Tanach
Vayikra 18:17-30 ויקרא י״ח:י״ז-ל׳
Part of: Achrei MotAchrei Mot, Aliyah 6Achrei Mot, Aliyah 7Chapter 18
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
עֶרְוַת אִשָּׁה וּבִתָּהּ לֹא תְגַלֵּה אֶֽת־בַּת־בְּנָהּ וְאֶת־בַּת־בִּתָּהּ לֹא תִקַּח לְגַלּוֹת עֶרְוָתָהּ שַׁאֲרָה הֵנָּה זִמָּה הִֽוא׃
The nakedness of a woman and her daughter you shall not uncover. The daughter of her son and the daughter of her daughter you shall not take to uncover her nakedness, they are kin; it is lewdness.
The nakedness of a woman and her daughter you shall not uncover. The daughter of her son and the daughter of her daughter you shall not take to uncover her nakedness, they are kin; it is lewdness.
Rashi
שארה הנה. קְרוֹבוֹת זוֹ לָזוֹ:
שארה הנה means, they are closely related to one another.
זמה. עֵצָה, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ עֲצַת חֶטְאִין, שֶׁיִּצְרְךָ יוֹעֶצְךָ לַחֲטֹא:
זמה means, an evil plan, as the Targum renders it עצת חטאין , "a sinful plan"; the term is used because it is your evil inclination which counsels you to sin.
וְאִשָּׁה אֶל־אֲחֹתָהּ לֹא תִקָּח לִצְרֹר לְגַלּוֹת עֶרְוָתָהּ עָלֶיהָ בְּחַיֶּֽיהָ׃
You shall not take a woman and her sister to vex [her] to uncover her nakedness with the other, in her lifetime.
You shall not take a woman and her sister to vex [her] to uncover her nakedness with the other, in her lifetime.
Rashi
אל אחתה. שְׁתֵּיהֶן כְּאַחַת (קידושין נ'):
אל אחתה [NEITHER SHALT THOU TAKE A WIFE] TO HER SISTER — both at the same time.
לצרר. לְשׁוֹן צָרָה — לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת זוֹ צָרָה לָזוֹ:
לצרר is connected with the word ,צרה — a rival (cf. I Samuel 1:6). Thus the verse signifies “thou shalt not take a wife to her sister", to make (i. e. making) the one the rival of the other.
בחייה. לִמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאִם גֵרְשָׁהּ לֹא יִשָּׂא אֶת אֲחוֹתָהּ כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהִיא בַחַיִּים (יבמות ח'):
בחייה DURING HER LIFE-TIME — This teaches you that if he divorced her (his wife) he is not allowed to marry her sister so long as she (the former) is still living (Yevamot 8b).
וְאֶל־אִשָּׁה בְּנִדַּת טֻמְאָתָהּ לֹא תִקְרַב לְגַלּוֹת עֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃
To a woman while in her menstrual impurity, you shall not approach to uncover her nakedness.
To a woman while in her menstrual impurity, you shall not approach to uncover her nakedness.
וְאֶל־אֵשֶׁת עֲמִֽיתְךָ לֹא־תִתֵּן שְׁכׇבְתְּךָ לְזָרַע לְטׇמְאָה־בָֽהּ׃
With your friends wife you shall not lie carnally, to defile yourself through her.
With your friends wife you shall not lie carnally, to defile yourself through her.
וּמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ לֹא־תִתֵּן לְהַעֲבִיר לַמֹּלֶךְ וְלֹא תְחַלֵּל אֶת־שֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲנִי יְהֹוָֽה׃
You shall not hand over any of your children to be passed through [the worship of] Molech and you shall not defile the Name of your God, I am Adonoy.
You shall not hand over any of your children to be passed through [the worship of] Molech and you shall not defile the Name of your God, I am Adonoy.
Rashi
למלך. עֲ"זָ הִיא שֶׁשְּׁמָהּ מֹלֶךְ, וְזוֹ הִיא עֲבוֹדָתָהּ, שֶׁמּוֹסֵר בְּנוֹ לַכּוֹמְרִים וְעוֹשִׂין שְׁתֵּי מְדוּרוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת וּמַעֲבִירִין אֶת הַבֵּן בְּרַגְלָיו בֵּין שְׁתֵּי מְדוּרוֹת הָאֵשׁ (סנהדרין ס"ד):
למלך [AND THOU SHALT NOT LET ANY OF THY SEED PASS THROUGH THE FIRE] TO MOLECH — This was an idol the name of which was "Molech", and this was the manner in which it was worshipped: that he (the father) handed his child (lit., his son, but it applies to his daughter also; cf. Deuteronomy 18:10) over to the priests of the idol. These lit two large pyres one opposite the other and made the child to pass on foot between the two pyres (Sanhedrin 64b).
