Mitzvah —
141
Not to have sexual relations with your sister
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עֶרְוַ֨ת אֲחֽוֹתְךָ֤ בַת־אָבִ֙יךָ֙ א֣וֹ בַת־אִמֶּ֔ךָ מוֹלֶ֣דֶת בַּ֔יִת א֖וֹ מוֹלֶ֣דֶת ח֑וּץ לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽן׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
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Leviticus 18:9 - "The nakedness of your sister, whether your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether born to one who may remain in the home or born to one who must be sent outside you shall not uncover their nakedness."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Family – מִשְׁפָּחָה
Forbidden to have sexual relations with one’s sister.
This mitzvah prohibits sexual relations with one’s sister, whether paternal or maternal, whether born in wedlock or out of wedlock. The Torah emphasizes the sanctity of family relationships and forbids their corruption through incest. Such an act carries a severe penalty and undermines both personal morality and communal holiness.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 2:6): Defines this prohibition as applying equally to half-sisters, regardless of whether they share a father or mother.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 190): The root is to preserve holiness and prevent disgraceful confusion of family boundaries.
- Talmud (Sanhedrin 55b): Discusses at length the scope of this prohibition and its severity among the arayot (forbidden relations).
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
