And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
LEVITICUS 20:18KJVWhat does Leviticus 20:18 mean?
Leviticus 20:18 says that if a man has sexual relations with a woman during her menstrual period, both people have broken a boundary set by God and must be separated from their community. This verse treats the act as a serious violation of ritual and moral law in ancient Israel.
In this part of Leviticus, God is speaking to the Israelites through Moses, giving detailed laws about sexual conduct and ritual purity. The verse uses strong language about "uncovering nakedness" and "discovering her fountain" to describe the act, highlighting its seriousness in the context of Israelite law. The command to "cut off" both people shows that this was not just a private matter but one with consequences for their place in the community.
The Hebrew behind Leviticus 20:18
- "sickness" (נִדָּה, nidah): This word refers specifically to a woman's menstrual impurity, not just general illness. The law is about ritual impurity, not physical sickness.
- "uncover" (גָּלָה, galah) and "nakedness" (עֶרְוָה, ervah): These words together are a common biblical way of describing sexual relations, especially those considered forbidden.
- "fountain" (מָקוֹר, maqor): This word literally means a spring or source, here referring to the source of menstrual blood. The metaphor emphasizes the idea of ritual impurity.
- "cut off" (כָּרַת, karat): This phrase means to be separated or excluded from the people, which could mean exile, social shunning, or sometimes even death, depending on the context.
Why Leviticus 20:18 matters
- Leviticus 20:18 clarifies that some laws in the Old Testament were about ritual purity, not just morality, which helps explain why the consequences are so severe.
- The verse shows how ancient Israelite law connected physical acts to the health and holiness of the whole community, not just the individuals involved.
- Understanding the specific language and imagery helps modern readers see the seriousness with which these boundaries were treated in ancient Israel, even if the cultural context is very different today.