother is probably still attractive due to pre-flood aging conditions. He gloats of his conquest to his brothers.
Gen 9:23 The brothers try damage control. They cover up their mother (is she drunk also?). The Bible tends to omit relevant facts about woman in Genesis (what was her name?).[4]

If I wanted to convict Ham anachronistically of violating Leviticus 20:11, I would say that he uncovered or exposed his father’s nakedness when he told his brothers about it rather than simply covering his father and going on about his day.

Dr. Rabbi David Frankel in his essay “Noah, Ham and the Curse of Canaan: Who Did What to Whom in the Tent? A new solution to why Canaan (not Ham) was cursed” argued that “Leviticus 20:17 shows that ‘seeing nakedness’ is a euphemism for sex.”

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Leviticus 20:17 (Tanakh) Leviticus 20:17 (NET) Table Leviticus 20:17 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:17 (Elpenor English)

And if a man shall take (יִקַּ֣ח) his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see (וְרָאָ֨ה) her nakedness, and she see (תִרְאֶ֤ה) his nakedness: it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: he hath uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity. If a man has marital relations (lâqach, יקח) with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or of his mother, so that he sees (râʼâh, וראה) her nakedness and she sees (râʼâh, תראה) his nakedness, it is a disgrace.  They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people.  He has exposed his sister’s nakedness; he will bear his punishment for iniquity. He who takes (λάβῃ) his sister, from his father or from his mother, and sees (ἴδῃ) her shame, and she sees (ἴδῃ) his shame; it is a disgrace; they shall be exterminated before the sons of their race; he has uncovered his sister’s shame; he shall bear guilt. Whosoever shall take (λάβῃ) his sister by his father or by his mother, and shall see (ἴδῃ) her nakedness, and she see (ἴδῃ) his nakedness, it is a reproach: they shall be destroyed before the children of their family; he has uncovered his sister’s nakedness, they shall bear their sin.

I agree with the NET translators here that יִקַּ֣ח (lâqach; Tanakh: shall take) is the “euphemism for sex.”  More to the point marital relations is a possible meaning for both יִקַּ֣ח (lâqach) and λάβῃ (a form of λαμβάνω).  The clauses—and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness—clarified which meaning of shall take God intended.  Without any indication that Ham “took” Noah, Dr. Frankel imagined “an earlier version” of the story:

As already anticipated by the Rabbis,[1] and suggested by some modern scholars, an earlier version of our story probably related a much more severe crime – the homosexual rape of his father when he was inebriated. This indeed is the kind of offense that would most naturally provoke the severe reaction depicted in the text.[5]

Why is it so difficult for us (for I’ve done it, too) to acknowledge the obvious truth that seeing his father’s nakedness and telling his brothers about it does not merit Noah’s angry curse?  Not for Ham, certainly not for Canaan.  I want to approach an answer a little differently this time (Ezekiel 33:10-20 NET).

“And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what you have said: “Our rebellious acts and our sins have caught up with us, and we are wasting away because of them.  How then can we live? [Table]”’  Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that the wicked change his behavior and live.  Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds!  Why should you die, O house of Israel? [Table]’
“And you, son of man, say to your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous will not deliver him if he rebels.  As for the wicked, his wickedness will not make him stumble if he turns from it.  The righteous will not be able to live by his righteousness if he sins [Table].’  Suppose I tell the righteous that he will certainly live, but he becomes confident in his righteousness and commits iniquity.  None of his righteous deeds will be remembered; because of the iniquity he has committed he will die.  Suppose I say to the wicked, ‘You must certainly die,’ but he turns from his sin and does what is just and right.  He returns what was taken in pledge, pays back what he has stolen, and follows the statutes that give life, committing no iniquity.  He will certainly live—he will not die.  None of the sins he has committed will be counted against him.  He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.
“Yet your people say, ‘The behavior of the Lord is not right,’ when it is their behavior that is not right.  When a righteous man turns from his godliness and commits iniquity, he will die for it.  When the wicked turns from his sin and does what is just and right, he will live because of it.  Yet you say, ‘The behavior of the Lord is not right.’  House of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his behavior.”

This is God’s own description of his criteria for judgment after the law was given, and before Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.[6]  The Hebrew word translated righteous in, Suppose I tell the righteous that he will certainly live, was לַצַּדִּיק֙ (tsaddı̂yq).  The rabbis chose δικαίῳ, a form of δίκαιος in the Septuagint.  Moses described Noah as follows:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Genesis 6:9 (Tanakh) Genesis 6:9 (NET) Table Genesis 6:9 (NETS)

Genesis 6:9 (Elpenor English)

These are the generations of Noah.  Noah was in his generations a man righteous (צַדִּ֛יק) and wholehearted; Noah walked with G-d. This is the account of Noah.  Noah was a godly (tsaddı̂yq, צדיק) man; he was blameless among his contemporaries.  He walked with God. Now these are the generations of Noe.   Noe was a righteous (δίκαιος) man, being perfect in his era; Noe was well-pleasing to God. And these [are] the generations of Noe.  Noe was a just (δίκαιος) man; being perfect in his generation, Noe was well-pleasing to God.

Before I fear too much for his soul I’m reminded of Paul’s description of Noah’s time: for before the law was given, sin was in the world, but there is no accounting for sin when there is no law.[7]  Noah had a bad morning after a drunken night.  The effect over time of his angry outburst was so horrific we want to blame it on God rather than sin.  We’re not told how Canaan reacted to Noah’s curse, only how the Canaanites turned out vis-à-vis Noah’s God (Leviticus 20:22, 23).

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Leviticus 20:22, 23 (Tanakh) Leviticus 20:22, 23 (NET) Leviticus 20:22, 23 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:22, 23 (Elpenor English)

Ye shall therefore keep (וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤ם) all My statutes, and all Mine ordinances, and do (וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם) them, that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, vomit you not out. “‘You must be sure (shâmar, ושמרתם) to obey (ʽâśâh, ועשׁיתם) all my statutes and regulations, so that the land to which I am about to bring you to take up residence does not vomit you out. And you shall keep (φυλάξασθε) all my ordinances and all my judgments and do (ποιήσετε) them, and the land to which I bring you there to settle in it will never be angry with you. And keep (φυλάξασθε) ye all my ordinances, and my judgments; and ye shall do (ποιήσετε) them, and the land shall not be aggrieved with you, into which I bring you to dwell upon it.
And ye shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I am casting out before you; for they did (עָשׂ֔וּ) all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. You must not walk in the statutes of the nations which I am about to drive out before you, because they have done (ʽâśâh, עשׁו) all these things and I am filled with disgust against them. And you shall not walk by the precepts of the nations that I am sending out away from you.  Because they did (ἐποίησαν) all these things, I also abhorred them. And walk ye not in the customs of the nations which I drive out from before you; for they have done (ἐποίησαν) all these things, and I have abhorred them:

Though Jesus said, I have not come to call the righteous (δικαίους, another form of δίκαιος), but sinners to repentance,[8] Noah’s bad example highlights the same take home message for the righteous as it does for sinners: Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’[9]  So what does this have to do with I punish the sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons for the sin of the fathers who reject me?

