Chapter 18

1And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:   אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: I am the Lord, your God.   בדַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֹ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם:
I am the Lord, your God. I am the One Who said at Sinai, “I am the Lord, your God” (Exod. 20:2), and you accepted My sovereignty upon yourselves [at that time]; consequently, accept My decrees. Rabbi [Yehudah Hanassi] says: “It is openly known before Him, that they would eventually be scourged by [transgressing the laws of] immoral relations, in the days of Ezra. Therefore, [concerning these laws,] God came to them with the decree: I am the Lord, your God! You should know Who is placing these decrees upon you-the Judge Who exacts retribution (אֱלֹקִים), but Who is faithful also to pay a reward ('ה)!”- [Torath Kohanim 18:138]   אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם.  אֲנִי הוּא שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי בְסִינַי אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְקִבַּלְתֶּם עֲלֵיכֶם מַלְכוּתִי, מֵעַתָּה קַבְּלוּ גְזֵרוֹתָי; רַבִּי אוֹמֵר גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנָיו שֶׁסּוֹפָן לִנָּתֵק בַּעֲרָיוֹת בִּימֵי עֶזְרָא, לְפִיכָךְ בָּא עֲלֵיהֶם בִּגְזֵרָה אני ה' אלהיכם — דְּעוּ מִי גוֹזֵר עֲלֵיכֶם, דַּיָּן לִפָּרַע וְנֶאֱמָן לְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר (עי' ספרא):
3Like the practice of the land of Egypt, in which you dwelled, you shall not do, and like the practice of the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you, you shall not do, and you shall not follow their statutes.   גכְּמַֽעֲשֵׂ֧ה אֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֛יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְשַׁבְתֶּם־בָּ֖הּ לֹ֣א תַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ וּכְמַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה אֶֽרֶץ־כְּנַ֡עַן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא אֶתְכֶ֥ם שָׁ֨מָּ֨ה לֹ֣א תַֽעֲשׂ֔וּ וּבְחֻקֹּֽתֵיהֶ֖ם לֹ֥א תֵלֵֽכוּ:
Like the practice of the land of Egypt […and like the practice of the land of Canaan]. [This verse] informs [us] that the deeds of the Egyptians and the Canaanites were more corrupt than those of all other nations, and moreover, that the [Egyptians residing in that] region [of Egypt] in which the Israelites had dwelt, were the most corrupt of all. — [Torath Kohanim 18:138]   כְּמַֽעֲשֵׂה אֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַיִם.  מַגִּיד שֶׁמַּעֲשֵׂיהֶם שֶׁל מִצְרִיִּים וְשֶׁל כְּנַעֲנִיִּים מְקֻלְקָלִים מִכָּל הָאֻמּוֹת, וְאוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם שֶׁיָּשְׁבוּ בוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְקֻלְקָל מִן הַכֹּל:
and like the practice of the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. [This verse] informs [us] that those [Canaanite] peoples whom the Israelites conquered, were more corrupt than any other [people, even the Egyptians]. — [Torath Kohanim 18:138]   אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מֵבִיא אֶתְכֶם שָׁמָּה.  מַגִּיד שֶׁאוֹתָן עֲמָמִין שֶׁכִּבְּשׁוּ יִשְֹרָאֵל מְקֻלְקָלִים מִכֻּלָּם (שם):
and you shall not follow their statutes. What did Scripture omit [until now] that it did not state [and includes in this clause]? However, these are their social practices, things that assumed the status of law (חָקוּק) for them, for example, [certain days set aside for attendance at] theaters and stadiums. Rabbi Meir says: These [practices referred to here,] are the “ways of the Amorites,” [the superstitious practices] enumerated by our Sages. — [see Shab. 67ab; Torath Kohanim 18: 139]   וּבְחֻקֹּֽתֵיהֶם לֹא תֵלֵֽכוּ.  מַה הִנִּיחַ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁלֹּא אָמַר? אֶלָּא אֵלּוּ נִימוֹסוֹת שֶׁלָּהֶן — דְּבָרִים הַחֲקוּקִין לָהֶם — כְּגוֹן טַרְטִיָּאוֹת וְאִצְטַדִיָּאוֹת, רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר, אֵלּוּ דַּרְכֵי הָאֱמוֹרִי שֶׁמָּנוּ חֲכָמִים (שם):
