Incest is a taboo and harmful practice that is condemned in the Bible, as it violates God’s design for family relationships and undermines the sanctity of marriage. Let’s explore these verses together and learn from the tragic consequences of incest recorded in scripture, reaffirming the importance of honoring God’s boundaries and treating others with purity, respect, and dignity in all of our relationships.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Tarot Cards
Bible Verses About Incest
Leviticus 18:6-18
“None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I am the Lord. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your Father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether brought up in the family or in another home. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, for their nakedness is your own nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, brought up in your father’s family, since she is your sister. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is your father’s relative. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s relative. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother, that is, you shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, and you shall not take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter to uncover her nakedness; they are relatives; it is depravity. And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is still alive.”
These verses from Leviticus explicitly prohibit various forms of incestuous relationships. The Lord establishes clear boundaries to protect the sanctity of family relationships and maintain the integrity of the family unit. Incest disrupts natural order and corrupts the foundations of biblical morality. By forbidding incestuous relationships, God intends to preserve the moral and social fabric of His people.
Deuteronomy 27:20-23
“‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s nakedness.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
These verses are part of the blessings and curses pronounced upon the Israelites by Moses. The curses include condemnation for engaging in incestuous relationships, further affirming God’s prohibition against such acts. The repetition of the word “Amen” by the people indicates their agreement with God’s commandments and their adherence to His moral standards. God’s desire is for His people to lead holy lives and avoid any behavior that would bring shame to themselves or dishonor His name.
1 Corinthians 5:1
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife.”
In this verse, Paul addresses the Corinthian church’s tolerance of a man who was involved in an incestuous relationship with his father’s wife. Paul condemns this behavior, highlighting that it is even deemed unacceptable by non-believers. As followers of Christ, believers are called to uphold a higher standard of morality and sexual purity. The church should not condone or tolerate such sinful practices, but rather confront and address them in a loving and corrective manner.
2 Corinthians 6:14
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
Although not explicitly about incest, this verse reminds believers to maintain pure and holy relationships. In the context of incest, it emphasizes the importance of entering into relationships, including marriages, with individuals who share the same faith. The unequal yoking with unbelievers can lead to spiritual compromise and moral deviations. It is essential to seek relationships that reflect and honor God’s values, promoting unity in both faith and moral conduct.
Ephesians 5:3
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impurity or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.”
Paul’s instruction in Ephesians underscores the call for Christians to live lives that are distinct from the world. In the matter of incest, this verse reminds believers to reject any form of sexual immorality and impurity, including engaging in incestuous relationships. Believers are called to honor God with their bodies and pursue holiness in all aspects of life. By embracing moral purity and rejecting all forms of sexual immorality, believers demonstrate their commitment to God and His holy standards.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.”
Paul reminds the Thessalonian believers of God’s will for their lives, which includes abstaining from sexual immorality. This passage serves as a reminder to reject incestuous relationships and pursue sexual purity. Believers are called to exercise self-control and conduct themselves in holiness and honor. This verse reinforces the importance of adhering to God’s moral standards and rejecting the sinful behaviors that are prevalent in the world.
1 Timothy 1:10
“The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine”
This verse refers to the Law of Moses and addresses the behavior of those who engage in sexual immorality, including incestuous acts. It identifies incest as a practice contrary to sound doctrine, emphasizing the importance of adhering to God’s moral principles. Believers are called to reject such behavior and live in accordance with the teachings of Scripture, upholding God’s standards of righteousness.
Hebrews 13:4
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
In this verse, the writer of Hebrews emphasizes the sacredness of marriage and the importance of keeping the marriage bed undefiled. This instruction reinforces the prohibition against incestuous relationships, highlighting that such acts defile the sanctity of marriage. God as the ultimate judge will hold accountable those who engage in sexual immorality, including incest. As believers, we are called to honor marriage and pursue sexual purity, recognizing the divine significance of intimate unions within the bounds of God’s design.
Genesis 19:30-38
“Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. And the firstborn said to the younger, ‘Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.’ So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose. The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, ‘Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.’ So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father.”
This passage narrates the tragic events that took place after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot and his daughters, isolated in a cave, resorted to a sinful act of incest to ensure their lineage. This narrative showcases the dire consequences of incestuous relationships and serves as a cautionary tale. God’s design for sexual relationships is to be between a husband and wife within the sanctity of marriage. Deviating from this design can lead to severe negative consequences in both physical and emotional realms.
Genesis 20:11-12
“Abraham said, ‘I did it because I thought, “There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.” Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife.”
In this passage, Abraham, out of fear for his own safety, deceives King Abimelech by presenting Sarah as his sister rather than his wife. Although Sarah was indeed Abraham’s half-sister, their marriage relationship constituted incest according to later Mosaic laws. This incident reveals the potential for moral compromise even among those considered righteous. God’s plan for relationships is to honor and preserve the sanctity of marriage, rather than resorting to deceit or engaging in sinful practices.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”
Paul addresses the issue of incest within the Corinthian church and rebukes the arrogance of the believers for allowing such immorality to persist among them. Paul demands that they remove the individual involved in the incestuous relationship from their midst. By delivering him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, Paul seeks to bring about repentance and restoration of the individual’s spirit in the hope of their salvation. This passage underscores the importance of addressing and confronting sin within the church community, with the ultimate goal of restoring individuals to a right relationship with God.
2 Corinthians 12:21
“I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.”
Paul expresses concern to the Corinthian church about the unrepentant sin within their community, including sexual immorality. His fear is that he will have to confront and mourn over those who have persisted in sinful practices, including incestuous relationships. This verse reveals Paul’s desire for genuine repentance and godly sorrow among believers, acknowledging that God expects His followers to heed the call towards holy living and turn away from sinful behavior.
