Leviticus 18:10 forbids an Israelite man from having sexual relations with his granddaughter, whether through a son or through a daughter. The verse makes the family line itself the boundary: a grandfather’s own descendants are not to be treated as partners, because their closeness to him is the very reason the relationship would damage the family. God spoke these words to Moses to pass on to the people of Israel as they prepared to enter the land of Canaan.
“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son’s daughter, or of your daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness: for theirs is your own nakedness.
Leviticus 18:10 (WEB)
What Leviticus 18:10 Means
The phrase “uncover the nakedness” is the Hebrew way of speaking about sexual relations, so the verse is really a prohibition on intimacy with a particular group of relatives. The words “your son’s daughter” and “your daughter’s daughter” name the granddaughters who come down through each of your two children. The verse covers both lines, so no branch of the family is exempt from the rule.
The closing clause, “for theirs is your own nakedness,” gives the reason. A granddaughter stands so close in the family line that to act with her is in effect to act against yourself and your own household. The verse explains the prohibition by pointing to the bond of kinship rather than only listing a rule.
The verse does not describe how a family should feel or how a person should react to temptation, and it does not explain every later case of family conflict. It sets a clear limit that the community was to honor. Its job is to define what is forbidden, not to offer a full account of family life.
The Context of Leviticus 18:10
Leviticus is the third book of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible traditionally attributed to Moses. It is largely a book of instructions for worship, holiness, and daily life, and chapter 18 forms a section on sexual conduct that separates Israel from the surrounding nations. Its first audience was the people of Israel in the wilderness, a community being shaped into a holy nation under God.
Verse 10 sits in a list running from verse 7 to verse 13 that forbids sexual relations with close relatives. The list moves outward from parents to siblings, then to grandchildren, aunts, and in-laws. Read in that sequence, verse 10 is one step in a careful map of the family, and it shows that the boundary of holiness runs through the whole family tree, not just the nearest members.
Key Phrases in Leviticus 18:10
Leviticus 18:7
“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness.
(WEB)
Verse 7 opens the same list with the prohibition on uncovering a father’s nakedness. Reading it alongside verse 10 shows that the whole section moves through the family tree in a deliberate order, and that the principle of guarding close kinship runs from the first verse to the last.
Matthew 19:4-6
4 He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?’ 6 So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”
(WEB)
Jesus points back to God’s design for marriage and the family, describing how two become one flesh. Reading this passage with Leviticus 18:10 helps show that the family was never meant to be a space for exploitation, and that God values the unity and purity of the household.
A Short Prayer From Leviticus 18:10
Lord, you formed families with care and set clear boundaries so that love within them would be safe and holy. Give me a clear conscience about the people closest to me. Where I have been tempted to cross a line, help me turn away quickly and honestly. Where I am responsible for the protection of young people in my family, give me wisdom, courage, and self-control. Keep my household honorable before you. Amen.