Meditating on a law I’ve never thought to break seems clearer somehow than those that tempt me.  This is law; they shall die childless is a penalty for violating a law, a punishment.  I thought that God’s raison d’etre was to punish me for sin.[10]  Mr. Fisher was offended by “literalists.”  Dr. Frankel must understand the Old Testament without Jesus’ confidence or guidance.  We’ve all come to the Bible and to God with personal issues to work through and erroneous beliefs in need of correction.

There was a time when I regarded children as God’s punishment[11] for sex.  What if I had meditated on Leviticus 20:19 and 20 fifty years ago?  Would I have discovered the errors in my thinking?  Or would I have found my aunts a whole lot sexier?

Banging my head against a wall hurts and causes bruises, bumps and bleeding.  Given my history, thinking of pain, bruises, bumps and bleeding as God’s punishment for banging my head against a wall seems too much like serving under the old written code rather than in the new life of the Spirit.[12]  Of course, God could have made me in such a way that banging my head against a wall didn’t cause me any pain, bruises, bumps or bleeding.  So I suppose some may think of pain, bruises, bumps or bleeding as punishment.  The point—whether I think of it as punishment or not—is to stop banging my head against a wall.

A table of occurrences of all the forms of עָרוֹם (ʽârôm) and their translations in two versions of the Septuagint follows.

Reference Tanakh (Chabad.org)  NET Parallel Greek BLB Septuagint Elpenor Septuagint
Genesis 2:25 עֲרוּמִּ֔ים ʽârôm, ערומים γυμνοί γυμνοί
1 Samuel (1 Kings) 19:24 עָרֹ֔ם ʽârôm, ערם γυμνὸς γυμνὸς
Job 1:21 עָרֹ֨ם ʽârôm, ערם γυμνὸς γυμνὸς
וְעָרֹם֙ ʽârôm, וערם γυμνὸς γυμνὸς
Job 22:6 עֲרוּמִּ֣ים ʽârôm, ערומים γυμνῶν γυμνῶν
Job 24:7 עָר֣וֹם ʽârôm, ערום γυμνοὺς γυμνοὺς
Job 24:10 עָר֣וֹם ʽârôm, ערום γυμνοὺς γυμνοὺς
Job 26:6 עָר֣וֹם ʽârôm, ערום γυμνὸς γυμνὸς
Ecclesiastes 5:15 (5:14) עָר֛וֹם ʽârôm, ערום γυμνός γυμνός
Isaiah 20:2 עָר֥וֹם ʽârôm, ערום γυμνὸς γυμνὸς
Isaiah 20:3 עָר֣וֹם ʽârôm, ערום γυμνὸς γυμνὸς
Isaiah 20:4 עָר֣וֹם ʽârôm, ערום γυμνοὺς γυμνοὺς
Isaiah 58:7[13] עָרֹם֙ ʽârôm, ערם γυμνόν γυμνόν
Hosea 2:3 (2:5) עֲרֻמָּ֔ה ʽârôm, ערמה γυμνὴν γυμνὴν
Amos 2:16 עָר֛וֹם ʽârôm, ערום γυμνὸς γυμνὸς
Micah 1:8 וְעָר֑וֹם ʽârôm, וערום γυμνή γυμνή

A table of occurrences of forms of עֶרְוָה (ʽervâh) in Genesis through Leviticus and their translations in two versions of the Septuagint follows.

Reference Tanakh (Chabad.org)  NET Parallel Greek BLB Septuagint Elpenor Septuagint
Genesis 9:22 עֶרְוַ֣ת ʽervâh, ערות γύμνωσιν γύμνωσιν
Genesis 9:23 עֶרְוַ֣ת ʽervâh, ערות γύμνωσιν γύμνωσιν
וְעֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, וערות γύμνωσιν γύμνωσιν
Genesis 42:9 עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἴχνη ἴχνη
Genesis 42:12 עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἴχνη ἴχνη
Exodus 20:26 (20:23) עֶרְוָֽתְךָ֖ ʽervâh, ערותך ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Exodus 28:42 (28:38) עֶרְוָ֑ה ʽervâh, ערוה ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 18:6 עֶרְוָ֑ה ʽervâh, ערוה ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 18:7 עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
וְעֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, וערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
עֶרְוָתָֽהּ ʽervâh, ערותה ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 18:8 עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνη ἀσχημοσύνη
Leviticus 18:9 עֶרְוַ֨ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
עֶרְוָתָֽן ʽervâh, ערותן ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 18:10 עֶרְוַ֤ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
עֶרְוָתָ֑ן ʽervâh, ערותן ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
עֶרְוָֽתְךָ֖ ʽervâh, ערותך ἀσχημοσύνη ἀσχημοσύνη
Leviticus 18:11 עֶרְוַ֨ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
עֶרְוָתָֽהּ ʽervâh, ערותה ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 18:12 עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 18:13 עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 18:14 עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 18:15 עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
עֶרְוָתָֽהּ ʽervâh, ערותה ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 18:16 עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνη ἀσχημοσύνη
Leviticus 18:17 עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
עֶרְוָתָ֔הּ ʽervâh, ערותה ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 18:18 עֶרְוָתָ֛הּ ʽervâh, ערותה ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 18:19 עֶרְוָתָֽהּ ʽervâh, ערותה ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 20:11 עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Levitiscus 20:17 עֶרְוָתָ֜הּ ʽervâh, ערותה ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
עֶרְוָתוֹ֙ ʽervâh, ערותו ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
עֶרְוַ֧ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 20:18 עֶרְוָתָהּ֙ ʽervâh, ערותה ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 20:19 וְעֶרְוַ֨ת ʽervâh, וערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 20:20 עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην
Leviticus 20:21 עֶרְוַ֥ת ʽervâh, ערות ἀσχημοσύνην ἀσχημοσύνην

Tables comparing Leviticus 20:19; 20:20; Genesis 2:25; 9:22; 9:23; Leviticus 20:11; 20:17; Ezekiel 33:13; 33:14; 33:15; 33:16; 33:17; 33:18; 33:19; 33:20; Genesis 6:9; Leviticus 20:22 and 20:23 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing Leviticus 20:19; 20:20; Genesis 2:25; 9:22; 9:23; Leviticus 20:11; 20:17; Ezekiel 33:13; 33:14; 33:15; 33:16; 33:17; 33:18; 33:19; 33:20; Genesis 6:9; Leviticus 20:22 and 20:23 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Leviticus 20:19 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:19 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:19 (NET)

And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister; for he hath made naked his near kin; they shall bear their iniquity. And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity. You must not expose the nakedness of your mother’s sister or your father’s sister, for such a person has exposed his own close relative.  They must bear their punishment for iniquity.

