· Translation: KJV

Leviticus 18:11"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, conceived by your father, since she is your sister.

The setting

Mount Sinai wilderness, ~1446 BC. Moses receives detailed purity laws for the newly formed nation of Israel in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt/Saudi Arabia border region...

The emotion here: recording divine boundaries with trembling reverence for God's holiness standards

The original word

ervah (עֶרְוָה) — nakedness, shame, improper exposure; implies sexual violation

Why it matters

These laws distinguished Israel from Canaanite cultures where such relationships were common

Read with care

What most readers miss in Leviticus 18:11

This addresses complex family structures from polygamous marriages, not just biological siblings

Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about biological incest, but it specifically addresses the complicated family dynamics of polygamous households where half-sisters and step-daughters created confusing relationships.

Bible Genome reading

Leviticus 18:11 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerGod
Eraexodus
Primary emotiondeciding
Literary typelaw
MarkCommand

Emotional genome

Comfort power10%
Quotability20%
Memorability40%
Crisis relevance30%
Standalone30%
Themes:sexual purityfamily boundaries

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Leviticus 18

Leviticus 18:11 comes from the book of Leviticus, written during the exodus period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the law genre of biblical literature. Key themes include sexual purity, family boundaries. Notable phrases: You shall not uncover; your father's wife's daughter. This verse contains a command.

Your reflection

What does Leviticus 18:11 mean to you, today?

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