Deuteronomy 22:30
A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his father's skirt.
Original Language Analysis
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 10
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִקַּ֥ח
shall not take
H3947
יִקַּ֥ח
shall not take
Strong's:
H3947
Word #:
2 of 10
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
אִ֖ישׁ
A man
H376
אִ֖ישׁ
A man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
3 of 10
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אָבִֽיו׃
his father's
H1
אָבִֽיו׃
his father's
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
6 of 10
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
7 of 10
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יְגַלֶּ֖ה
nor discover
H1540
יְגַלֶּ֖ה
nor discover
Strong's:
H1540
Word #:
8 of 10
to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal
Cross References
Deuteronomy 27:20Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.Leviticus 18:8The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.1 Corinthians 5:1It 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.Leviticus 20:11And 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.Ezekiel 16:8Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.Ruth 3:9And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
Historical Context
Written circa 1406 BC as part of Moses's covenant renewal before entering Canaan. The Canaanite cultures Israel would encounter practiced various forms of incest and sexual perversion in their fertility religions. This law reinforced boundaries already established at Sinai, protecting family integrity and distinguishing Israel's sexual ethics from surrounding nations. Reuben's sin with Bilhah (Genesis 35:22) exemplified this violation, costing him his birthright.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God link sexual purity with honoring parents and family structure?
- How does Paul's response in 1 Corinthians 5 inform the church's responsibility to maintain sexual ethics?
- What modern sexual ideologies undermine the biblical protection of family boundaries?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
A man shall not take his father's wife—prohibiting marriage to one's stepmother, an act constituting both sexual immorality and dishonoring one's father. Nor discover his father's skirt (גַּלָּה כְּנַף אָבִיו, galah kenaf aviv)—literally 'uncover his father's wing/corner.' The idiom 'covering with the skirt' denoted taking someone in marriage (Ruth 3:9, Ezekiel 16:8), so 'uncovering' represented violating the father's marital rights.
This law appears in Leviticus 18:8 and 20:11 with more explicit penalties (death for both parties). Its placement here concludes chapter 22's sexual prohibitions, transitioning from pre-marital violations to forbidden relationships. Paul applied this principle in 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, commanding the Corinthian church to discipline a man living with his stepmother—'a kind of immorality that does not occur even among pagans.'