Leviticus 18:12

12 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your father's sister;^[a] she is your father's close relative.

Leviticus 18:12 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 18:12

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister,
&c.] His aunt by his father's side, an instance of which we have in Amram, ( Exodus 6:20 ) ; and Maimonides says ^F9, an aunt was forbidden whether she was a father's sister in lawful wedlock or in fornication: she [is] thy father's near kinswoman;
or, the rest of thy father ^F11; the residue of his flesh, one of the same flesh and blood with him; wherefore, as he could not marry her himself, so his son likewise was too near akin to enter into such a relation with her.

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 Hilchot Issure Biah, c. 2. sect. 5.
F11 (Kyba rav) "reliquiarum patris tui", Tigurine version.

Leviticus 18:12 In-Context

10 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter, because it will shame your family.

11 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your father's wife's daughter, who is adopted by your father; she is your sister.

12 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your father's sister; she is your father's close relative.

13 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your mother's sister, for she is your mother's close relative.

14 You are not to shame your father's brother by coming near his wife to have sexual intercourse; she is your aunt.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lv 20:19; Ex 6:20