Mitzvah —
140
Not to have sexual relations with your father's wife
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עֶרְוַ֥ת אֵֽשֶׁת־אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה עֶרְוַ֥ת אָבִ֖יךָ הִֽוא׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
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Leviticus 18:8 - "You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is your father's nakedness."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Family – מִשְׁפָּחָה
Forbidden to have sexual relations with one’s father’s wife.
This mitzvah prohibits sexual relations with one’s father’s wife, whether she is one’s biological mother or a stepmother. The Torah equates intimacy with a father’s wife to uncovering the father’s own nakedness, a grave act of disrespect and immorality. Such relations carry severe punishment, reflecting the seriousness with which the Torah protects family purity and dignity.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 1:6): Rules that relations with a father’s wife are forbidden even after the father’s death or divorce.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 189): The root is to safeguard family honor and prevent disgraceful and destructive relationships.
- Talmud (Sanhedrin 54a–55a): Clarifies that this prohibition applies equally to stepmothers, not only one’s biological mother.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
