What Does Leviticus 18:6 Mean in the King James?
None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
In this verse, the boundary begins before exposure: even moving toward a close relative’s nakedness is forbidden.
THE MEANING
This verse places the boundary at the approach to sexual exposure, before the act of uncovering. Kinship marks the limit, and the declaration “I am the LORD” grounds that limit in the LORD’s authority now.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Being close to someone does not make sexual access permissible; here, kinship marks a limit rather than an opening.
THE ROOT
תִּקְרְבוּ
tiqrevu
GROWS FROM
קרב
to come near, approach
The verb תִּקְרְבוּ (tiqrevu, you shall approach) comes from קרב (qarav, to come near). The verse places the boundary at nearness itself, before the purpose clause names uncovering; the same root also speaks of bringing something near and of the inward part, joining approach to what is within.
ALSO GROWS
qorbān: offering; something brought near
קָרְבָּן
The word names an offering through the act of bringing it near, showing that this root can describe intentional approach.
qerev: inner part, midst
קֶרֶב
This branch names what is within or in the midst, linking nearness with entry into an interior space.
THE PATTERN
Scripture treats movement toward forbidden sexual exposure as part of the boundary, rather than as neutral ground before the act.
Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.THE THREAD
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.The Hebrew root קרב (qarav, to come near) underlies the approach prohibited here and the psalm’s “draw near.” The root itself does not mark nearness as good or bad: this verse sets a boundary around sexual approach to kin, while the psalm calls nearness to God good.
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