18:22 that provides a holistic interpretation. [10] Lings asserts that the plural miškevë may focus on the deviant nature of Reuben’s incestuous relationship with Bilhah. Lings’ philological, literary analysis undermines the inclusion of Lev. 18:22 to incest in Lev. [8]The absence of an equivalent preposition in Hebrew casts doubt on a the interpretation that compares “normative” and “deviant” sexual actions. 18:22. Gentile Christians had no knowledge of its existence, or ability to read it. [4] However, the grammatical construction of the Hebrew text does not warrant such an interpretation. The comparison of Lev. Most traditional English translations interpret Leviticus 18:22 as a divine condemnation of erotic, same-sex relationships. 18:22 to the repetition of miškevē ‘iššâ(“lyings of a woman”) in Lev 20:13, uncovers a parallel relationship to incest. This essay focuses on three main points in K. Renato Ling’s literary analysis of Lev. Finally, if one applies Lings’ interpretation of miškevē from Gen 49:4 to Lev 18:22 and compares the verse’s textual context, the incestuous connotation of miškevēmakes more sense in the context of Leviticus 18. 18:22 by English translators alters the verse’s meaning. April 11, 2019. [7] This construction does not exist in Lev. Remember, first, this is not a Christian text. The laws are reordered in Leviticus 20 to emphasize consequences of deviant relationships. The Hebrew phrase kӗšōkhēv’eth(“as one lies with”) also conveys the same meaning that traditional English translators seek, but it is not present within the original text. Hebrew text of Leviticus 18:22 by: JIM Leviticus 18:22 - The translations of this verse found in most English Bibles are not supported by the Hebrew text. 18:22 that condemns incestuous, same-sex rape. Lost in Translation: Alternative Meaning in Leviticus 18:22. [1]K. Renato Lings, “The ‘Lyings’ of a Woman: Male-Male Incest in Leviticus 18:22?,” in Theology & Sexuality (London: Equinox Printing, 15:2, May 2009), 240. Second, the reoccurrence of the rare Hebrew word miškevēwithin Gen. 49:4 presents a philological nuance that is crucial to discerning the word’s incestuous connotation in Lev. While “lyings”, “acts of lying down,” or “beds” are possible translations for the word miškevē, the comparison to the Hebrew singular word for bed, yātsūa,suggests that the two Hebrew words are not interchangeable. 18:22 among those texts. Therefore, it warrants careful scrutiny. Leviticus 18:22 Young's Literal Translation (YLT). "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." A large portion of Leviticus 18 proscribes the divine condemnation of incest. If a translation of Leviticus 18:22 were included that did not generally condemn at least male homosexual behavior, confidence in the translation would drop precipitously and their sales would drop equally fast. 18:22: Hebrew:w’eth-zäkhār lö’ tiškav miškevē ‘iššâ, Literal Translation:With (a) male you shall not lie (the) lyings of a woman. [1] However, the translators’ attempts to clarify the Hebrew text presents a reading that is not only harmful, but incongruent to the context of Leviticus. Instead of practicing the principle of lectio difficilior probabilitor, “the more difficult reading and more likely reading,” modern translators dispel ambiguity by making the translation as simple as possible. Leviticus 18:22, clubber passages, incest, homophobia, Bible, heteronormativity, This blog entry addresses the problematic translation of Leviticus 18:22, a verse commonly used as a “clobber passage” to justify prejudice against LGBTQIA people. 18:22 and compared to the textual context within the book, Lev. Most traditional English translations interpret Leviticus 18:22 as a divine condemnation of erotic, same-sex relationships. 22 `And with a male thou dost not lie as one lieth with a woman; abomination it [is]. The following text compares the Hebrew and NRSV translation of Lev. However, careful philological, literary analysis of the original Hebrew shows another interpretation: a divine condemnation of same-sex rape. (An) abomination is that.[2]. Thank you, your email will be added to the mailing list once you click on the link in the confirmation email. Various interpretations of this verse: (Continued): 18:22. Second, the plural wordmiškevē is a rare biblical word. First, the addition of propositions to clarify the literal translation of Lev 18:22 not only downplays the ambiguity of the Hebrew text, but skews its interpretation. 