4You shall fulfill My ordinances and observe My statutes, to follow them. I am the Lord, your God.   דאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֧י תַּֽעֲשׂ֛וּ וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתַ֥י תִּשְׁמְר֖וּ לָלֶ֣כֶת בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֹ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם:
You shall fulfill My ordinances. These are the laws stated in the Torah in justice, [i.e., which human intellect deems proper,] which, had they not been stated [in the Torah], would have been deemed worthy to be stated [e.g., not to steal, not to murder, etc.]. — [Torath Kohanim 18:140]   אֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי תַּֽעֲשׂוּ.  אֵלּוּ דְּבָרִים הָאֲמוּרִים בַּתּוֹרָה בְּמִשְׁפָּט, שֶׁאִלּוּ לֹא נֶאֶמְרוּ הָיוּ כְדַאי לְאָמְרָן:
and observe My statutes. These are the “King’s decrees” [without apparent rationale to man], against which the evil inclination protests, “Why should we keep them?” Likewise, the nations of the world object to them. Examples are: [The prohibition of] eating pig and wearing shaatnez [a mixture of wool and linen] (see Lev. 19:19), and the purification procedure effected by purification water [the mixture including the ashes of the red cow] (see Num., Chapter 19). Therefore it says, “I am the Lord.” I have decreed [these] upon you; you are not permitted to exempt yourselves [from fulfilling them]. — Torath Kohanim 18:140]   וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ.  דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵן גְּזֵרַת הַמֶּלֶךְ, שֶׁיֵּצֶר הָרַע מֵשִׁיב עֲלֵיהֶם לָמָּה לָנוּ לְשָׁמְרָן? וְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מְשִׁיבִין עֲלֵיהֶם, כְּגוֹן אֲכִילַת חֲזִיר וּלְבִישַׁת שַׁעַטְנֵז וְטָהֳרַת מֵי חַטָּאת, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר אני ה', גָּזַרְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם, אֵי אַתָּה רַשַּׁאי לִפָּטֵר (יומא ס"ז):
to follow them. Do not take leave from [studying] them, i.e., you shall not say, “I have learned the wisdom of Israel-now I will go and learn the wisdom of the [other] nations.” - [Torath Kohanim 18:141]   לָלֶכֶת בָּהֶם.  אַל תִּפָּטֵר מִתּוֹכָם, שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר לָמַדְתִּי חָכְמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵלֵךְ וְאֶלְמַד חָכְמַת הָאֻמּוֹת (ספרא):
5You shall observe My statutes and My ordinances, which a man shall do and live by them. I am the Lord.   הוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָ֛ם הָֽאָדָ֖ם וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֹֽה:
You shall observe My statutes and My ordinances. [This comes to include other details of [laws pertaining to] this passage, that Scripture did not mention explicitly. — [Torath Kohanim 18:142] Another explanation: [This clause, “You shall observe My statutes and My judgments, which a man shall do,” was added,] in order to apply “observance” (שְׁמִירָה) and fulfillment (עֲשִׂיָּה) to statutes, and to apply “observance” (שְׁמִירָה) and “fulfillment” (עֲשִׂיָּה) to ordinances. For [up till now,] Scripture had mentioned only “fulfillment” regarding ordinances and “observance” regarding statutes (see previous verse). - [Torath Kohanim 18:134]   וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי וגו'.  לְרַבּוֹת שְׁאָר דִּקְדּוּקֵי הַפָּרָשָׁה, שֶׁלֹּא פֵּרֵט הַכָּתוּב בָּהֶם; דָּבָר אַחֵר לִתֵּן שְׁמִירָה וַעֲשִׂיָּה לַחֻקִּים וּשְׁמִירָה וַעֲשִׂיָּה לַמִּשְׁפָּטִים, לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא נָתַן אֶלָּא עֲשִׂיָּה לַמִּשְׁפָּטִים וּשְׁמִירָה לַחֻקִּים (ספרא):
