Marriage prohibited in certain degrees of consanguinity and affinity. 18. And divers carnal, and execrable sins committed in other nations, are strictly forbidden.Marriage prohibited in certain degrees of consanguinity and affinity. 18. And divers carnal, and execrable sins committed in other nations, are strictly forbidden.
And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying:AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying:Locutus est Dominus ad Moysen, dicens :
2Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: I the Lord your God.Speake to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: I the Lord your God.Loquere filiis Israël, et dices ad eos : Ego Dominus Deus vester :
3According to the custom of the Land of Egypt, wherein you have dwelt, you shall not do: and according to the manner of the Country of Canaan, into the which I will bring you, you shall not do, nor walk in their ordinances.According to the custome of the Land of Ægypt, wherin you haue dwelt, you shal not doe: and according to the maner of the Countrie of Chanaan, into the which I wil bring you, you shal not doe, nor walke in their ordinances.juxta consuetudinem terræ Ægypti, in qua habitastis, non facietis : et juxta morem regionis Chanaan, ad quam ego introducturus sum vos, non agetis, nec in legitimis eorum ambulabitis.
4You shall do my judgments, and shall observe my precepts, and shall walk in them. I the Lord your God.You shal doe my iudgementes, and shal obserue my precepts, and shal walke in them. I the Lord your God.Facietis judicia mea, et præcepta mea servabitis, et ambulabitis in eis. Ego Dominus Deus vester.
5Keep my laws and judgments, which a man doing, shall live in them. I the Lord.Keepe my lawes and iudgementes, which a man doing, shal liue in them. I the Lord.Custodite leges meas atque judicia, quæ faciens homo, vivet in eis. Ego Dominus.
6No man shall approach to her that is next of his blood, to reveal her sexual shame, nakedness (the privy parts uncovered in union), not moral depravity · Vulgate: turpitudinem. I the Lord.No man shal approch to her that is next of his bloud, to reueale her turpitude. I the Lord.Omnis homo ad proximam sanguinis sui non accedet, ut revelet turpitudinem ejus. Ego Dominus.
7The turpitude of thy father, and the turpitude of thy mother thou shalt not discover: she is thy mother, thou shalt not reveal her turpitude.The turpitude of thy father, and the turpitude of thy mother thou shalt not discouer: she is thy mother, thou shalt not reueale her turpitude.Turpitudinem patris tui et turpitudinem matris tuæ non discooperies : mater tua est : non revelabis turpitudinem ejus.
8The turpitude of thy father's wife thou shalt not discover: for it is the turpitude of thy father.The turpitude of thy fathers wife thou shalt not discouer: for it is the turpitude of thy father.Turpitudinem uxoris patris tui non discooperies : turpitudo enim patris tui est.
9The turpitude of thy sister by father, or by mother, which way soever she is born at home or abroad, thou shalt not reveal.The turpitude of thy sister by father, or by mother, which way soeuer she is borne at home or abroad, thou shalt not reueale.Turpitudinem sororis tuæ ex patre sive ex matre, quæ domi vel foris genita est, non revelabis.
10The turpitude of thy son's daughter, or of the niece by thy daughter, thou shalt not reveal: because it is thy turpitude.The turpitude of thy sonnes daughter, or of the neece by thy daughter, thou shalt not reueale: because it is thy turpitude.Turpitudinem filiæ filii tui vel neptis ex filia non revelabis : quia turpitudo tua est.
11The turpitude of thy father's wife's daughter, which she bare to thy father, and is thy sister, thou shalt not reveal.The turpitude of thy fathers wifes daughter, which she bare to thy father, and is thy sister, thou shalt not reueale.Turpitudinem filiæ uxoris patris tui, quam peperit patri tuo, et est soror tua, non revelabis.
12The turpitude of thy father's sister thou shalt not discover: because she is the flesh of thy father.The turpitude of thy fathers sister thou shalt not discouer: because she is the flesh of thy father.Turpitudinem sororis patris tui non discooperies : quia caro est patris tui.
13The turpitude of thy mother's sister thou shalt not reveal, because she is the flesh of thy mother.The turpitude of thy mothers sister thou shalt not reueale, because she is the flesh of thy mother.Turpitudinem sororis matris tuæ non revelabis, eo quod caro sit matris tuæ.
14The turpitude of thy father's brother thou shalt not reveal, neither shalt thou approach to his wife, who is joined to thee by kinship by marriage (a relationship in law), not mere fondness or attraction · Vulgate: affinitate.The turpitude of thy fathers brother thou shalt not reueale, neither shalt thou approch to his wife, who is ioyned to thee by affinitie.Turpitudinem patrui tui non revelabis, nec accedes ad uxorem ejus, quæ tibi affinitate conjungitur.
15The turpitude of thy daughter in law thou shalt not reveal, because she is thy son's wife, neither shalt thou discover her sexual shame, nakedness: here used as "turpitude", not mere public disgrace · Vulgate: ignominiam.The turpitude of thy daughter in law thou shalt not reueale, because she is thy sonnes wife, neither shalt thou discouer her ignominie.Turpitudinem nurus tuæ non revelabis, quia uxor filii tui est : nec discooperies ignominiam ejus.