Romans 1:26-27
“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.”
Though not specific to incest, this passage in Romans addresses the sinful nature of humanity and the consequences of deviating from God’s natural design for sexual relationships. It highlights the distortion of natural relations and the subsequent degradation of sexual morality. The reference to same-sex acts serves as a parallel to remind believers of the importance of adhering to God’s commands and maintaining sexual purity within God’s ordained bounds.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Paul outlines a list of sinful behaviors, including acts of sexual immorality, that can prevent individuals from inheriting the kingdom of God. This verse provides a clear warning against incestuous relationships and emphasizes the need for repentance and turning away from such practices. By addressing these issues, Paul emphasizes the importance of leading a righteous and transformed life in Christ, free from the bondage of sinful behaviors.
1 Corinthians 7:2
“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.”
In this verse, Paul addresses the issue of sexual immorality and urges believers to marry to avoid falling into temptation. By emphasizing the importance of each person having their own spouse, Paul seeks to redirect sexual desires towards the proper and God-ordained marital context. In relation to incest, this verse underscores the biblical teaching that sexual relationships are to be exclusive to one’s spouse within the bonds of marriage, rather than engaging in immoral and sinful behaviors.
Proverbs 6:27-29
“Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.”
This proverb addresses the consequences of committing adultery, highlighting the severe repercussions that result from engaging in such sinful behavior. While not explicitly about incest, the principle remains the same: engaging in sexual relations outside the bounds of God’s design carries grave consequences. This verse warns against the devastation and punishment that awaits those who transgress and dishonor the sacred boundaries of marital fidelity.
Proverbs 5:18-19
“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.”
Although not directly about incest, this passage from Proverbs extols the virtues of marital pleasure and satisfaction within the bonds of a husband and wife relationship. By emphasizing the importance of rejoicing in one’s own spouse, the passage discourages seeking sexual gratification outside of the marriage covenant. It encourages believers to find delight and fulfillment in the exclusive love and intimacy shared between husband and wife as God intended.
Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
This verse from the Sermon on the Mount addresses the issue of lust and the importance of maintaining purity of heart and mind. Though not directly about incest, it highlights the need for believers to control their thoughts and desires, as inappropriate lustful intent can lead to sinful actions. By drawing attention to the internal aspects of sin, Jesus emphasizes the necessity of guarding one’s heart and mind, recognizing that sin begins within and can manifest in external behaviors if not properly addressed.
Matthew 19:4-6
“He answered, ‘Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.’”
When approached by the Pharisees about divorce, Jesus reaffirms God’s original design for marriage and the exclusive union between one man and one woman. While not directly addressing incest, this passage reminds believers of the sanctity of marriage and the importance of maintaining the integrity of the marital bond. Incestuous relationships violate this divine design, disrupting the natural order established by God. Consequently, Jesus’ teaching on marriage serves as a reminder of the need to honor His intended purpose for sexual relationships.
Mark 7:21-23
“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
This passage in Mark reminds believers that sinful actions, including incest, originate from the heart. It emphasizes that the root of immoral behaviors lies within, rather than external circumstances or influences. Jesus urges His disciples to be mindful of their inner disposition, recognizing the potential for evil desires that can defile a person. By addressing the heart’s desires and motivations, Jesus calls believers to pursue purity and holiness, forsaking all forms of immorality and sinful inclinations.
Romans 13:13-14
“Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
This verse calls believers to live in a manner that honors God, refraining from indulging in the sinful desires of the flesh. It reminds believers to avoid sexual immorality, including incestuous relationships, and to instead clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Rather than making provisions for the flesh and yielding to its desires, believers are called to walk in the light and pursue a life of holiness, demonstrating the transformation that occurs when one is united with Christ.
What Does The Bible Say About Incest?
When it comes to the sensitive and taboo topic of incest, the Bible unmistakably condemns it as a sinful practice. Incest is the act of engaging in sexual relations or marriage with close relatives such as siblings, parents, children, or other blood relatives.
Throughout various passages, the Bible speaks against incestuous relationships and provides guidance on this matter. In Leviticus 18:6-18, God gives a clear command that prohibits sexual relations with close relatives, stressing the importance of maintaining healthy and appropriate boundaries within family relationships. This passage emphasizes the sanctity of marriage and the need to avoid compromising the family unit through forbidden relationships.
In addition, the case of Lot and his daughters in Genesis 19 serves as a cautionary tale. After Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, Lot and his daughters found themselves in a desolate place. Fearing they would not find suitable husbands, his daughters devised a plan to sleep with their own father in order to bear children. This action was highly condemned and resulted in significant consequences for all involved.
Furthermore, the New Testament reinforces the prohibition of incestuous relationships. In 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, the apostle Paul addresses a specific case within the Corinthian church where a man is engaged in a sexual relationship with his stepmother. Paul rebukes this behavior and urges the church community to discipline the individual involved. This demonstrates the universal understanding that incest is contrary to God’s design for healthy and moral relationships.
Regarding instances of intermarriage in the Old Testament, it is important to note that in the early days of humanity when the world was beginning to be populated, family members had no choice but to marry close relatives in order to multiply and fill the earth. However, as time passed and the population grew, these practices were no longer necessary or acceptable.
It is crucial for us to approach this topic with sensitivity and compassion, understanding the potential emotional and psychological harm that incestuous relationships can cause. The Bible’s unequivocal stance against incest highlights the importance of honoring both God’s design for sexuality and the integrity of the family unit.
As Christians, we are called to follow the teachings of the Bible and to uphold God’s standards for relationships. Incest is a clear violation of these standards and should be avoided at all costs. Instead, let us promote healthy boundaries, respect, and love within our families, cherishing the foundational values that the Bible teaches us.