144

Not to have sexual relations with your daughter

The Luchos - Ten Commandments
עֶרְוַ֤ת בַּת־בִּנְךָ֙ א֣וֹ בַֽת־בִּתְּךָ֔ לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָ֑ן כִּ֥י עֶרְוָתְךָ֖ הֵֽנָּה׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
Leviticus 18:10 - "The nakedness of your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter you shall not uncover their nakedness, for they are your own nakedness."

This Mitzvah's Summary

מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Family – מִשְׁפָּחָה

Forbidden to have sexual relations with one’s daughter.

Although the Torah does not explicitly state the prohibition against relations with one’s daughter in a separate verse, it is derived from the general prohibitions of incest. The Sages explain that if relations with a granddaughter are forbidden, all the more so with a daughter, which is considered even more severe. This mitzvah protects the sanctity of family and underscores the Torah’s rejection of the most extreme forms of immorality.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

  • Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 2:9): States explicitly that intimacy with one’s daughter is a Torah prohibition, learned through hermeneutic principles.
  • Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 193): The root is to maintain holiness in Israel and prevent the deepest corruption of family relationships.
  • Talmud (Sanhedrin 76a): Discusses how the prohibition is derived and emphasizes its severity among all arayot (forbidden unions).
(Source: Chabad.org)

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