and live by them. in the World-To-Come. For if you say [that the verse refers to living] in this world, does he not eventually die? [Torath Kohanim 18:134]   וָחַי בָּהֶם.  לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁאִם תֹּאמַר בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וַהֲלֹא סוֹפוֹ הוּא מֵת (שם):
I am the Lord. faithful to pay a reward [an attribute represented by the Name 'ה ]. — [Torath Kohanim 18:134]   אֲנִי ה'.  נֶאֱמָן לְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר (שם):
6No man shall come near to any of his close relatives, to uncover [their] nakedness. I am the Lord.   ואִ֥ישׁ אִישׁ֙ אֶל־כָּל־שְׁאֵ֣ר בְּשָׂר֔וֹ לֹ֥א תִקְרְב֖וּ לְגַלּ֣וֹת עֶרְוָ֑ה אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֹֽה:
No man shall come near. Heb. תִקְרְבוּ לֹא. [This comes] to admonish the female as [it does] the male. Therefore, it is stated in the plural form. — [Torath Kohanim 18:136]   לֹא תִקְרְבוּ.  לְהַזְהִיר הַנְּקֵבָה כַּזָּכָר, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר לְשׁוֹן רַבִּים:
I am the Lord. faithful to pay a reward [not only for fulfilling positive commandments but also to the one who saves himself from sinning]. — [Torath Kohanim 18:145]   אֲנִי ה'.  נֶאֱמָן לְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר:
7You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness.   זעֶרְוַ֥ת אָבִ֛יךָ וְעֶרְוַ֥ת אִמְּךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה אִמְּךָ֣ הִ֔וא לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽהּ:
the nakedness of your father. This [refers to] your father’s wife. [But how do we know this?] Perhaps it is only to be interpreted literally [as an admonition against relations with one’s father, in addition to the general admonition against pederasty]. [The answer is:] It says here, “The nakedness of your father,” and it says further, “has uncovered his father’s nakedness” (Lev. 20:11). Just as in the latter verse, Scripture is speaking of his father’s wife [as that verse begins with, “And a man who cohabits with his father’s wife”], here, too, [Scripture is speaking of] his father’s wife. - [Sanh. 54a]   עֶרְוַת אָבִיךָ.  זוֹ אֵשֶׁת אָבִיךָ, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא כְמַשְׁמָעוֹ? נֶאֱמַר כָּאן עֶרְוַת אָבִיךָ וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן עֶרְוַת אָבִיו גִּלָּה, מַה לְּהַלָּן אֵשֶׁת אָבִיו אַף כָּאן אֵשֶׁת אָבִיו (סנהדרין נ"ד):
or the nakedness of your mother. [It comes] to include [in the prohibition,] his mother who is not his father’s wife. — [Sanh. 54a]   וְעֶרְוַת אִמְּךָ.  לְהָבִיא אִמּוֹ שֶׁאֵינָהּ אֵשֶׁת אָבִיו (שם):
8You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is your father's nakedness.   חעֶרְוַ֥ת אֵֽשֶׁת־אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה עֶרְוַ֥ת אָבִ֖יךָ הִֽוא:
the nakedness of your father’s wife. [This admonition is repeated] to include [in the prohibition, one’s father’s wife, even] after the death [of one’s father]. — [Sanh. 54a]   עֶרְוַת אֵֽשֶׁת־אָבִיךָ.  לְרַבּוֹת אַחַר מִיתָה (שם):
9The nakedness of your sister, whether your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether born to one who may remain in the home or born to one who must be sent outside you shall not uncover their nakedness.   טעֶרְוַ֨ת אֲחֽוֹתְךָ֤ בַת־אָבִ֨יךָ֙ א֣וֹ בַת־אִמֶּ֔ךָ מוֹלֶ֣דֶת בַּ֔יִת א֖וֹ מוֹלֶ֣דֶת ח֑וּץ לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽן:
