Leviticus 18:15 Meaning and Explanation
“Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son’s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A daughter in law is protected from sexual access because she is the son's wife. The command is stated and then repeated after naming the marriage relationship, leaving no room for a parent to misuse seniority, household authority, or family access.
A parent must not pursue sexual relations with a daughter in law, whose marriage to the son creates a protected family boundary.
The Context of Leviticus 18:15
The chapter begins its detailed near-kin prohibitions in verse 6. After parents, sisters, grandchildren, and aunts, verse 15 addresses the daughter in law and explains that she is the son's wife. Verse 16 gives a parallel marriage-created boundary concerning a brother's wife. Verse 17 then addresses a woman together with her daughter or granddaughter. The repeated clause thou shalt not uncover her nakedness reinforces the directness of the prohibition. This passage recognizes that marriage creates real obligations within the wider family. The verse is directed to the person who might cross the boundary and does not present the daughter in law as responsible for managing the older relative's conduct.
What Does Leviticus 18:15 Mean?
The words she is thy son's wife supply the relational reason for the prohibition. A parent's place in a household, greater age, financial contribution, or family honor grants no sexual claim upon the son's wife. Repeating the command centers the duty of restraint on the addressee. Healthy family authority serves and protects; it does not turn housing, employment, inheritance, immigration sponsorship, or spiritual approval into pressure for sexual access. The verse honors the daughter in law as a person within a defined covenant relationship and guards that relationship from predation within the family.
A daughter in law may be especially vulnerable when her safety, housing, children, finances, or social belonging depend upon her spouse's family. Coercion can include threats of divorce, poverty, exclusion, disbelief, or retaliation. Responsibility belongs to the person exploiting power. A survivor is not guilty because she froze, complied under threat, delayed disclosure, or feared losing her family. Her spouse and relatives should resist defensive loyalty to the accused. Immediate danger requires safety planning and proper authorities. Support should include confidential advocacy and should never be conditioned on a joint meeting, public forgiveness, reconciliation, or continued access.
Jesus contrasts worldly domination with leadership that serves, and he embodies service by giving his life for many. That pattern condemns the use of senior family status for gratification or control. Paul calls believers to mutual submission in the fear of God and tells husbands to love with Christlike self-giving. Those texts cannot be used to demand a wife's silence or submission to abuse. Read faithfully, they direct power toward sacrificial protection. A Christian family should expose darkness, support lawful investigation, and stand beside the harmed person even when truth brings painful consequences for family reputation and routine.
Bible Verses Related to Leviticus 18:15
“Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son’s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.”
- Leviticus 18:14-17
“But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
- Mark 10:42-45
“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
- Ephesians 5:21-25
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”
- Ephesians 5:11-13
Where Leviticus 18:15 Echoes in Scripture
Verse 16 immediately gives another marriage-created family boundary involving a brother's wife. Jesus' direct teaching about servant authority and Paul's clear call to self-giving marital love decisively expose every attempt to use family rank, dependence, or submission language for exploitation.
How to Apply Leviticus 18:15 Today
Make clear that in-laws have no entitlement to private access, affection, sexualized speech, or secrecy. Couples should discuss safe boundaries without forcing a spouse to endure harassment for family harmony. If a daughter in law reports coercion or assault, secure a safe place, listen without blame, preserve relevant messages, and consult qualified civil and safeguarding resources. Do not automatically route the concern through the accused person's child or a family elder. Churches should never counsel return to a dangerous home, treat submission as silence, or make practical help depend on reconciliation with an unsafe relative.
Reflection & Prayer
Does our use of family authority resemble the self-giving service of Jesus or protect entitlement? We might pray: 'Lord Christ, humble every powerful relative, protect all daughters in law, expose coercion and manipulation, and patiently teach our households courageous, truthful, and sacrificial love.'