16The turpitude of thy brother's wife thou shalt not reveal: because it is the turpitude of thy brother.The turpitude of thy brothers wife thou shalt not reueale: because it is the turpitude of thy brother.Turpitudinem uxoris fratris tui non revelabis : quia turpitudo fratris tui est.
17The turpitude of thy wife, and her daughter thou shalt not reveal. The son's daughter, and her daughter's daughter, thou shalt not take, to reveal her ignominy: because they are her flesh, and such copulation is incest.The turpitude of thy wife, and her daughter thou shalt not reueale. The sonnes daughter, and her daughters daughter, thou shalt not take, to reueale her ignominie: because they are her flesh, and such copulation is incest.Turpitudinem uxoris tuæ et filiæ ejus non revelabis. Filiam filii ejus, et filiam filiæ illius non sumes, ut reveles ignominiam ejus : quia caro illius sunt, et talis coitus incestus est.
18Thou shalt not take thy wife's sister for an a rival wife, concubine, not a prostitute · Vulgate: pellicatum, to vex her withal, neither shalt thou reveal her turpitude, whiles she is yet living.Thou shalt not take thy wiues sister for an harlote, to vex her withal, neither shalt thou reueale her turpitude, whiles she is yet liuing.Sororem uxoris tuæ in pellicatum illius non accipies, nec revelabis turpitudinem ejus adhuc illa vivente.
19To a woman, having her her menstrual flow (menses), not blossoms · Vulgate: menstrua, thou shalt not approach, neither shalt thou reveal her turpitude.To a woman, hauing her flowers, thou shalt not approch, neither shalt thou reueale her turpitude.Ad mulierem quæ patitur menstrua non accedes, nec revelabis fœditatem ejus.
20With thy neighbour's wife thou shalt not to have carnal relations, lie with, not to accompany or keep company · Vulgate: coibis, nor be defiled, made ritually unclean, not environmentally · Vulgate: maculaberis with a mingling, intermixture · Vulgate: commistione of seed.With thy neighbours wife thou shalt not companie, nor be polluted with commixtion of seede.Cum uxore proximi tui non coibis, nec seminis commistione maculaberis.
21Of thy seed thou shalt not give to be consecrated to the idol Moloch, nor pollute the name of thy God: I the Lord.Of thy seede thou shalt not geue to be consecrated to the idol Moloch, nor pollute the name of thy God: I the Lord.De semine tuo non dabis ut consecretur idolo Moloch, nec pollues nomen Dei tui. Ego Dominus.
22Company not with mankind, as with womankind, because it is abomination.Companie not with mankind, as with womankind, because it is abomination.Cum masculo non commiscearis coitu femineo, quia abominatio est.
23With no beast shalt thou company, neither shalt thou be polluted with it. A woman shall not lie down to a beast, nor company with it: because it is an heinous a deed, crime, not a true statement · Vulgate: scelus.With no beast shalt thou companie, neither shalt thou be polluted with it. A woman shal not lie downe to a beast, nor companie with it: because it is an haynous fact.Cum omni pecore non coibis, nec maculaberis cum eo. Mulier non succumbet jumento, nec miscebitur ei, quia scelus est.
24Neither be ye polluted in any of the things wherewith all the nations have been rendered ritually unclean, not chemically · Vulgate: contaminatæ, which I will cast out before your sight,Neither be ye polluted in anie of the thinges wherwith al the nations haue bene contaminated, which I wil cast out before your sight,Nec polluamini in omnibus his quibus contaminatæ sunt universæ gentes, quas ego ejiciam ante conspectum vestrum,
25and wherewith the land is polluted: whose abominations I will to punish, call to account, not pay a social call · Vulgate: visitabo, that it vomit out the inhabitants thereof.and wherwith the land is poluted: whose abominations I wil visite, that it vomite out the inhabitants therof.et quibus polluta est terra : cujus ego scelera visitabo, ut evomat habitatores suos.
26Keep my ordinances and judgments, and do not any of these abominations, as well the same countryman as the a resident foreigner, settler, not an unknown person · Vulgate: colonus, that sojourneth with you.Keepe my ordinances and iudgements, and doe not anie of these abominations, as wel the same countrieman as the stranger, that soiourneth with you.Custodite legitima mea atque judicia, et non faciatis ex omnibus abominationibus istis, tam indigena quam colonus qui peregrinantur apud vos.
27For all these accursed, abominable, not merely "of poor quality" · Vulgate: execrationes things did the inhabitants of the land, that have been before you, and have polluted it:For al these execrable thinges did the inhabitants of the land, that haue bene before you, and haue polluted it:Omnes enim execrationes istas fecerunt accolæ terræ qui fuerunt ante vos, et polluerunt eam.
28Beware therefore lest in like manner it vomit out you also, when you shall do the like things, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.Beware therfore lest in like maner it vomite out you also, when you shal doe the like thinges, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.Cavete ergo ne et vos similiter evomat, cum paria feceritis, sicut evomuit gentem, quæ fuit ante vos.