Leviticus 20:19 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς πατρός σου καὶ ἀδελφῆς μητρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν γὰρ οἰκειότητα ἀπεκάλυψεν ἁμαρτίαν ἀποίσονται καὶ ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς πατρός σου καὶ ἀδελφῆς μητρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις· τὴν γὰρ οἰκειότητα ἀπεκάλυψεν, ἁμαρτίαν ἀποίσονται

Leviticus 20:19 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:19 (English Elpenor)

And you shall not uncover the shame of your father’s sister or of your mother’s sister, for one has laid bare one’s own blood family; they shall carry guilt. And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister, or of the sister of thy mother; for that man has uncovered the nakedness of one near akin: they shall bear their iniquity.

Leviticus 20:20 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:20 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:20 (NET)

And if a man shall lie with his uncle’s wife–he hath uncovered his uncle’s nakedness–they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. And if a man shall lie with his uncle’s wife, he hath uncovered his uncle’s nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. If a man goes to bed with his aunt, he has exposed his uncle’s nakedness; they must bear responsibility for their sin, they will die childless.

Leviticus 20:20 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὃς ἂν κοιμηθῇ μετὰ τῆς συγγενοῦς αὐτοῦ ἀσχημοσύνην τῆς συγγενείας αὐτοῦ ἀπεκάλυψεν ἄτεκνοι ἀποθανοῦνται ὃς ἂν κοιμηθῇ μετὰ τῆς συγγενοῦς αὐτοῦ, ἀσχημοσύνην τῆς συγγενείας αὐτοῦ ἀπεκάλυψεν, ἄτεκνοι ἀποθανοῦνται

Leviticus 20:20 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:20 (English Elpenor)

He who lies with one who is his relative—he has uncovered the shame of his kinship; they shall die childless. Whosoever shall lie with his near kinswoman, has uncovered the nakedness of one near akin to him: they shall die childless.

Genesis 2:25 (Tanakh)

Genesis 2:25 (KJV)

Genesis 2:25 (NET)

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. The man and his wife were both naked, but they were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 2:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἦσαν οἱ δύο γυμνοί ὅ τε Αδαμ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ᾐσχύνοντο καὶ ἦσαν οἱ δύο γυμνοί, ὅ τε ᾿Αδὰμ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ᾐσχύνοντο

Genesis 2:25 (NETS)

Genesis 2:25 (English Elpenor)

And the two were naked, both Adam and his wife, and were not ashamed. And the two were naked, both Adam and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 9:22 (Tanakh)

Genesis 9:22 (KJV)

Genesis 9:22 (NET)

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers who were outside.

Genesis 9:22 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 9:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶδεν Χαμ ὁ πατὴρ Χανααν τὴν γύμνωσιν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἀνήγγειλεν τοῗς δυσὶν ἀδελφοῗς αὐτοῦ ἔξω καὶ εἶδε Χὰμ ὁ πατὴρ Χαναὰν τὴν γύμνωσιν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἀνήγγειλε τοῖς δυσὶν ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ ἔξω

Genesis 9:22 (NETS)

Genesis 9:22 (English Elpenor)

And Cham, the father of Channan, saw the nakedness of his father, and after he had gone out he told his two brothers outside. And Cham the father of Chanaan saw the nakedness of his father, and he went out and told his two brothers without.

Genesis 9:23 (Tanakh)

Genesis 9:23 (KJV)

Genesis 9:23 (NET)

And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. Shem and Japheth took the garment and placed it on their shoulders.  Then they walked in backwards and covered up their father’s nakedness.  Their faces were turned the other way so they did not see their father’s nakedness.

Genesis 9:23 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 9:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ λαβόντες Σημ καὶ Ιαφεθ τὸ ἱμάτιον ἐπέθεντο ἐπὶ τὰ δύο νῶτα αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὀπισθοφανῶς καὶ συνεκάλυψαν τὴν γύμνωσιν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν ὀπισθοφανές καὶ τὴν γύμνωσιν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν οὐκ εἶδον καὶ λαβόντες Σὴμ καὶ ᾿Ιάφεθ τὸ ἱμάτιον ἐπέθεντο ἐπὶ τὰ δύο νῶτα αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὀπισθοφανῶς καὶ συνεκάλυψαν τὴν γύμνωσιν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν, καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν ὀπισθοφανῶς, καὶ τὴν γύμνωσιν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν οὐκ εἶδον

Genesis 9:23 (NETS)

Genesis 9:23 (English Elpenor)

And Sem and Iapheth, when they had taken the garment, laid it on their two backs and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father, and their face was looking backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. And Sem and Japheth having taken a garment, put it on both their backs and went backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their face [was] backward, and they saw not the nakedness of their father.

Leviticus 20:11 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:11 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:11 (NET)

And the man that lieth with his father’s wife–he hath uncovered his father’s nakedness–both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. If a man goes to bed with his father’s wife, he has exposed his father’s nakedness.  Both of them must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

Leviticus 20:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐάν τις κοιμηθῇ μετὰ γυναικὸς τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἀσχημοσύνην τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἀπεκάλυψεν θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν ἀμφότεροι ἔνοχοί εἰσιν καὶ ἐάν τις κοιμηθῇ μετὰ γυναικὸς τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, ἀσχημοσύνην τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἀπεκάλυψε, θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν, ἀμφότεροι ἔνοχοί εἰσι

Leviticus 20:11 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:11 (English Elpenor)

And if anyone lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s shame; let both of them by death be put to death; they are liable. And if any one should lie with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness: let them both die the death, they are guilty.

Leviticus 20:17 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:17 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:17 (NET)

And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness: it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: he hath uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity. And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity. If a man has marital relations with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or of his mother, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace.  They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people.  He has exposed his sister’s nakedness; he will bear his punishment for iniquity.

Leviticus 20:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὃς ἐὰν λάβῃ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἢ ἐκ μητρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἴδῃ τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς καὶ αὕτη ἴδῃ τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτοῦ ὄνειδός ἐστιν ἐξολεθρευθήσονται ἐνώπιον υἱῶν γένους αὐτῶν ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς αὐτοῦ ἀπεκάλυψεν ἁμαρτίαν κομιοῦνται ὃς ἂν λάβῃ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἢ ἐκ μητρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἴδῃ τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς καὶ αὕτη ἴδῃ τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτοῦ, ὄνειδός ἐστιν, ἐξολοθρευθήσονται ἐνώπιον υἱῶν γένους αὐτῶν· ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς αὐτοῦ ἀπεκάλυψεν, ἁμαρτίαν κομιοῦνται

Leviticus 20:17 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:17 (English Elpenor)

He who takes his sister, from his father or from his mother, and sees her shame, and she sees his shame; it is a disgrace; they shall be exterminated before the sons of their race; he has uncovered his sister’s shame; he shall bear guilt. Whosoever shall take his sister by his father or by his mother, and shall see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness, it is a reproach: they shall be destroyed before the children of their family; he has uncovered his sister’s nakedness, they shall bear their sin.

Ezekiel 33:13 (Tanakh)

Ezekiel 33:13 (KJV)

Ezekiel 33:13 (NET)

When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Suppose I tell the righteous that he will certainly live, but he becomes confident in his righteousness and commits iniquity.  None of his righteous deeds will be remembered; because of the iniquity he has committed he will die.

