what does the bible say about incest

The Bible addresses incest in different ways depending on the historical and covenantal context. Early in the Bible, before God's explicit laws on the matter, there are examples of close relatives marrying or having children, such as the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, Abraham marrying his half- sister Sarah, Lot and his daughters, and Moses' father marrying his aunt. These early unions were often necessities for human survival and not considered sinful before God's explicit prohibition was given. However, beginning with the Mosaic Law, specifically in Leviticus 18:6-18, incestuous sexual relations are clearly forbidden with a detailed list of prohibited close relatives. This prohibition reflects God's desire for holiness in His people and the protection of family and community wellbeing. In the New Testament, incest is also condemned as sexual immorality, with 1 Corinthians 5 recounting a case of a man sleeping with his father's wife, which Paul condemns strongly, instructing the church to remove such a person from fellowship. In summary, while the Bible recounts early cases of close-relative relationships in a pre-law context, it explicitly forbids incest as a sin after God’s commands were revealed, emphasizing its immorality and destructive consequences for individuals and communities.