your father’s daughter. Included in the meaning [of the verse] is also a daughter born from a woman [the father] raped [i.e., not the father’s wife]. — [Yev. 22b]   בַת־אָבִיךָ.  אַף בַּת אֲנוּסָה בְמַשְׁמָע:
whether born to one who may remain in the home or to one who must remain outside. מוֹלֶדֶת בַּית אוֹ מוֹלֶדֶת חוּץ, lit. born in the house or born outside. Whether they say to your father, “[You may] keep her mother [as your wife],” or whether they say to your father, “[You must] send her mother away,” for example, a mamzereth, or a nethinah [an offspring of the Gibeonites (see Josh. 9:327)]. — [Yev. 23a]   מוֹלֶדֶת בַּיִת אוֹ מוֹלֶדֶת חוּץ.  בֵּין שֶׁאוֹמְרִים לוֹ לְאָבִיךָ קַיֵּם אֶת אִמָּהּ, וּבֵין שֶׁאוֹמְרִים לוֹ הוֹצֵא אֶת אִמָּהּ, כְּגוֹן מַמְזֶרֶת אוֹ נְתִינָה (יבמות כ"ג):
10The nakedness of your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter you shall not uncover their nakedness, for they are your own nakedness.   יעֶרְוַ֤ת בַּת־בִּנְךָ֙ א֣וֹ בַת־בִּתְּךָ֔ לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָ֑ן כִּ֥י עֶרְוָֽתְךָ֖ הֵֽנָּה:
The nakedness of your son’s daughter [or your daughter’s daughter]. Scripture is speaking of his daughter born from a woman he had raped. [The case, however,] of [his son’s] daughter and his daughter’s daughter [who stem] from his wife, we learn from (verse 17 below), “You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; you shall not take [in marriage] her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter” about [whose nakedness] Scripture says, “You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter” whether this daughter stems from him or from another man. — [Yev. 22b]   עֶרְוַת בַּת־בִּנְךָ וגו'.  בְּבִתּוֹ מֵאֲנוּסָתוֹ הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, וּבִתּוֹ וּבַת בִּתּוֹ מֵאִשְׁתּוֹ אָנוּ לְמֵדִין מֵ"עֶרְוַת אִשָּׁה וּבִתָּהּ", שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶן "לֹא תְגַלֵּה", בֵּין שֶׁהִיא מִמֶּנּוּ וּבֵין שֶׁהִיא מֵאִישׁ אַחֵר (שם כב):
The nakedness of your son’s daughter. How much more so, then, should one’s own daughter [be prohibited]! But since a Scriptural admonition must not be derived from an inference from minor to major, [but must be explicitly mentioned], they learned it from a gezeirah shavah [an exposition linking common words within verses of this passage, which is considered as if explicitly mentioned] in Tractate Yevamoth (3a).   עֶרְוַת בַּת־בִּנְךָ.  קַל וָחֹמֶר לְבִתְּךָ, אֶלָּא לְפִי שֶׁאֵין מַזְהִירִין מִן הַדִּין, לְמָדוּהָ מִגְּזֵרָה שָׁוָה בְּמַסֶּכֶת יְבָמוֹת (דף ג'):
11The nakedness of the daughter of your father's wife, born to your father she is your sister: you shall not uncover her nakedness.   יאעֶרְוַ֨ת בַּת־אֵשֶׁ֤ת אָבִ֨יךָ֙ מוֹלֶ֣דֶת אָבִ֔יךָ אֲחֽוֹתְךָ֖ הִ֑וא לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽהּ:
The nakedness of the daughter of your father’s wife. [This verse] teaches us that one is not liable to the punishment [of excision, if he cohabited with] his sister who stems from a handmaid or a non-Jewess. Therefore, it says, “the daughter of your father’s wife” - [i.e.,] a woman fit to enter into marriage [thus excluding a handmaid and non-Jewess, marriage with whom is not binding]. — [Yev. 23a]   עֶרְוַת בַּת־אֵשֶׁת אָבִיךָ.  לִמֵּד שֶׁאֵינוֹ חַיָּב עַל אֲחוֹתוֹ מִשִּׁפְחָה וְנָכְרִית, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "בַּת אֵשֶׁת אָבִיךָ" — בִּרְאוּיָה לְקִדּוּשִׁין (שם כ"ג):
12You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is the close relative of your father.   יבעֶרְוַ֥ת אֲחֽוֹת־אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה שְׁאֵ֥ר אָבִ֖יךָ הִֽוא:
13You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is the close relative of your mother.   יגעֶרְוַ֥ת אֲחֽוֹת־אִמְּךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה כִּֽי־שְׁאֵ֥ר אִמְּךָ֖ הִֽוא:
14You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother you shall not come near his wife; she is your aunt.   ידעֶרְוַ֥ת אֲחִֽי־אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה אֶל־אִשְׁתּוֹ֙ לֹ֣א תִקְרָ֔ב דֹּדָֽתְךָ֖ הִֽוא:
You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. And what is “his nakedness?” “you shall not come near his wife.”   עֶרְוַת אֲחִֽי־אָבִיךָ לֹא תְגַלֵּה.  וּמַה הִיא עֶרְוָתוֹ? אל אשתו לא תקרב:
15You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter in law; she is your son's wife you shall not uncover her nakedness.   טועֶרְוַ֥ת כַּלָּֽתְךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה אֵ֤שֶׁת בִּנְךָ֙ הִ֔וא לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽהּ:
[she is] your son’s wife. [Scripture says:] I have stated [the law] only [in the case of a woman] with whom your son has a marital tie. [This] excludes a woman he has raped, a handmaid, or a non-Jewess [with whom the son has cohabited]. — [Torath Kohanim 20:108]   אֵשֶׁת בִּנְךָ.  לֹא אָמַרְתִּי אֶלָּא בְּשֶׁיֵּשׁ לְבִנְךָ אִישׁוּת בָּהּ, פְּרָט לַאֲנוּסָה וְשִׁפְחָה וְנָכְרִית (עי' ספרא):
16You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife: it is your brother's nakedness.   טזעֶרְוַ֥ת אֵֽשֶׁת־אָחִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה עֶרְוַ֥ת אָחִ֖יךָ הִֽוא:
17You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; you shall not take [in marriage] her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness they are close relatives, it is evil counsel.   יזעֶרְוַ֥ת אִשָּׁ֛ה וּבִתָּ֖הּ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה אֶת־בַּת־בְּנָ֞הּ וְאֶת־בַּת־בִּתָּ֗הּ לֹ֤א תִקַּח֙ לְגַלּ֣וֹת עֶרְוָתָ֔הּ שַֽׁאֲרָ֥ה הֵ֖נָּה זִמָּ֥ה הִֽוא:
You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. Scripture prohibits [relations with the second woman] only through a marital tie with the first one [whether the woman or her daughter]. Hence, Scripture says, לֹא תִקַּח, denoting “taking (קִיחָה) in marriage.” Similarly, when it comes to stating the punishment [of those who transgress this matter, Scripture says], “[And a man] who takes (יִקַּח) a woman and her mother [in marriage…they shall burn him and them in fire]” (Lev. 20:14), [also using] the expression of קִיחָה, “taking [in marriage].” But if he raped a woman, he is permitted to marry her daughter. — [Yev. 97a]   עֶרְוַת אִשָּׁה וּבִתָּהּ.  לֹא אָסַר הַכָּתוּב אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי נִשּׂוּאֵי הָרִאשׁוֹנָה, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר לֹא "תִקַּח" — לְשׁוֹן קִיחָה, וְכֵן לְעִנְיַן הָעֹנֶשׁ, אֲשֶׁר "יִקַּח" אֶת אִשָּׁה וְאֶת אִמָּה — לְשׁוֹן קִיחָה, אֲבָל אָנַס אִשָּׁה מֻתָּר לִשָּׂא בִּתָּהּ (יבמות צ"ז):
they are close relatives. Heb. שַׁאֲרָה הֵנָּה, they are related to one another.   שַֽׁאֲרָה הֵנָּה.  קְרוֹבוֹת זוֹ לָזוֹ:
evil counsel. Heb. זִמָּה, counsel [like the word זָמַם, plotted]; as the Targum renders: עֲצַת חֶטְאִין, counsel of sins, which your [evil] inclination has counseled you to sin.   זִמָּה.  עֵצָה, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ עֲצַת חֶטְאִין, שֶׁיִּצְרְךָ יוֹעֶצְךָ לַחֲטֹא:
18And you shall not take a woman with her sister [in marriage] as rivals, to uncover the nakedness of one upon the other, in her lifetime.   יחוְאִשָּׁ֥ה אֶל־אֲחֹתָ֖הּ לֹ֣א תִקָּ֑ח לִצְרֹ֗ר לְגַלּ֧וֹת עֶרְוָתָ֛הּ עָלֶ֖יהָ בְּחַיֶּֽיהָ:
a woman with her sister. both at the same time.   אֶל־אֲחֹתָהּ.  שְׁתֵּיהֶן כְּאַחַת (קידושין נ'):
as rivals. Heb. לִצְרֹר, an expression similar to צָרָה, rival, to make one a rival to the other.   לִצְרֹר.  לְשׁוֹן צָרָה — לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת זוֹ צָרָה לָזוֹ:
in her lifetime. This teaches you that if he divorced her, he may not marry her sister while she is still alive. — [Yev.. 8b]   בְּחַיֶּֽיהָ.  לִמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאִם גֵרְשָׁהּ לֹא יִשָּׂא אֶת אֲחוֹתָהּ כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהִיא בַחַיִּים (יבמות ח'):
19And to a woman during the uncleanness of her separation, you shall not come near to uncover her nakedness.   יטוְאֶל־אִשָּׁ֖ה בְּנִדַּ֣ת טֻמְאָתָ֑הּ לֹ֣א תִקְרַ֔ב לְגַלּ֖וֹת עֶרְוָתָֽהּ:
20You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, to become defiled by her.   כוְאֶל־אֵ֨שֶׁת֙ עֲמִ֣יתְךָ֔ לֹֽא־תִתֵּ֥ן שְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖ לְזָ֑רַע לְטָמְאָה־בָֽהּ:
21And you shall not give any of your offspring to pass through for Molech. And you shall not profane the Name of your God. I am the Lord.   כאוּמִזַּרְעֲךָ֥ לֹֽא־תִתֵּ֖ן לְהַֽעֲבִ֣יר לַמֹּ֑לֶךְ וְלֹ֧א תְחַלֵּ֛ל אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֹֽה:
for Molech. A form of idolatry, named Molech, and this was the manner of its worship, that one would hand over one’s child to the pagan priests, who would make two huge fires. The child was then passed through on foot between these two fires. — [Sanh. 64b, see Rashi there.]   לַמֹּלֶךְ.  עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הִיא שֶׁשְּׁמָהּ מֹלֶךְ, וְזוֹ הִיא עֲבוֹדָתָהּ, שֶׁמּוֹסֵר בְּנוֹ לַכּוֹמְרִים וְעוֹשִׂין שְׁתֵּי מְדוּרוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת וּמַעֲבִירִין אֶת הַבֵּן בְּרַגְלָיו בֵּין שְׁתֵּי מְדוּרוֹת הָאֵשׁ (סנהדרין ס"ד):
And you shall not give. This refers to the handing him over to the pagan priests.   לֹֽא־תִתֵּן.  זוֹ הִיא מְסִירָתוֹ לַכּוֹמְרִים:
to pass through for Molech. This refers to passing [the child] between the fire[s].   לְהַֽעֲבִיר לַמֹּלֶךְ.  זוֹ הַעֲבָרַת הָאֵשׁ:
22You shall not lie down with a male, as with a woman: this is an abomination.   כב וְאֶ֨ת־זָכָ֔ר לֹ֥א תִשְׁכַּ֖ב מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אִשָּׁ֑ה תּֽוֹעֵבָ֖ה הִֽוא:
23And with no animal shall you cohabit, to become defiled by it. And a woman shall not stand in front of an animal to cohabit with it; this is depravity.   כגוּבְכָל־בְּהֵמָ֛ה לֹֽא־תִתֵּ֥ן שְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖ לְטָמְאָה־בָ֑הּ וְאִשָּׁ֗ה לֹא־תַֽעֲמֹ֞ד לִפְנֵ֧י בְהֵמָ֛ה לְרִבְעָ֖הּ תֶּ֥בֶל הֽוּא:
this is depravity. Heb. תֶּבֶל, an expression denoting prostitution, sexual immorality, and adultery. Similarly, “and My wrath, because of their depravity (תַּבְלִיתָם).” (Isa. 10:25) Another explanation of תֶּבֶל הוּא : An expression which denotes mingling (בּלל) and mixing up; [here, it refers to the perverted mingling of] human seed and animal seed.   תֶּבֶל הֽוּא.  לְשׁוֹן קָדֵשׁ וְעֶרְוָה וְנִאוּף, וְכֵן וְאַפִּי עַל תַּבְלִיתָם (ישעיהו י'); דָּבָר אַחֵר תֶּבֶל הוּא לְשׁוֹן בְּלִילָה וְעִרְבּוּב זֶרַע אָדָם וְזֶרַע בְּהֵמָה:
24You shall not defile yourselves by any of these things, for the nations, whom I am sending away from before you, have defiled themselves with all these things.   כדאַל־תִּטַּמְּא֖וּ בְּכָל־אֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֤י בְכָל־אֵ֨לֶּה֙ נִטְמְא֣וּ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י מְשַׁלֵּ֖חַ מִפְּנֵיכֶֽם:
25And the land became defiled, and I visited its sin upon it, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.   כהוַתִּטְמָ֣א הָאָ֔רֶץ וָֽאֶפְקֹ֥ד עֲו‍ֹנָ֖הּ עָלֶ֑יהָ וַתָּקִ֥א הָאָ֖רֶץ אֶת־יֽשְׁבֶֽיהָ:
26But as for you, you shall observe My statutes and My ordinances, and you shall not do like any of these abominations neither the native, nor the stranger who sojourns among you.   כווּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣ם אַתֶּ֗ם אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י וְלֹ֣א תַֽעֲשׂ֔וּ מִכֹּ֥ל הַתּֽוֹעֵבֹ֖ת הָאֵ֑לֶּה הָֽאֶזְרָ֔ח וְהַגֵּ֖ר הַגָּ֥ר בְּתֽוֹכְכֶֽם:
