“If a man goes to bed with a woman in her menstrual period and has sexual relations with her, he has exposed the source of her blood, and she has exposed the source of her blood; both of them are to be cut off from their people.”-Leviticus 20:18
In my last post I went over the death penalty sexual violations listed up in Leviticus 19.
Now from verse 17, we are given the less severe sexual violations of which the penalties attached to them are different.
However, although the penalties listed may not seem as severe as death, one of the penalties, being CUT OFF or KARET in Hebrew is about the same or possibly worse than death.
Being cut off in Scripture refers to both a permanent excommunication from the community and a spiritual excommunication.
Let’s not mince our words here.
We’re pretty much talking about eternal damnation here folks.
Remember there is ONLY ONE holy nation.
And there is ONLY ONE holy people.
The ONLY ONE holy nation and people is Israel.
By definition if you are NOT a part of Israel, you are outside of a relationship with God and thus marked for eternal destruction.
Being CUT OFF is to be removed from God’s HOLY PEOPLE on both a social and spiritual level and be thrown back into the unsaved mass of COMMON humanity.
Here’s a list of the remaining sexual offenses, some of which could cause you to be CUT OFF.
A MAN MARRYING HIS NATURAL SISTER
The consequence for this transgression is that both of them are to be kicked out of the community of Israel.
A MAN HAVING SEX WITH A WOMAN WHILE SHE IS ON HER MENSTRUAL CYCLE
The consequence for this is that both the man and the woman are two be CUT OFF from their people. However, I need to add that there are two caveats. First, this is talking about an UNMARRIED couple. Second, the woman’s cycle had to have already begun and both parties had to have been aware of it.
A MAN HAVING SEX WITH HIS NATURAL AUNT
The consequence for this transgression is some unspecified punishment.
A MAN HAVING SEX WITH AN AUNT BY MARRIAGE
For this transgression, the woman will be cursed with barrenness all the days of her life.
A MAN HAVING SEX WITH HIS BROTHER’S WIFE
I’ve got to assume this happened due to bigamy (the crime of marrying while one has a spouse still living, from whom no valid divorce has been effected) or divorce. The reason I say this is because there is one situation where it is okay for a man to have sex with his brother’s wife. I’m talking about Levirate marriage. In this case, the man is duty bound by God to marry his brother’s widow IF SHE HAS NOT GIVEN BIRTH TO A MALE HEIR. The whole objective is for the wife to be given a son through the seed of the brother in law.
Hello,
In reference to “A MAN HAVING SEX WITH A WOMAN WHILE SHE IS ON HER MENSTRUAL CYCLE” it says they are to be cut off from among their people. You gave two caveats.
“First, this is talking about an UNMARRIED couple. Second, the woman’s cycle had to have already begun and both parties had to have been aware of it.”
Can you explain this further because my wife and I are interested in following Torah the best we can. Do you mean that it is not sinful to have sex with your wife (you are married) if she is menstruating because you are married? Also, if you both have knowledge that she is menstruating, and you are both married, is this sinful, or should you both just wash in water and then be clean? Any help clarifying this would be greatly appreciated.
Last, how do you arrive at the judgement that these two caveats exist that you reference? How do you read Scripture to come to this conclusion?
Thank you for your help in this issue.
YHWH bless you!
-Remy
Hi there and thanks for your question. Correct. This particular verse refers to a man lying with woman who is NOT his wife. I arrived at this judgement because the verse says “If a man goes to bed with a woman in her menstrual period…”. Note it says “a woman” referring to a random woman who is not his wife. Now with regards to married couples, the Torah requires a minimum seven days of sexual abstinence for women and their husbands, from the onset of blood flow. Understand that blood is holy. It symbolically carries the soul of animate creatures. That is why it is spilled out for sacrifices, and why meat, in order to be kosher, is salted so that all the blood is removed. It is also why niddah (separation of the menstruant) occurs not just during blood flow, but instead extends until the wife goes to the mikveh and consciously changes her status. Conclusion: If you have sex with your wife while she is on her cycle, you will be rendered UNCLEAN, which is not a sin however, but not necessarily a good thing. Hope this helps.