Leviticus 20:21 Meaning and Explanation
“And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Marrying one's brother's wife is unclean; both become childless.
The Context of Leviticus 20:21
Marrying a brother's wife is unclean and results in childlessness.
What Does Leviticus 20:21 Mean?
Taking one's brother's wife violates the marriage bond binding husband and wife, and confuses sibling relations. The act is called unclean rather than capital, marking it as defiling ritual purity and family order without the most severe judgment.
Childlessness serves as punishment and natural consequence: such marriages produce a lineage twisted in kinship and inheritance complexity. The law protects family structure by forbidding unions that would blur generational and sibling boundaries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 20:21
What does Leviticus 20:21 mean?
Marrying one's brother's wife is unclean; both become childless.
What is the context of Leviticus 20:21?
Marrying a brother's wife is unclean and results in childlessness.