Leviticus Sexual Health Vocabulary and Images In Order of Appearance

Leviticus features 11 different sexual health terms. Two of the terms do not appear in the Genesis sexual health big picture. These words are NDH, menstrual cycle and ZUB discharge of possible sexually transmitted infection. I have include a possible phrase for sexual offending against children and bestiality in the word count.

Becomes Pregnant ZRH

Gives Birth, YLD

Monthly Menstrual Cycle, NDH

“Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. (Leviticus 12:2)

Circumcision, MOOL

On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. (Leviticus 12:3)

Infectious Discharge, zoob,  τοῦ γονορρυοῦς

Ejaculate, emission of semen

These are the regulations for a man with a discharge (Zoob, Gonoroos), for anyone made unclean by an emission of semen. (Leviticus 15:32)

Sexual Intercourse, SCB

…for a woman in her monthly period, for a man or a woman with a discharge, and for a man who has sexual relations with a woman who is ceremonially unclean. (Leviticus 15:33)

Sacred Sex Trade,  ZNH

They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come. (Leviticus 17:7)

Incest, Uncovering the nakedness of 

No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations (uncover the nakedness of). I am the LORD. (Leviticus 18:6)

Possible Sexual Offending Against Male Children

Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable. (Leviticus 18:22)

Intercourse with Animals

Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion. (Leviticus 18:23)

Sexual Health Vocabulary of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13

This analysis of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 examines the Biblical Hebrew vocabulary as compared to the entire Hebrew Old Testament. Specifically this work looks at these passages and then compares the word use in the first 5 books of the Bible called the Pentateuch. Then the terms are analyzed in the Prophets and the Writings.

The Texts in Question

“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.’” (Leviticus 18:22)

With Biblical Hebrew terms:

“ ‘Do not have SCB (sexual relations)with a ZCR (male) as one does with a ISSHAH (woman); that is detestable.’” (Leviticus 18:22)

“ ‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.’” (Leviticus 20:13)

“ ‘If an ISH (man) has SCB (unhealthy sexual relations) with a ZCR (male) as one does with an ISSHAH (woman), both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.’” (Leviticus 20:13)

Leviticus Sexual Health Vocabulary

SCB meaning sexual relations or lie down with appears 213 times in 194 verses of the OT.  SCB, שָׁכַב, pronounced shaw-KAB, means to lie down as in sexual relations, death or any other reason: to cause to lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, take rest, sleep, stay.

In the Pentateuch 18 times SCB means unhealthy sexuality. SCB appears as incestuous rape 5x’s, coercing sex with money 1x, rape of a non family member 6x’s, attempted rape by an authority figure 5x’s, seduction 1x, sex with animals 2x’s, intercourse with hygiene protocols 5x’s, incest with family members 6x’s, abortion protocols 2x’s,  and adultery 2x’s in the Pentateuch. In sexual health contexts SCB is never used for relational intimacy as the word for genital sexual intercourse, YDA. SCB only means coercive or unhealthy sexual hygiene.

SCB as Rape 16 x’s

SCB as Coercion 2x’s

ISH means male, XY chromosome

ISSHAH translates as female, XX chromosome

ZCR can mean prepubescent XY male child as well as an adult male. ZCR appears 82 times in 80 verses of OT. Within the Pentateuch 18 times ZCR means prepubescent child. 16 times in the Pentateuch ZCR may mean sexually mature male. 

The Pentateuch Uses of SCB

The Pentateuch comprises the first five books of the Old Testament, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  Conservative scholars believe the Pentateuch was written most likely by Moses. The uses of SCB can be outlined as follows:

5x’s Incestuous Rape

Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep (SCB) with him and preserve our family line through our father.” (Genesis 19:32)

That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept (SCB) with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. (Genesis 19:33)

The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept (SCB) with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep (SCB) with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” (Genesis 19:34)

So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept (SCB) with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. (Genesis 19:35)

3 x’s Coercive Sex for Money

But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?” “Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep (SCB) with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.” (Genesis 30:15)

So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep (SCB) with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept (SCB) with her that night. (Genesis 30:16)