Ezekiel 33:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Ezekiel 33:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐν τῷ εἶπαί με τῷ δικαίῳ οὗτος πέποιθεν ἐπὶ τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ αὐτοῦ καὶ ποιήσῃ ἀνομίαν πᾶσαι αἱ δικαιοσύναι αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ ἀναμνησθῶσιν ἐν τῇ ἀδικίᾳ αὐτοῦ ᾗ ἐποίησεν ἐν αὐτῇ ἀποθανεῗται ἐν τῷ εἰπεῖν με τῷ δικαίῳ· οὗτος πέποιθεν ἐπὶ τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ποιήσει ἀνομίαν, πᾶσαι αἱ δικαιοσύναι αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ ἀναμνησθῶσιν· ἐν τῇ ἀδικίᾳ αὐτοῦ, ᾗ ἐποίησεν, ἐν αὐτῇ ἀποθανεῖται

Ezekiel 33:13 (NETS)

Ezekiel 33:13 (English Elpenor)

When I say to the righteous, “He trusts in his righteousness,” and should he commit lawlessness, none of his righteous acts shall be recalled in his injustice that he has committed; in it he shall die. When I say to the righteous, [Thou shalt live; and] he trusts in his righteousness, and shall commit iniquity, none of his righteousnesses shall be remembered; in his unrighteousness which he has wrought, in it shall he die.

Ezekiel 33:14 (Tanakh)

Ezekiel 33:14 (KJV)

Ezekiel 33:14 (NET)

Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; Suppose I say to the wicked, ‘You must certainly die,’ but he turns from his sin and does what is just and right.

Ezekiel 33:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Ezekiel 33:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐν τῷ εἶπαί με τῷ ἀσεβεῗ θανάτῳ θανατωθήσῃ καὶ ἀποστρέψῃ ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ καὶ ποιήσῃ κρίμα καὶ δικαιοσύνην καὶ ἐν τῷ εἰπεῖν με τῷ ἀσεβεῖ· θανάτῳ θανατωθήσῃ, καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ καὶ ποιήσει κρίμα καὶ δικαιοσύνην

Ezekiel 33:14 (NETS)

Ezekiel 33:14 (English Elpenor)

And when I say to the impious, “By death you shall be put to death, and you shall turn back from your sin,” and should he perform judgment and righteousness And when I say to the ungodly, Thou shalt surely die; and he shall turn from his sin, and do judgment and justice,

Ezekiel 33:15 (Tanakh)

Ezekiel 33:15 (KJV)

Ezekiel 33:15 (NET)

If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. He returns what was taken in pledge, pays back what he has stolen, and follows the statutes that give life, committing no iniquity.  He will certainly live—he will not die.

Ezekiel 33:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Ezekiel 33:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐνεχύρασμα ἀποδῷ καὶ ἅρπαγμα ἀποτείσῃ ἐν προστάγμασιν ζωῆς διαπορεύηται τοῦ μὴ ποιῆσαι ἄδικον ζωῇ ζήσεται καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ καὶ ἐνεχύρασμα ἀποδῷ καὶ ἅρπαγμα ἀποτίσει, ἐν προστάγμασι ζωῆς διαπορεύηται τοῦ μὴ ποιῆσαι ἄδικον, ζωῇ ζήσεται καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ

Ezekiel 33:15 (NETS)

Ezekiel 33:15 (English Elpenor)

and restore a pledge and give back robbery, walk in the ordinances of life so as not to do what is wrong, by life he shall live, and he shall not die; and return the pledge, and repay that which he has robbed, [and] walk in the ordinances of life, so as to do no wrong; he shall surely live, and shall not die.

Ezekiel 33:16 (Tanakh)

Ezekiel 33:16 (KJV)

Ezekiel 33:16 (NET)

None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. None of the sins he has committed will be counted against him.  He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.

Ezekiel 33:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Ezekiel 33:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

πᾶσαι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι αὐτοῦ ἃς ἥμαρτεν οὐ μὴ ἀναμνησθῶσιν ὅτι κρίμα καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἐποίησεν ἐν αὐτοῗς ζήσεται πᾶσαι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι αὐτοῦ, ἃς ἥμαρτεν, οὐ μὴ ἀναμνησθῶσιν, ὅτι κρίμα καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἐποίησεν, ἐν αὐτοῖς ζήσεται

Ezekiel 33:16 (NETS)

Ezekiel 33:16 (English Elpenor)

none of his sins that he has committed shall be recalled, for he has performed judgment and righteousness; in them he shall live. None of his sins which he has committed shall be remembered: because he has wrought judgment and righteousness; by them shall he live.

Ezekiel 33:17 (Tanakh)

Ezekiel 33:17 (KJV)

Ezekiel 33:17 (NET)

Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. “Yet your people say, ‘The behavior of the Lord is not right,’ when it is their behavior that is not right.

Ezekiel 33:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Ezekiel 33:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐροῦσιν οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ λαοῦ σου οὐκ εὐθεῗα ἡ ὁδὸς τοῦ κυρίου καὶ αὕτη ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτῶν οὐκ εὐθεῗα καὶ ἐροῦσιν οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ λαοῦ σου· οὐκ εὐθεῖα ἡ ὁδὸς τοῦ Κυρίου· καὶ αὕτη ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτῶν οὐκ εὐθεῖα

Ezekiel 33:17 (NETS)

Ezekiel 33:17 (English Elpenor)

And the sons of your people shall say, “The way of the Lord is not right,” and this way of theirs is not right. Yet the children of thy people will say, The way of the Lord is not straight: whereas this their way is not straight.

Ezekiel 33:18 (Tanakh)

Ezekiel 33:18 (KJV)

Ezekiel 33:18 (NET)

When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. When a righteous man turns from his godliness and commits iniquity, he will die for it.

Ezekiel 33:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Ezekiel 33:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐν τῷ ἀποστρέψαι δίκαιον ἀπὸ τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦ καὶ ποιήσῃ ἀνομίας καὶ ἀποθανεῗται ἐν αὐταῗς ἐν τῷ ἀποστρέψαι δίκαιον ἀπὸ τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦ καὶ ποιήσει ἀνομίας, καὶ ἀποθανεῖται ἐν αὐταῖς

Ezekiel 33:18 (NETS)

Ezekiel 33:18 (English Elpenor)

When a righteous one has turned back from his righteousness and should he commit acts of lawlessness, he shall die in them. When the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and shall commit iniquities, then shall he die in them.

Ezekiel 33:19 (Tanakh)

Ezekiel 33:19 (KJV)

Ezekiel 33:19 (NET)

But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. When the wicked turns from his sin and does what is just and right, he will live because of it.