לא תתן. זוֹ הִיא מְסִירָתוֹ לַכּוֹמְרִים:
לא תתן refers to “the handing over of the child” to the priests.
להעביר למלך. זוֹ הַעֲבָרַת הָאֵשׁ:
להעביר למלך — this refers to the “passing through the fire".
וְאֶת־זָכָר לֹא תִשְׁכַּב מִשְׁכְּבֵי אִשָּׁה תּוֹעֵבָה הִֽוא׃
You shall not lie with a male [conjugally] as one lies with a woman; it is an abomination.
You shall not lie with a male [conjugally] as one lies with a woman; it is an abomination.
וּבְכׇל־בְּהֵמָה לֹא־תִתֵּן שְׁכׇבְתְּךָ לְטׇמְאָה־בָהּ וְאִשָּׁה לֹֽא־תַעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי בְהֵמָה לְרִבְעָהּ תֶּבֶל הֽוּא׃
Together with any animal you shall not lie [conjugally] to defile yourself with it. A woman shall not stand before an animal to copulate with it; it is defilement.
Together with any animal you shall not lie [conjugally] to defile yourself with it. A woman shall not stand before an animal to copulate with it; it is defilement.
Rashi
תבל הוא. לְשׁוֹן קָדֵשׁ וְעֶרְוָה וְנִאוּף, וְכֵן וְאַפִּי עַל תַּבְלִיתָם (ישעיהו י'); דָּבָר אַחֵר תֶּבֶל הוּא לְשׁוֹן בְּלִילָה וְעִרְבּוּב זֶרַע אָדָם וְזֶרַע בְּהֵמָה:
תבל הוא THIS IS CONFUSION — תבל is an expression used for unchastity, incest and adultery. Similar is (Jeremiah 10:25) “Mine anger because of their depravity (תבליתם)". Another explanation of תבל הוא: it is an expression denoting the mingling (root בלל) and fusion of the human seed and the animal seed.
אַל־תִּֽטַּמְּאוּ בְּכׇל־אֵלֶּה כִּי בְכׇל־אֵלֶּה נִטְמְאוּ הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִי מְשַׁלֵּחַ מִפְּנֵיכֶֽם׃
Do not defile yourselves in any one of these [ways], for in all of these [ways] the nations have become defiled [those] that I am driving away from before you.
Do not defile yourselves in any one of these [ways], for in all of these [ways] the nations have become defiled [those] that I am driving away from before you.
וַתִּטְמָא הָאָרֶץ וָאֶפְקֹד עֲוֺנָהּ עָלֶיהָ וַתָּקִא הָאָרֶץ אֶת־יֹשְׁבֶֽיהָ׃
The land became defiled and I judged its iniquities upon it and the land expelled its inhabitants.
The land became defiled and I judged its iniquities upon it and the land expelled its inhabitants.
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אַתֶּם אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי וְלֹא תַעֲשׂוּ מִכֹּל הַתּוֹעֵבֹת הָאֵלֶּה הָֽאֶזְרָח וְהַגֵּר הַגָּר בְּתוֹכְכֶֽם׃
You shall adhere to My statutes and to My laws and not do any of these abominations [both] the native born and the proselyte who resides among you.
You shall adhere to My statutes and to My laws and not do any of these abominations [both] the native born and the proselyte who resides among you.
כִּי אֶת־כׇּל־הַתּוֹעֵבֹת הָאֵל עָשׂוּ אַנְשֵֽׁי־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵיכֶם וַתִּטְמָא הָאָֽרֶץ׃
For all of these abominations were done by the people of the land who came before you and the land became defiled.
For all of these abominations were done by the people of the land who came before you and the land became defiled.
וְלֹֽא־תָקִיא הָאָרֶץ אֶתְכֶם בְּטַֽמַּאֲכֶם אֹתָהּ כַּאֲשֶׁר קָאָה אֶת־הַגּוֹי אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵיכֶֽם׃
[So that] the land not expel you when you defile it as it expelled the nation before you.
[So that] the land not expel you when you defile it as it expelled the nation before you.