18:6-17 is not obvious, especially in comparison to Lev. The original Hebrew is more ambiguous than the traditional English translation. This interpretation is problematic because it conforms to idiomatic rules that do not exist in the original Hebrew. Third, when this alternative connotation of the miškevēis applied to Lev. Please contact site owner for help. The NLT does, right there in its “translation” to Leviticus 18:22: “Do not practice homosexuality; it is a detestable sin.” But that’s not what the Hebrew says, and I’ve put the word “translation” in scare quotes because I think that what the NLT has here is an interpretation, not a translation. First, the addition of propositions within Lev. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The dominant view of western Christianity forbids same-sex relations. Most traditional English translations interpret Leviticus 18:22 as a divine condemnation of erotic, same-sex relationships. Via Facebook, a friend of mine was wondering if the translation of Leviticus 18:22 presented in this article was accurate: And with a male, thou shalt not lie down in a woman's bed; it is an To substantiate such a translation, the Hebrew equivalent for as (kě)must be connected directly to miškevē(“lyings”) since the Hebrew preposition attaches grammatically to either a noun or an infinitive. Therefore, the use of Leviticus 18:22 as a weapon against all same-sex relationships is not only unjust, but linguistically misguided. [9]  In Gen. 49:4, the verse explicitly refers the incestuous activity of Reuben with his father’s concubine, Bilhah. The truth about Leviticus 18:22, however, is not so clear. In fact, miškevēonly occurs one more time in the entire Bible besides its parallel occurrence in Lev. Homosexuality in Leviticus 18:22 Part 2 of 2: Translations and interpretations of same-sex behavior in Leviticus 18:22 (Continued) This topic is continued from Part 1. [5]This grammatical construction is not present in the verse. NRSV Translation:You shall not lie with a male as with a woman, it is an abomination. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. [11] The philological nuance implies that miškevē means rape of a family member. Therefore, the likely meaning of miškevē ‘iššârefers more to incestuous male-male rape as opposed to all erotic, same-sex relationships. He legitimizes a reading of Lev. This verse is one of the clobber passages that people cite from the Bible […]. A hegemonic interpretation of Leviticus 18:22 posits a strict prohibition of male-on-male sexual activity. Please contact site owner for help. [6] Similarly, another grammatical construction that validates the English translation “with a woman” involves the Hebrew preposition ‘ethappearing a second time in front of ’iššâ. However, careful philological, literary analysis of the original Hebrew shows another interpretation: a divine condemnation of same-sex rape. Instead, miškevē is the direct object of the verb tiškav (“you shall not lie”). Lost in Translation: Alternative Meaning in Leviticus 18:22. The original Hebrew is more ambiguous than the traditional English translation. April 11, 2019. Thank you, your email will be added to the mailing list once you click on the link in the confirmation email. Spam protection has stopped this request. 20:13. English translators add the prepositions asand withto the traditional translation for its “perceived lacunae.”[3] This translation presupposes a comparison between a “normal” action (“lying with a woman”) and a “deviant” action (“lying with a male”). Spam protection has stopped this request. In sum, traditional English translations of Leviticus 18:22 are known as “clobber passages” that condemn homosexuality. While Leviticus 18 focuses on the forbidden sexual relationships, Leviticus 20 focuses on the punishment for participating in such relationships. Initially, the relationship of Lev. Three problems discussed in […], Most traditional English translations interpret Leviticus 18:22 as a divine condemnation of erotic, same-sex relationships. Instead of practicing the principle of lectio difficilior probabilitor, “the more difficult reading and more likely […], “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”[1] It is not a surprise that this verse seems to say that gay male sex is forbidden in the eyes of God. Leviticus 18:22 – A Queer Hermeneutical Analysis, Lost in Translation: Alternative Meaning in Leviticus 18:22. 18:18-23. 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