Mitzvah —
139
Not to have sexual relations with your mother
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עֶרְוַ֥ת אָבִ֛יךָ וְעֶרְוַ֥ת אִמְּךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה אִמְּךָ֣ הִ֔וא לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
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Leviticus 18:7 - "You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother; 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 mother.
This mitzvah prohibits sexual relations with one’s mother. The Torah identifies such an act as one of the most severe forms of immorality and incest, undermining the sanctity of the family and desecrating the holiness of Israel. This prohibition forms part of the broader category of arayot (forbidden relationships), which carry grave punishments.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 2:1): Lists relations with one’s mother as among the most serious incest prohibitions, punishable by karet.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 188): The root is to protect family sanctity, prevent confusion of lineage, and maintain holiness among Israel.
- Talmud (Sanhedrin 54a): Discusses the prohibition in detail, including cases of a biological or stepmother, both falling under the same Torah restriction.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
