Leviticus 18:15 forbids a man from having sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, the wife of his own son. The verse is part of a longer set of laws in Leviticus that set clear limits on sexual conduct within the family, and it is spoken by God to Moses, who passes the instruction on to the people of Israel.
“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law: she is your son’s wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:15 (WEB)
What Leviticus 18:15 Means
The phrase “uncover the nakedness” is a Hebrew idiom for sexual intimacy. It does not refer to physical nudity in the ordinary sense. When the verse says “you shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law,” it is saying that a father-in-law must not enter into a sexual relationship with the wife of his son. The repeated instruction at the end of the verse gives the command extra weight and leaves no room for argument.
The verse also states the reason in plain terms: “she is your son’s wife.” Her marriage to your son places her inside your household as a family member, and that closeness is what makes the relationship off limits. The verse does not describe every possible situation or address the emotional details of family life. It sets a firm boundary and gives the reason for it.
What the verse does not do is offer a broader picture of how family relationships should feel day to day. It names one forbidden act and does not explain how to handle conflict, grief, or tension within a family. Those questions are addressed elsewhere in Scripture.
The Context of Leviticus 18:15
Leviticus is the third book of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament, traditionally attributed to Moses. It was written for the people of Israel as they were being formed into a nation under God’s covenant. Chapters 18 to 20 form a section sometimes called the Holiness Code, which lays out how God’s people are to live differently from the surrounding nations.
Verse 15 sits in a list that begins in verse 6 and runs to verse 18. Each prohibition in this run covers a close family relationship: aunts, uncles, sisters-in-law, and the household of a parent or child. Read in that setting, the verse is one part of a comprehensive set of limits meant to protect the household and the marriage bond from confusion and exploitation. Seeing the verse within this list shows that it is about the integrity of the family as a whole, not an isolated rule.
Key Phrases in Leviticus 18:15
Exodus 20:14
“You shall not commit adultery.
(WEB)
This verse is the seventh commandment, which forbids adultery. It shows that God’s concern for faithfulness in marriage runs through the whole law, and Leviticus 18:15 applies that same principle to a specific family relationship.
Matthew 5:28
But I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
(WEB)
Jesus teaches here that the heart matters as much as the outward act. Reading this alongside Leviticus 18:15 helps you see that God’s boundaries concern desire and attitude as well as deed, and that guarding the heart is part of keeping these commands.
A Short Prayer From Leviticus 18:15
Father, you set clear boundaries to protect the families you have given us, and I thank you for that care. Where I have allowed closeness to become unhealthy, show me the line and give me the courage to step back from it. Guard my heart and my relationships, and help me honor the marriages and households you have placed in my life. Teach me to walk in faithfulness and to speak the truth in love. Amen.