6x Rape

When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and raped (SCB) her. (Genesis 34:2)

Meanwhile, Jacob’s sons had come in from the fields as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious, because Shechem had done an outrageous thing in Israel by sleeping (SCB as rape) with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done. (Genesis 34:7)

But if out in the country a man happens to meet a young woman pledged to be married and rapes (SCB) her, only the man who has done this shall die. (Genesis 22:25)

If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes (SCB) her and they are discovered…. (Deuteronomy 22:28)

He shall pay her father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated (SCB) her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives. (Deuteronomy 22:29)

You will be pledged to be married to a woman, but another will take her and rape (SCB) her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit. (Deuteronomy 28:30)

1x Possible Rape of Father’s Concubine

While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept (SCB as rape) with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. Jacob had twelve sons: (Genesis 35:22)

5x Authority Rape

…and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed (SCB) with me!” (Genesis 39:7)

And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed (SCB) with her or even be with her. (Genesis 39:10)

She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed (SCB) with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. (Genesis 39:12)

She called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep (SCB) with me, but I screamed. (Genesis 39:14)

“ ‘If a man sleeps (SCB) with a female slave who is promised to another man but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed. (Leviticus 19:20)

1 x Seduction Narrative

“If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps (SCB) with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. (Exodus 22:16)

2 x’s Intercourse with Animals

“Anyone who has sexual relations (SCB) with an animal is to be put to death. (Exodus 22:19)

“Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations (SCB) with any animal.” (Deuteronomy 27:21)

5 x’s Hygiene Protocols

When a man has sexual relations (SCB) with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both of them must bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. (Leviticus 15:18)

“ ‘Anything she lies (SCB) on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean.’” (Leviticus 15:20)

“ ‘If a man has sexual relations (SCB) with her and her monthly flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days; any bed he lies on will be unclean. (Leviticus 15:24)

Any bed she lies on (SCB) while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period. (Leviticus 15:26)

for a woman in her monthly period, for a man or a woman with a discharge, and for a man who has sexual relations (SCB) with a woman who is ceremonially unclean. (Leviticus 15:33)

6x Incest

“ ‘If a man has sexual relations (SCB) with his father’s wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:11)

“ ‘If a man has sexual relations (SCB) with his daughter-in-law, both of them are to be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:12)

“ ‘If a man has sexual relations (SCB) with his aunt, he has dishonored his uncle. They will be held responsible; they will die childless. (Deuteronomy 20:20)

“Cursed is anyone who sleeps (SCB) with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed.” (Deuteronomy 27:20)

“Cursed is anyone who sleeps (SCB) with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.” (Deuteronomy 27:22)

“Cursed is anyone who sleeps (SCB) with his mother-in-law.” (Deuteronomy 27:23)

2 x’s Abortion Protocols

…so that another man has sexual relations (SCB) with her, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act). (Numbers 5:13)

Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, “If no other man has had sexual relations (SCB) with you and you have not gone astray and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you. (Numbers 5:19)

2 x’s Adultery

If a man is found sleeping (SCB) with another man’s wife, both the man who slept (SCB) with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. (Deuteronomy 22:22)

If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps (SCB) with her….(Deuteronomy 22:23)

38 times Genesis through Deuteronomy the term SCB is used in unhealthy sexuality contexts. SCB is never positioned as a sexual health term between consenting adults in the Pentateuch.

The Prophets and Writings Use of SCB

The books of 1 and 2 Samuel feature SCB 27 times. SCB in sexual health contexts appears 7 times. Eli’s sons used their position of authority to seduce women for sex who serve at religious worship services (1 Samuel 2:22). The term SCB, meaning rape, appears three more times in King David’s seduction of Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:4), and twice for Amnon’s rape of his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:11-14). SCB has one reference to the future sexual assault of King David’s concubines by his son Absalom (2 Samuel 12:11). SCB as genital sexual intercourse occurs twice in reference to Uriah’s resistance to having intercourse with Bathsheba for the purpose of covering up King David’s impregnation of his wife, and David and Bathsheba’s conception of Solomon (2 Samuel 11:11; 2 Samuel 12:24) 

SCBappears 4 times in Isaiah. Isaiah and Zechariah use SCB for rape (Isaiah 13:16; Zechariah 14:2). Ezekiel speaks of the sacred sex trade using SCB, and Micah uses the word in a sense of lack of trust within a romantic relationship (Ezekiel 23:8; Micah 7:5).