Rashi
ולא תקיא הארץ אתכם. מָשָׁל לְבֶן מֶלֶךְ שֶׁהֶאֱכִילוּהוּ דָּבָר מָאוּס, שֶׁאֵין עוֹמֵד בְּמֵעָיו אֶלָּא מְקִיאוֹ, כָּךְ אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵינָהּ מְקַיֶּמֶת עוֹבְרֵי עֲבֵרָה (ספרא סוף קדושים), וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ וְלָא תְרוֹקֵן, לְשׁוֹן רִקּוּן — מְרִיקָה עַצְמָהּ מֵהֶם:
ולא תקיא הארץ אתכם THAT THE LAND VOMIT NOT YOU OUT — A parable! This may be compared to the case of a prince (i. e. a sensitive, refined person) to whom one gives a disgusting thing to eat which he cannot retain on his stomach but vomits it out thus Eretz-Yisrael is unable to retain sinners on its soil (Sifra, Kedoshim, Chapter 12 14). The Targum renders it by: ולא תרוקן a term for ״emptying out״ — it (the earth) empties itself of them.
כִּי כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה מִכֹּל הַתּוֹעֵבֹת הָאֵלֶּה וְנִכְרְתוּ הַנְּפָשׁוֹת הָעֹשֹׂת מִקֶּרֶב עַמָּֽם׃
For anyone who will do any of these abominations, their souls shall be cut off, those who do these things, from among their people.
For anyone who will do any of these abominations, their souls shall be cut off, those who do these things, from among their people.
Rashi
הנפשות העשת. הַזָּכָר וְהַנְּקֵבָה בְמַשְׁמָע (ספרא):
העשת הנפשות EVEN THE SOULS THAT SHALL DO THEM [SHALL BE CUT OFF] — Both men and women are implied by the plural הנפשות (in contrast to the sing. יעשה in the beginning of the verse) (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 13 20).
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּי לְבִלְתִּי עֲשׂוֹת מֵחֻקּוֹת הַתּֽוֹעֵבֹת אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשׂוּ לִפְנֵיכֶם וְלֹא תִֽטַּמְּאוּ בָּהֶם אֲנִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ {פ}
You shall keep my watch that you shall not do any of the abominable customs that were done before you and you will not defile yourselves through them. I am Adonoy, your God.
You shall keep my watch that you shall not do any of the abominable customs that were done before you and you will not defile yourselves through them. I am Adonoy, your God.
Rashi
ושמרתם את משמרתי. לְהַזְהִיר בֵּית דִּין עַל כָּךְ (שם):
ושמרתם את משמרתי THEREFORE SHALL YE KEEP (OR, WATCH OVER) MY CHARGE — This is intended to caution the court regarding this (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 13 22).
ולא תטמאו בהם אני ה' אלהיכם. הָא אִם תִּטַּמְּאוּ אֵינִי אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, וְאַתֶּם נִפְסָלִים מֵאַחֲרַי, וּמַה הֲנָאָה יֵשׁ לִי בָּכֶם וְאַתֶּם מִתְחַיְּבִים כְּלָיָה? לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (שם):
ולא תטמאו בהם אני ה' אלהיכם AND IF YE DEFILE NOT YOURSELVES THEREIN, I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD — If, however, you do defile yourselves I shall no longer be your God (אלהיכם) since you have cut yourselves off from following after Me. What use then can I have of you? Consequently you deserve annihilation! That is why Scripture states: I am the Lord your God (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 13 22).
ערות אשה ובתה. לֹא אָסַר הַכָּתוּב אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי נִשּׂוּאֵי הָרִאשׁוֹנָה, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר לֹא "תִקַּח" — לְשׁוֹן קִיחָה, וְכֵן לְעִנְיַן הָעֹנֶשׁ, אֲשֶׁר "יִקַּח" אֶת אִשָּׁה וְאֶת אִמָּה — לְשׁוֹן קִיחָה, אֲבָל אָנַס אִשָּׁה מֻתָּר לִשָּׂא בִּתָּהּ (יבמות צ"ז):
ערות אשה ובתה THE NAKEDNESS OF A WOMAN AND HER DAUGHTER [THOU SHALT NOT UNCOVER] — Scripture forbids this only if the union with the first of these (whether it be the woman or her daughter) came about through a legal marriage. That is why Scripture uses the term לא תקח, the expression employed for "taking to wife in a legal way". Similarly with reference to the punishment for such a union it states, (Leviticus 20:14) "And if a man take (יקח) a wife and her mother, [it is wickedness; they shall be burnt with fire]" — an expression for "taking" to wife in a legal way. But if one has raped a woman he is permitted to marry her daughter (Yevamot 97a).