Ezekiel 33:19 (Septuagint BLB)

Ezekiel 33:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐν τῷ ἀποστρέψαι τὸν ἁμαρτωλὸν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀνομίας αὐτοῦ καὶ ποιήσῃ κρίμα καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἐν αὐτοῗς αὐτὸς ζήσεται καὶ ἐν τῷ ἀποστρέψαι τὸν ἁμαρτωλὸν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀνομίας αὐτοῦ καὶ ποιήσει κρίμα καὶ δικαιοσύνην, ἐν αὐτοῖς αὐτὸς ζήσεται

Ezekiel 33:19 (NETS)

Ezekiel 33:19 (English Elpenor)

And when the sinner turns back from his lawlessness and performs judgment and righteousness, in them he shall live. And when the sinner turns from his iniquity, and shall do judgment and righteousness, he shall live by them.

Ezekiel 33:20 (Tanakh)

Ezekiel 33:20 (KJV)

Ezekiel 33:20 (NET)

Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal.  O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal.  O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways. Yet you say, ‘The behavior of the Lord is not right.’  House of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his behavior.”

Ezekiel 33:20 (Septuagint BLB)

Ezekiel 33:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ τοῦτό ἐστιν ὃ εἴπατε οὐκ εὐθεῗα ἡ ὁδὸς κυρίου ἕκαστον ἐν ταῗς ὁδοῗς αὐτοῦ κρινῶ ὑμᾶς οἶκος Ισραηλ καὶ τοῦτό ἐστιν, ὃ εἴπατε· οὐκ εὐθεῖα ἡ ὁδὸς Κυρίου· ἕκαστον ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ κρινῶ ὑμᾶς, οἶκος ᾿Ισραήλ

Ezekiel 33:20 (NETS)

Ezekiel 33:20 (English Elpenor)

And this is what you said, “The way of the Lord is not right”; I will judge each of you by his ways, O house of Israel. And this is that which ye said, The way of the Lord is [not] straight.  I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one for his ways.

Genesis 6:9 (Tanakh)

Genesis 6:9 (KJV)

Genesis 6:9 (NET)

These are the generations of Noah. Noah was in his generations a man righteous and wholehearted; Noah walked with G-d. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. This is the account of Noah.  Noah was a godly man; he was blameless among his contemporaries.  He walked with God.

Genesis 6:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 6:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

αὗται δὲ αἱ γενέσεις Νωε Νωε ἄνθρωπος δίκαιος τέλειος ὢν ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ αὐτοῦ τῷ θεῷ εὐηρέστησεν Νωε Αὗται δὲ αἱ γενέσεις Νῶε· Νῶε ἄνθρωπος δίκαιος, τέλειος ὢν ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ αὐτοῦ· τῷ Θεῷ εὐηρέστησε Νῶε

Genesis 6:9 (NETS)

Genesis 6:9 (English Elpenor)

Now these are the generations of Noe.  Noe was a righteous man, being perfect in his era; Noe was well-pleasing to God. And these [are] the generations of Noe.  Noe was a just man; being perfect in his generation, Noe was well-pleasing to God.

Leviticus 20:22 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:22 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:22 (NET)

Ye shall therefore keep all My statutes, and all Mine ordinances, and do them, that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, vomit you not out. Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out. “‘You must be sure to obey all my statutes and regulations, so that the land to which I am about to bring you to take up residence does not vomit you out.

Leviticus 20:22 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ φυλάξασθε πάντα τὰ προστάγματά μου καὶ τὰ κρίματά μου καὶ ποιήσετε αὐτά καὶ οὐ μὴ προσοχθίσῃ ὑμῗν ἡ γῆ εἰς ἣν ἐγὼ εἰσάγω ὑμᾶς ἐκεῗ κατοικεῗν ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς Καὶ φυλάξασθε πάντα τὰ προστάγματά μου, καὶ τὰ κρίματά μου καὶ ποιήσετε αὐτά, καὶ οὐ μὴ προσοχθίσῃ ὑμῖν ἡ γῆ, εἰς ἣν ἐγὼ εἰσάγω ὑμᾶς ἐκεῖ κατοικεῖν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς

Leviticus 20:22 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:22 (English Elpenor)

And you shall keep all my ordinances and all my judgments and do them, and the land to which I bring you there to settle in it will never be angry with you. And keep ye all my ordinances, and my judgments; and ye shall do them, and the land shall not be aggrieved with you, into which I bring you to dwell upon it.

Leviticus 20:23 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:23 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:23 (NET)

And ye shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I am casting out before you; for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. You must not walk in the statutes of the nations which I am about to drive out before you, because they have done all these things and I am filled with disgust against them.

Leviticus 20:23 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ οὐχὶ πορεύεσθε τοῗς νομίμοις τῶν ἐθνῶν οὓς ἐξαποστέλλω ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν ὅτι ταῦτα πάντα ἐποίησαν καὶ ἐβδελυξάμην αὐτούς καὶ οὐχὶ πορεύεσθε τοῖς νομίμοις τῶν ἐθνῶν, οὓς ἐξαποστέλλω ἀφ᾿ ὑμῶν· ὅτι ταῦτα πάντα ἐποίησαν, καὶ ἐβδελυξάμην αὐτούς.

Leviticus 20:23 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:23 (English Elpenor)

And you shall not walk by the precepts of the nations that I am sending out away from you.  Because they did all these things, I also abhorred them. And walk ye not in the customs of the nations which I drive out from before you; for they have done all these things, and I have abhorred them:

[1] Philippians 4:19 (NET) Table

[2] Deuteronomy 5:9b (NET) Table

[3] This clause translated from the Masoretic text was ignored by the rabbis who translated the Septuagint or absent from the Hebrew source they translated.

[4] Christopher Fisher, “was Canaan the child of Ham and Noah’s wife

[5] Dr. Rabbi David Frankel, “Noah, Ham and the Curse of Canaan: Who Did What to Whom in the Tent? A new solution to why Canaan (not Ham) was cursed

[6] 1 Corinthians 15:3b (NET)

[7] Romans 5:13 (NET)

[8] Luke 5:32 (NET)

[9] John 3:7 (NET)

[10] Who Am I? Part 2; Who Am I? Part 3; Torture, Part 4

[11] David’s Forgiveness, Part 2; Torture, Part 4; Romans, Part 2

[12] Romans 7:6b (NET)

[13] It is extremely interesting to compare Isaiah 58:6-11 with Matthew 25:31-46.

Adultery in the Law, Part 3

The translators of the New American Bible1 chose the marriage is unlawful for πορνεία in Matthew 5:32 [Table].  So I will substitute that translation in the NET:

But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the marriage is unlawful, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

The footnote in the New American Bible references Leviticus 18:6-18 rather than Leviticus 20:11-21.  A comparison of the two passages follows.

Leviticus 18:6-18 (NET)

Leviticus 20:11-21 (NET)

No man is to approach any close relative to have sexual intercourse with her.  I am the Lord.  You must not expose your father’s nakedness by having sexual intercourse with your mother.  She is your mother; you must not have intercourse with her.  You must not have sexual intercourse with your father’s wife; she is your father’s nakedness [Table].

Leviticus 18:6-8 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife, he has exposed his father’s nakedness.  Both of them must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

Leviticus 20:11 (NET) Table

You must not have sexual intercourse with your sister, whether she is your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she is born in the same household or born outside it; you must not have sexual intercourse with either of them.

