Mitzvah —
142
Not to have sexual relations with your father's wife's daughter (from your father)
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עֶרְוַ֨ת בַּת־אֵ֤שֶׁת אָבִ֙יךָ֙ מוֹלֶ֣דֶת אָבִ֔יךָ אֲחוֹתְךָ֖ הִ֑וא לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
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Leviticus 18:11 - "The nakedness of the daughter of your father's wife, born to your father she is your sister: you shall not uncover her 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’s daughter (a paternal half-sister).
This mitzvah prohibits sexual relations with the daughter of one’s father’s wife if she is also one’s sister through the father. Although related through a stepmother, the Torah explicitly states this prohibition to emphasize the severity of incestuous relationships. This command strengthens the broader laws of arayot (forbidden relations) and ensures the sanctity of the family unit.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 2:7): Lists this as a distinct prohibition to clarify that paternal half-sisters are fully included in the incest prohibitions.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 191): The root is to protect the holiness of family life and avoid corruption of lineage.
- Talmud (Sanhedrin 55b): Discusses why the Torah specifies this case even though it might seem obvious under the general prohibition of relations with a sister.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
