Leviticus 18:16 forbids a man from uncovering the nakedness of his brother’s wife, which in the Hebrew idiom means having sexual relations with her. The verse then adds a reason: her nakedness belongs to his brother, so taking it would violate the family bond the brother holds. God speaks this law to Moses for the people of Israel, who are about to enter the land of Canaan and must live differently from the nations around them.
“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife. It is your brother’s nakedness.
Leviticus 18:16 (WEB)
What Leviticus 18:16 Means
The phrase “uncover the nakedness” is a common Old Testament expression for sexual intimacy, not a reference to physical exposure. So the command is plain: a man must not become sexually involved with his brother’s wife. The verse names the relationship, “your brother’s wife,” and the prohibition covers that exact connection rather than every woman in the community.
The second sentence explains why. “It is your brother’s nakedness” treats the wife as bound to her husband in a way that gives him a claim over her. To go to her is to dishonor him and to break faithfulness within the household. The verse therefore protects marriage and the trust between brothers.
What the verse does not do is list every possible case or spell out penalties. It sets a boundary and trusts the reader to see that the same spirit applies to other close family ties, which the surrounding passage makes clear.
The Context of Leviticus 18:16
Leviticus is part of the Torah, traditionally attributed to Moses, and this chapter opens a section on holiness and the sexual boundaries that mark Israel as God’s people. Verses 13 through 19 form a list of close relatives and related women that must not be approached: an aunt, a daughter-in-law, a mother and daughter together, two sisters at once, and a woman during her period. Verse 16 sits in the middle of that list.
Reading the verse among its neighbors shows that it is one part of a larger pattern of protecting family order. The law addresses the Israelite household and its male heads, and it grounds these rules in the character of God and the holiness he requires. Seeing the verse in that setting explains why it is framed around the brother’s claim and not only the wife’s status.
Key Phrases in Leviticus 18:16
Exodus 20:14
“You shall not commit adultery.
(WEB)
This commandment, “You shall not commit adultery,” lies at the heart of the Ten Commandments. It states the broader principle that Leviticus 18:16 applies to a specific family relationship. Reading the two together shows that the prohibition is about faithfulness in marriage across the whole community.
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 takes the law beyond outward action and addresses the desire that comes before it. This verse helps you see that avoiding the act is not enough if the heart keeps pursuing what belongs to another. It deepens the purpose of the Leviticus command by calling for inner faithfulness.
A Short Prayer From Leviticus 18:16
Lord, you are holy, and you care about the bonds that hold families together. Guard my heart from desires that would betray my brother or sister and the people they love. Where I have been careless with boundaries, show me clearly and give me the courage to change. Help me honor the marriages around me with my words, my time, and my attention. Make me faithful in small choices as well as large ones. Amen.