Leviticus 18:9 (NET) Table

If a man has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or his mother,   so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace.   They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people.  He has exposed his sister’s nakedness; he will bear his punishment for iniquity.

Leviticus 20:17 (NET) Table

You must not expose the nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter by having sexual intercourse with them, because they are your own nakedness.

Leviticus 18:10 (NET)

You must not have sexual intercourse with the daughter of your father’s wife born of your father; she is your sister.  You must not have intercourse with her.

Leviticus 18:11 (NET)

You must not have sexual intercourse with your father’s sister; she is your father’s flesh.  You must not have sexual intercourse with your mother’s sister, because she is your mother’s   flesh.  You must not expose the nakedness of your father’s brother; you must not approach his wife to have sexual intercourse with her.  She is your aunt.

Leviticus 18:12-14 (NET)

You must not expose the nakedness of your mother’s sister and your father’s sister, for such a person has laid bare his own close relative.  They must bear their punishment for iniquity [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with his aunt, he has exposed his uncle’s nakedness; they must bear responsibility for their sin, they will die childless [Table].

Leviticus 20:19, 20 (NET)

You must not have sexual intercourse with your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife. You must not have intercourse with her.

Leviticus 18:15 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death.  They   have committed perversion; their blood guilt is on themselves.

Leviticus 20:12 (NET) Table

You must not have sexual intercourse with your brother’s wife; she is your brother’s nakedness.

Leviticus 18:16 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with his brother’s wife, it is indecency.  He has exposed his brother’s nakedness; they will be childless.

Leviticus 20:21 (NET) Table

You must not have sexual intercourse with both a woman and her daughter; you must not take as wife either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter to have intercourse with them.  They are closely related to her – it is lewdness.

Leviticus 18:17 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with both a woman and her mother, it is lewdness.  Both he and they must be burned to death, so there is no lewdness in your midst.

Leviticus 20:14 (NET) Table

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

Leviticus 18:18 (NET)

There are offenses listed in Leviticus 18:6-18 that don’t have a corresponding punishment in Leviticus 20:11-21.  Also there are punishments for offenses in Leviticus 20:11-21 that are not mentioned in Leviticus 18:6-18.  They do appear just outside that arbitrary limit:

You must not have sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman; it is a detestable act.

Leviticus 18:22 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination.  They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

Leviticus 20:13 (NET) Table

You must not have sexual intercourse with any animal to become defiled with it, and a woman must not stand before an animal to have sexual intercourse with it; it is a perversion.

Leviticus 18:23 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with any animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal [Table].  If a woman approaches any animal to have sexual intercourse with it, you must kill the woman, and the animal must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves [Table].

Leviticus 20:15, 16 (NET)

You must not approach a woman in her menstrual impurity to have sexual intercourse with her.

Leviticus 18:19 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her fountain of blood and she has exposed the fountain of her blood, so both of them must be cut off from the midst of their people.

Leviticus 20:18 (NET) Table

Both lists combined still comprise a finite set of twelve dimensions.  That addresses my primary discomfort relative to the open-ended translation of πορνεία as immorality in the NET.  One would think I would be happier than I feel about it.  I want to revisit Matthew 5:32 (NET) and 19:9 (NET) with X = porneia (πορνεία).

Matthew 5:32 (NET)

Matthew 19:9 (NET)

I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for X, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for X, and marries another commits adultery.

The structure seems to imply that 1) divorce is forbidden, 2) remarriage is adultery, 3) except for πορνεία.  I took Matthew 5:32 to be saying that if the husband who divorced his wife was guilty of πορνεία, Jesus would not consider the divorced wife an adulteress when she remarried, nor hold her new husband guilty of committing adultery.  In Matthew 19:9 I assumed that the divorced wife was guilty of πορνεία and that Jesus would not hold the divorced husband liable for adultery if he remarried.

Is there an implicit permission to divorce a wife guilty of πορνεία in Matthew 19:9?  It may appear so out of context.   But if I bear in mind that Jesus’ original answer to the Pharisees’ question—Is it lawful (ἔξεστιν, a form of ἔξεστι) to divorce a wife for any cause?—was an emphatic no, that apparent permissiveness recedes into the background.  But here’s what happens if I substitute the marriage is unlawful (where the marriage is unlawful = the sets Leviticus 20:11-21 and Leviticus 18:6-18, 19, 22, 23) for X = porneia (πορνεία).

Matthew 5:32 (NET)

Matthew 19:9 (NET)

I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the marriage is unlawful, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for the marriage is unlawful, and marries another commits adultery.

Now both the divorced husband and his wife are guilty of πορνεία [e.g., their marriage was unlawful], and both are free of the charge of adultery if remarried.  And divorce in these cases, rather than being forbidden, is obligatory?  And I was entertaining the idea that this was a better translation of πορνεία than immorality?

Though the New American Bible translators were consistent in their translation of Matthew 5:32, 19:9; Acts 15:20, 29, and 21:25, they reverted to immorality in 1 Corinthians 5:1 as opposed to unlawful marriage for πορνεία.  This is the one place where Paul may actually have referred to the law in Leviticus 18:8 and 20:11, and called it πορνεία.

It is widely reported that there is immorality (πορνεία) among you, and immorality (πορνεία) of a kind not found2 even among pagans – a man living with his father’s wife.

Still, there is an incident in the Old Testament (Ezra 9, 10) where divorce was utilized as the remedy for another kind of unlawful marriage (Ezra 9:1, 2 NET):

The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.  Indeed, they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has become intermingled with the local residents.  Worse still, the leaders and the officials have been at the forefront of all of this!

 

Addendum: January 16, 2019
A table comparing 1 Corinthians 5:1 in the NET and KJV follows.

1 Corinthians 5:1 (NET)

1 Corinthians 5:1 (KJV)

It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with his father’s wife. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Ὅλως ἀκούεται ἐν ὑμῖν πορνεία, καὶ τοιαύτη πορνεία ἥτις οὐδὲ ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ὥστε γυναῖκα τινα τοῦ πατρὸς ἔχειν ολως ακουεται εν υμιν πορνεια και τοιαυτη πορνεια ητις ουδε εν τοις εθνεσιν ονομαζεται ωστε γυναικα τινα του πατρος εχειν ολως ακουεται εν υμιν πορνεια και τοιαυτη πορνεια ητις ουδε εν τοις εθνεσιν ονομαζεται ωστε γυναικα τινα του πατρος εχειν

 

Addendum: October 5, 2021
Tables comparing Leviticus 18:6; 18:7; 18:10; 18:11; 18:12, 18:13; 18:14; 18:15; 18:16; 18:17; 18:18; 18:22; 18:23; 18:19; Ezra 9:1 and 9:2 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Leviticus 18:6; 18:7; 18:10; 18:11; 18:12; 18:13; 18:14; 18:15; 18:16; 18:17; 18:18; 18:22; 18:23; 18:19; Ezra (2 Esdras) 9:1 and 9:2 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Leviticus 18:6 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:6 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:6 (NET)

None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness.  I am HaShem. None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. “‘No man is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations with her.  I am the Lord.

