Mitzvah —
156
A woman must not have sexual relations with a beast
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וּבְכׇל־בְּהֵמָ֛ה לֹא־תִתֵּ֥ן שְׁכׇבְתְּךָ֖ לְטׇמְאָה־בָ֑הּ וְאִשָּׁ֗ה לֹֽא־תַעֲמֹ֞ד לִפְנֵ֧י בְהֵמָ֛ה לְרִבְעָ֖הּ תֶּ֥בֶל הֽוּא׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
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Leviticus 18:23 - "And 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."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Purity – טָהֳרָה
A woman is forbidden from engaging in bestiality.
This mitzvah prohibits a woman from having sexual relations with an animal. The Torah calls such an act tevel (perversion), signifying its utter corruption of moral order. Bestiality defiles not only the individual but also the sanctity of the people of Israel. Like the male counterpart, this prohibition carries the gravest punishments, underscoring the Torah’s demand for human holiness and dignity.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 1:14): States explicitly that women are equally prohibited and liable to capital punishment for this act.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 205): The root is to prevent moral degradation and to emphasize the unique holiness of humanity over animals.
- Talmud (Sanhedrin 54a): Explains the equal severity of bestiality for both men and women, as it undermines the sanctity of creation.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