27For the people of the land who preceded you, did all of these abominations, and the land became defiled.   כזכִּ֚י אֶת־כָּל־הַתּֽוֹעֵבֹ֣ת הָאֵ֔ל עָשׂ֥וּ אַנְשֵֽׁי־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִפְנֵיכֶ֑ם וַתִּטְמָ֖א הָאָֽרֶץ:
28And let the land not vomit you out for having defiled it, as it vomited out the nation that preceded you.   כחוְלֹֽא־תָקִ֤יא הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ אֶתְכֶ֔ם בְּטַמַּֽאֲכֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑הּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר קָאָ֛ה אֶת־הַגּ֖וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִפְנֵיכֶֽם:
And let the land not vomit you out. This can be compared to a prince who was fed obnoxious food, which could not stay in his intestines; so he vomited it out. Likewise, the Land of Israel cannot retain transgressors [and thus, it vomits them out]. — [Torath Kohanim 20:123] The Targum rendersוְלֹאתָקִיא, as: וְלֹא תְרוֹקֵן as:, denoting “emptying out” (רִקּוּן), i.e., the Land empties itself of the transgressors.   וְלֹֽא־תָקִיא הָאָרֶץ אֶתְכֶם.  מָשָׁל לְבֶן מֶלֶךְ שֶׁהֶאֱכִילוּהוּ דָּבָר מָאוּס, שֶׁאֵין עוֹמֵד בְּמֵעָיו אֶלָּא מְקִיאוֹ, כָּךְ אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵינָהּ מְקַיֶּמֶת עוֹבְרֵי עֲבֵרָה (ספרא סוף קדושים), וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ וְלָא תְרוֹקֵן, לְשׁוֹן רִקּוּן — מְרִיקָה עַצְמָהּ מֵהֶם:
29For anyone who commits any of these abominations, the persons doing so shall be cut off from the midst of their people.   כטכִּ֚י כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה מִכֹּ֥ל הַתּֽוֹעֵבֹ֖ת הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְנִכְרְת֛וּ הַנְּפָשׁ֥וֹת הָֽעֹשׂ֖ת מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמָּֽם:
the people doing so. הַנְּפָשׁוֹת הָעֹשׂת. [Since the verse begins, “anyone who does,” it should have used the singular form here. By using the plural, “the people doing so,”] it means both the male and female [involved in the act]. — [B.K. 32a]   הַנְּפָשׁוֹת הָֽעֹשׂת.  הַזָּכָר וְהַנְּקֵבָה בְמַשְׁמָע (ספרא):
30And you shall observe My charge, not to commit any of the abominable practices that were done before you, and you shall not become defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.   לוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣ם אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֗י לְבִלְתִּ֨י עֲשׂ֜וֹת מֵֽחֻקּ֤וֹת הַתּֽוֹעֵבֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַֽעֲשׂ֣וּ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִטַּמְּא֖וּ בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֹ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם:
And you shall observe My charge. This [clause comes] to admonish the courts regarding the matter. — [Torath Kohanim 18:151]   וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּי.  לְהַזְהִיר בֵּית דִּין עַל כָּךְ (שם):
and you shall not become defiled by them. I am the Lord, your God. But if you do become defiled,“ [says God,] ”I am not your God, and you will be cut off from Me. What benefit will I have from you? Moreover, you will deserve annihilation.“ Therefore, it says, ”I am the Lord, your God." - [Torath Kohanim 18:151]   וְלֹא תִטַּמְּאוּ בָּהֶם אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם.  הָא אִם תִּטַּמְּאוּ אֵינִי אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, וְאַתֶּם נִפְסָלִים מֵאַחֲרַי, וּמַה הֲנָאָה יֵשׁ לִי בָּכֶם וְאַתֶּם מִתְחַיְּבִים כְּלָיָה? לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (שם):