Leviticus 18:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος πρὸς πάντα οἰκεῗα σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ οὐ προσελεύσεται ἀποκαλύψαι ἀσχημοσύνην ἐγὼ κύριος Ανθρωπος ἄνθρωπος πρὸς πάντα οἰκεῖα σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ οὐ προσελεύσεται ἀποκαλύψαι ἀσχημοσύνην· ἐγὼ Κύριος

Leviticus 18:6 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:6 (English Elpenor)

Person by person shall not approach any of the household of his flesh to uncover shame; I am the Lord. No man shall draw nigh to any of his near kindred to uncover their nakedness; I [am] the Lord.

Leviticus 18:7 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:7 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:7 (NET)

The nakedness of thy father, and the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. You must not expose your father’s nakedness by having sexual relations with your mother.  She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.

Leviticus 18:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην πατρός σου καὶ ἀσχημοσύνην μητρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις μήτηρ γάρ σού ἐστιν καὶ οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς ἀσχημοσύνην πατρός σου καὶ ἀσχημοσύνην μητρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις, μήτηρ γάρ σού ἐστιν, οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς

Leviticus 18:7 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:7 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your father and the shame of your mother, for she is your mother; you shall not uncover her shame. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, for she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

Leviticus 18:10 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:10 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:10 (NET)

The nakedness of thy son’s daughter, or of thy daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover; for theirs is thine own nakedness. The nakedness of thy son’s daughter, or of thy daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness. You must not expose the nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter by having sexual relations with them, because they are your own nakedness.

Leviticus 18:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην θυγατρὸς υἱοῦ σου ἢ θυγατρὸς θυγατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῶν ὅτι σὴ ἀσχημοσύνη ἐστίν ἀσχημοσύνην θυγατρὸς υἱοῦ σου ἢ θυγατρὸς θυγατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῶν, ὅτι σὴ ἀσχημοσύνη ἐστίν

Leviticus 18:10 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:10 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover their shame—the shame of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, for it is your own shame. The nakedness of thy son’s daughter, or thy daughter’s daughter, their nakedness thou shalt not uncover; because it is thy nakedness.

Leviticus 18:11 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:11 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:11 (NET)

The nakedness of thy father’s wife’s daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. The nakedness of thy father’s wife’s daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. You must not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife born of your father; she is your sister.  You must not have sexual relations with her.

Leviticus 18:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην θυγατρὸς γυναικὸς πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις ὁμοπατρία ἀδελφή σού ἐστιν οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς ἀσχημοσύνην θυγατρὸς γυναικὸς πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις, ὁμοπατρία ἀδελφή σού ἐστιν, οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς

Leviticus 18:11 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:11 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your father’s wife’s daughter; she is your sister by the same father.  You shall not uncover her shame. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of the daughter of thy father’s wife; she is thy sister by the same father: thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

Leviticus 18:12 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:12 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:12 (NET)

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister: she is thy father’s near kinswoman. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister: she is thy father’s near kinswoman. You must not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s flesh.

Leviticus 18:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις οἰκεία γὰρ πατρός σού ἐστιν ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις, οἰκεία γὰρ πατρός σού ἐστιν

Leviticus 18:12 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:12 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your father’s sister, for she is your father’s own household. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister, for she is near akin to thy father.

Leviticus 18:13 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:13 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:13 (NET)

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister; for she is thy mother’s near kinswoman. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister: for she is thy mother’s near kinswoman. You must not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, because she is your mother’s flesh.

Leviticus 18:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς μητρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις οἰκεία γὰρ μητρός σού ἐστιν ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς μητρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις, οἰκεία γὰρ μητρός σού ἐστιν

Leviticus 18:13 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:13 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your mother’s sister, for she is of your mother’s own household. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, for she is near akin to thy mother.

Leviticus 18:14 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:14 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:14 (NET)

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy fathers brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. You must not expose the nakedness of your father’s brother; you must not approach his wife to have marital relations with her.  She is your aunt.

Leviticus 18:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφοῦ τοῦ πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις καὶ πρὸς τὴν γυναῗκα αὐτοῦ οὐκ εἰσελεύσῃ συγγενὴς γάρ σού ἐστιν ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφοῦ τοῦ πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις καὶ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ οὐκ εἰσελεύσῃ, συγγενής γάρ σού ἐστιν

Leviticus 18:14 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:14 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your father’s brother, and you shall not approach his wife, for she is your relative. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, and thou shalt not go in to his wife; for she is thy relation.

Leviticus 18:15 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:15 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:15 (NET)

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son'[s] wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son’s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. You must not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife.  You must not have sexual relations with her.

Leviticus 18:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην νύμφης σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις γυνὴ γὰρ υἱοῦ σού ἐστιν οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς ἀσχημοσύνην νύμφης σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις, γυνὴ γὰρ υἱοῦ σού ἐστιν, οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς

Leviticus 18:15 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:15 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your daughter-in-law, for she is your son’s wife; you shall not uncover her shame. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law, for she is thy son’s wife, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

Leviticus 18:16 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:16 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:16 (NET)

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness. You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; she is your brother’s nakedness.

Leviticus 18:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην γυναικὸς ἀδελφοῦ σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις ἀσχημοσύνη ἀδελφοῦ σού ἐστιν ἀσχημοσύνην γυναικὸς ἀδελφοῦ σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις, ἀσχημοσύνη ἀδελφοῦ σού ἐστιν.

Leviticus 18:16 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:16 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s shame. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness.

Leviticus 18:17 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:17 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:17 (NET)

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; thou shalt not take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness: they are near kinswomen; it is lewdness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness. You must not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter; you must not take as wife either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter to have sexual relations with them.  They are closely related to her—it is lewdness.

Leviticus 18:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην γυναικὸς καὶ θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν θυγατέρα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτῆς καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς οὐ λήμψῃ ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῶν οἰκεῗαι γάρ σού εἰσιν ἀσέβημά ἐστιν ἀσχημοσύνην γυναικὸς καὶ θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις· τὴν θυγατέρα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτῆς καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς οὐ λήψῃ ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῶν, οἰκεῖαι γὰρ σού εἰσιν· ἀσέβημά ἐστι

Leviticus 18:17 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:17 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of a woman and her daughter.  You shall not take her son’s daughter and her daughter’s daughter to uncover their shame, for they are your own household; it is a profane act. The nakedness of a woman and her daughter shalt thou not uncover; her son’s daughter, and her daughter’s daughter, shalt thou not take, to uncover their nakedness, for they are thy kinswomen: it is impiety.

Leviticus 18:18 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:18 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:18 (NET)

And thou shalt not take a woman to her sister, to be a rival to her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her lifetime. Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time. You must not take a woman in marriage and then marry her sister as a rival wife while she is still alive, to have sexual relations with her.