29Every soul, that shall do any of these abominations, shall perish from the midst of his people.Euerie soule, that shal doe anie of these abominations, shal perish from the middes of his people.Omnis anima, quæ fecerit de abominationibus his quippiam, peribit de medio populi sui.
30Keep my commandments. Do not the things which they have done, that have been before you, and be not polluted in them: I the Lord your God.Keepe my commandements. Doe not the thinges which they haue done, that haue bene before you, and be not polluted in them: I the Lord your God.Custodite mandata mea. Nolite facere quæ fecerunt hi qui fuerunt ante vos, et ne polluamini in eis. Ego Dominus Deus vester.
Annotations
6Next of his blood. Marriage is forbid first and most strictly by the law of nature, in all degrees in the right line ascending and descending, both in consanguinity and affinity. St. Paul testifying that among the heathen, no man could have his father's wife. And in the right line God himself (who only can) never dispensed. Secondarily, the first collateral degree in consanguinity, that is, between brother and sister, by one parent, or by both, is also unlawful by the law of nature, except in the beginning of the world, when Adam's children must needs marry together, God so ordaining that all mankind should be propagated by one man (for of him also the first woman was made) but after this beginning it was never allowed, nor perhaps can be dispensed withal, at least never was by any man. Though Beza (li. de repudijs & diuortijs) and some English Bezites charge Pope Martin the fifth, to have dispensed with one, that had married his own natural sister: which is a false report. For it was with one, who having committed fornication with one sister, afterwards married the other, from whom he could not be separated without great scandal, the pretended marriage being public, and the impediment secret: as St. Antoninus writeth. par. 3. sum Theol. tit. 1. c. 11. But besides the right line, and the first collateral degree in consanguinity, no other collateral degrees are prohibited by the law of nature, but by positive only. So this present law, written by Moyses, forbade to marry in the first collateral degree of affinity, but the same law commanded (Deut. 25.) that in case a married man died without issue, his brother should marry the widow. Whereby is clear that this degree, and others more remote, were not prohibited by the law of nature. For then God would not have made a contrary general law, in any case; for the whole nation of the Jews, his people; and that under penalty to be observed, which is contrary to the quality of indulgence or dispensation, and no such necessity, as in the beginning of the world. Wherefore all protestants that say, the whole law written by Moyses concerning degrees of consanguinity and affinity, is the law of nature, and so pertaineth to Christians, must necessarily say also, that if now a married man die without issue, his brother must marry his wife. Which specially they deny. It is also proved that this and some other degrees expressed in this place, were not against the law of nature (which is common to all nations, commonly or easily known to all men by discourse of reason) because no common wealth among the Gentiles did punish, nor modest men forbear, or reprehend such marriages: as appeareth by Laban, who after he had deceived Jacob by giving him one sister for another, offered him also the former promised, whom without difficulty of conscience he accepted (Gen. 29.) neither did that holy Patriarch think it unlawful to keep them both. And when Judas matched his second son, and promised the third to the wife of his first son, he did it according to the custom of that place & time. Gen. 38. And Noemi spoke according to the same custom. Ruth. 1. v. 11. Again where this law forbiddeth a man to marry, or company with his wife's sister, it addeth, whiles she is living, not prohibiting marriage, when his first wife is dead. Yet his wife's sister is as near in affinity, as his brother's wife. Likewise the diversity of punishments (chap. 20.) for transgression of this law, either in the right line, or in the first collateral degree of consanguinity, who were punished by death; and for transgressing in the first collateral degree of affinity, or in the second either of consanguinity or affinity, who had less punishments, sheweth that the former degrees are prohibited by the law of nature, and not the other: for then the violation should be like sin, and punished alike. Finally it is evident, that certain of these degrees are not against the law of nature, by the example of holy Abraham, who in, and according to the law of nature, married his brother's daughter called Sarai, otherwise Jescha, Gen. 11. which marriage God approved by many blessings. Also Jacob married two sisters together. Two sons of Judas married the same woman successively. And Amram (Moyses' father) married his aunt, his father's sister. Exod. 6. v. 20. Num. 26. v. 59. Wherefore seeing neither the first collateral degree in affinity, nor the second collateral in consanguinity or affinity, is forbid by the law of nature but by positive only, and that both ceremonial and judicial laws of the old Testament ceased in the New, and are abrogated by Christ, it resteth proved that the same bind not Christians, but as they are renewed and established by the Church, or Christian commonwealths. And as this is done in temporal causes by temporal States, partly by renewing and establishing the same, which was in the law of Moyses, as by punishing wilful murder by death; Exod. 21. v. 12. partly with alteration, as by punishing theft in some countries with death, but not adultery, which were contrary in the old Testament, Gen. 38. v. 24. 44. 17. Exod. 22. v. 1. Leuit. 20. v. 10. in like sort the Church of Christ ordaineth laws, altereth, & upon just occasions dispenseth, in all degrees of consanguinity and affinity, not forbid by the law of nature.