The Book of Ruth uses SCB5 times.  Ruth appears in the family narrative of Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew1:5). The author uses SCB skillfully, weaving SCB through the account of Boaz and Ruth becoming sexually intimate and ultimately married. The euphemism “uncovering the feet” may be used for genital sexual intercourse in the narrative of Ruth (Ruth 3:7). All 5 citations refer to sexual contact rather than simple sleeping or lying down.

SCB is used 16 times in sexual health contexts within the Prophets and the Writings. The Prophets never use SCB for healthy sexuality. The context is always seduction, rape, or coercive sexuality.  Book of Ruth uses SCB in a romantic narrative adding the term to uncover the feet. This can be a euphemism for sexual intercourse. Scholars are divided in terms of  “is Ruth an example of healthy sexuality or unhealthy?”

Context of Leviticus 18 and 20

Leviticus 18

Chapter 18 begins with a contextual statement, “You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices.” (Leviticus 18:3) The concern appears to orbit incest as was the context of Egyptian sexual health narratives.  Then, Leviticus18:6-17 outlines incest boundaries with immediate family members. 

“ ‘No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.

“ ‘Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her.

“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; that would dishonor your father.

“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.

“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; that would dishonor you.

“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister.

“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative.

“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, because she is your mother’s close relative.

“ ‘Do not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt.

“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; do not have relations with her.

“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonor your brother.

“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. Do not have sexual relations with either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter; they are her close relatives. That is wickedness. (Leviticus 18:6-17)

The term incest is a Hebrew phrase literally, “uncovering the nakedness of.” This phrase connects to the Noah and Ham incest snapshot of Genesis 9 with exact wording.

Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent.  Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside.  But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked. (Genesis 9:20-23)

Leviticus 18:18-23 speaks to a variety of sexual health topics.

“ ‘Do not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.

“ ‘Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness of her monthly period.

“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and defile yourself with her.

“ ‘Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.

“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion. (Leviticus 18:18-23)

There are 13 directives regarding incest in Leviticus 18.  5 times chapter 18 speaks to non incestuous unhealthy sexuality. The context of chapter 18 favors Leviticus 18:22 to be a prohibition about unhealthy sexual intercourse with close relationships. In this case, perhaps mandating against child abuse.

Leviticus 20

Chapter 20 begins with mandate against sacrificing children to Molek. With this prohibition against infanticide is a statement about spiritists, those who call upon the dead. The same concern appears at the end of the chapter forming an inclusio tying this section together thematically. Chapter 20 repeats the Leviticus 18 mandates adding detail about abusing family members through infanticide and incest. The writer also addresses cursing parents, adultery with close community relationships, sexual activity during menstruation, and sex with animals. 9 of the commandments address non incestuous sexual health issues. 8 mandates connect to incest. The Leviticus 20:13 statement, 

“ ‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:13)  appears between incest prohibitions. The Leviticus 18 passage appears in the context of incest and unhealthy sexuality within close relationships specifically children.

Leviticus 15:33 may shed some light on the use of ISH as man, and ZQR translated prepubescent male. 

…for a woman in her monthly period, for a ZQR (boy) or a girl with a discharge, and for a man who has sexual relations (SCB) with a woman who is ceremonially unclean. (Leviticus 15:33)

The use of the term ZQR as prepubescent male fits both the chapter 18 and 20 passages showing a distinction between a man who can have intercourse, ISH, and a male prepubescent child, ZQR.

Another Leviticus passage affirms that ZQR can mean prepubescent male. 

He shall offer them before the LORD to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood. These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a male child (ZQR) or a girl. (Leviticus 12:7)

Summary

The two passages in question have been translated with the unintended result of violence against same sex communities. The vocabulary appears however to protect male prepubescent children from sexual assault by adult males.