Leviticus 18:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

γυναῗκα ἐπὶ ἀδελφῇ αὐτῆς οὐ λήμψῃ ἀντίζηλον ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς ἐπ᾽ αὐτῇ ἔτι ζώσης αὐτῆς γυναῖκα ἐπ᾿ ἀδελφῇ αὐτῆς οὐ λήψῃ ἀντίζηλον ἀποκαλύψαι τήν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ, ἔτι ζώσης αὐτῆς

Leviticus 18:18 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:18 (English Elpenor)

You shall not take a woman as a rival in addition to her sister, to uncover her shame in addition to her while she is still alive. Thou shalt not take a wife in addition to her sister, as a rival, to uncover her nakedness in opposition to her, while she is yet living.

Leviticus 18:22 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:22 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:22 (NET)

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. You must not have sexual relations with a male as one has sexual relations with a woman; it is a detestable act.

Leviticus 18:22 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ μετὰ ἄρσενος οὐ κοιμηθήσῃ κοίτην γυναικός βδέλυγμα γάρ ἐστιν καὶ μετὰ ἄρσενος οὐ κοιμηθήσῃ κοίτην γυναικείαν, βδέλυγμα γάρ ἐστι

Leviticus 18:22 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:22 (English Elpenor)

And you shall not sleep with a male as in a bed of a woman, for it is an abomination. And thou shalt not lie with a man as with a woman, for it is an abomination.

Leviticus 18:23 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:23 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:23 (NET)

And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto; it is perversion. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. You must not have sexual relations with any animal to become defiled with it, and a woman must not stand before an animal to have sexual relations with it; it is a perversion.

Leviticus 18:23 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ πρὸς πᾶν τετράπουν οὐ δώσεις τὴν κοίτην σου εἰς σπερματισμὸν ἐκμιανθῆναι πρὸς αὐτό καὶ γυνὴ οὐ στήσεται πρὸς πᾶν τετράπουν βιβασθῆναι μυσερὸν γάρ ἐστιν καὶ πρὸς πᾶν τετράπουν οὐ δώσεις τὴν κοίτην σου εἰς σπερματισμόν, ἐκμιανθῆναι πρὸς αὐτό. καὶ γυνὴ οὐ στήσεται πρὸς πᾶν τετράπουν βιβασθῆναι, μυσαρὸν γάρ ἐστι

Leviticus 18:23 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:23 (English Elpenor)

And you shall not give your bed to any quadruped for sowing to bring defilement on it, nor shall any woman stand before any quadruped so as to be mounted, for it is loathsome. Neither shalt thou lie with any quadruped for copulation, to be polluted with it: neither shall a woman present herself before any quadruped to have connexion with it; for it is an abomination.

Leviticus 18:19 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:19 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:19 (NET)

And thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness. Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness. “‘You must not approach a woman in her menstrual impurity to have sexual relations with her.

Leviticus 18:19 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ πρὸς γυναῗκα ἐν χωρισμῷ ἀκαθαρσίας αὐτῆς οὐ προσελεύσῃ ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς Καὶ πρὸς γυναῖκα ἐν χωρισμῷ ἀκαθαρσίας αὐτῆς οὐκ εἰσελεύσῃ ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς

Leviticus 18:19 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:19 (English Elpenor)

And you shall not approach a woman to uncover her shame in the separation of her uncleanness. And thou shalt not go in to a woman under separation for her uncleanness, to uncover her nakedness.

Ezra 9:1 (Tanakh)

Ezra 9:1 (KJV)

Ezra 9:1 (NET)

Now when these things were done, the princes drew near unto me, saying: ‘The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. Now when these things had been completed, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

Ezra 9:1 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 9:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ὡς ἐτελέσθη ταῦτα ἤγγισαν πρός με οἱ ἄρχοντες λέγοντες οὐκ ἐχωρίσθη ὁ λαὸς Ισραηλ καὶ οἱ ἱερεῗς καὶ οἱ Λευῗται ἀπὸ λαῶν τῶν γαιῶν ἐν μακρύμμασιν αὐτῶν τῷ Χανανι ὁ Εθι ὁ Φερεζι ὁ Ιεβουσι ὁ Αμμωνι ὁ Μωαβι ὁ Μοσερι καὶ ὁ Αμορι ΚΑΙ ὡς ἐτελέσθη ταῦτα, ἤγγισαν πρός με οἱ ἄρχοντες λέγοντες· οὐκ ἐχωρίσθη ὁ λαὸς ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται ἀπὸ λαῶν τῶν γαιῶν ἐν μακρύμμασιν αὐτῶν, τῷ Χανανί, ὁ ᾿Εθί, ὁ Φερεζί, ὁ ᾿Ιεβουσί, ὁ ᾿Αμμωνί, ὁ Μωαβὶ καὶ ὁ Μοσερὶ καὶ ὁ ᾿Αμορί,

2 Esdras 9:1 (NETS)

2 Esdras 9:1 (English Elpenor)

And after these things had been done, the rulers approached me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and Leuites were not separated from the peoples of the lands with their things put far away, in reference to the Chanani—the Heththi, the Pherezi, the Iebousi, the Ammoni, the Moab, the Mosri and the Amori— And when these things were finished, the princes drew near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands in their abominations, [even] the Chananite, the Ethite, the Pherezite, the Jebusite, the Ammonite, the Moabite, and the Moserite and the Amorite.

Ezra 9:2 (Tanakh)

Ezra 9:2 (KJV)

Ezra 9:2 (NET)

For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons; so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands; yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been first in this faithlessness.’ For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. Indeed, they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has become intermingled with the local residents.  Worse still, the leaders and the officials have been at the forefront of all this unfaithfulness!”

Ezra 9:2 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 9:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὅτι ἐλάβοσαν ἀπὸ θυγατέρων αὐτῶν ἑαυτοῗς καὶ τοῗς υἱοῗς αὐτῶν καὶ παρήχθη σπέρμα τὸ ἅγιον ἐν λαοῗς τῶν γαιῶν καὶ χεὶρ τῶν ἀρχόντων ἐν τῇ ἀσυνθεσίᾳ ταύτῃ ἐν ἀρχῇ ὅτι ἐλάβοσαν ἀπὸ θυγατέρων αὐτῶν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ παρήχθη σπέρμα τὸ ἅγιον ἐν λαοῖς τῶν γαιῶν, καὶ χεὶρ τῶν ἀρχόντων ἐν τῇ ἀσυνθεσίᾳ ταύτῃ ἐν ἀρχῇ

2 Esdras 9:2 (NETS)

2 Esdras 9:2 (English Elpenor)

because they have taken from their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and the holy seed was influenced by the peoples of the lands, and the hand of the rulers was in this faithlessness in the beginning.” For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and their sons; and the holy seed has passed among the nations of the lands, and the hand of the rulers [has been] first in this transgression.

1 Revised New Testament of the New American Bible © 1986 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD), published by Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York, N.Y.

2 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ονομαζεται (KJV: so much as named) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not (NET: permitted).