Leviticus 18 in the early church

67 passages quote, allude to, or echo Leviticus 18, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 22 · 24

Leviticus 18:1

Then the LORD said to Moses,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:1Miscellanies 2.10.46 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203

Leviticus 18:2

“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD your God.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:2Miscellanies 2.10.46 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Lev 18:2–5On Saint Athanasius 1.3 · Lucifer of Cagliariquotation, high confidenceca. 356–361

Leviticus 18:3

You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:3Miscellanies 2.10.46 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Lev 18:3–4Demonstration of the Gospel 4.10.5 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 314–324
Lev 18:3Letter 160 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 357–378

Leviticus 18:4

You are to practice My judgments and keep My statutes by walking in them. I am the LORD your God.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:4Miscellanies 2.10.46 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203

Leviticus 18:5

Keep My statutes and My judgments, for the man who does these things will live by them. I am the LORD.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:5Miscellanies 2.10.46 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Lev 18:5Miscellanies 2.10.47 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Lev 18:5Commentary on Romans 8.2 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Lev 18:5Tractates on the Psalms 68.24 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, medium confidenceca. 360–367
Lev 18:5Tractates on the Psalms 118.12.11 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–367
Lev 18:5Commentary on Galatians 3:12 · Ambrosiasterquotation, high confidenceca. 366–384
Lev 18:5Commentary on Romans 4:2 · Ambrosiasterquotation, high confidenceca. 366–384
Lev 18:5Commentary on Romans 10:5 · Ambrosiasterquotation, high confidenceca. 366–384
Lev 18:5On Paradise 43 · Ambroseallusion, low confidenceca. 375-378
Lev 18:5Exposition of Psalm 118 12.34.1 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 386-397
Lev 18:5Exposition of Psalm 118 19.35.2 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
Lev 18:5Tractates 15 · Gaudentius of Bresciaquotation, high confidenceca. 397-410
Lev 18:5On the Spirit and the Letter 24 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidence412
Lev 18:5On the Spirit and the Letter 51 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence412
Lev 18:5Against Two Letters of the Pelagians 4.10 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 420–421
Lev 18:5The Conferences 21.5 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429

Leviticus 18:6

None of you are to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:6Preparation for the Gospel 8.9.22 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, low confidenceca. 313–324
Lev 18:6–22Demonstration of the Gospel 1.6.33 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 314–324
Lev 18:6–9Demonstration 13.2 · Aphrahatallusion, medium confidence337-345
Lev 18:6Letter 160 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 357–378
Lev 18:6Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.45 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 398–400
Lev 18:6–17Leviticus, lines 102–126 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.
Lev 18:6–18City of God 15.16 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, low confidence413–426

Leviticus 18:7

You must not expose the nakedness of your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:7Life of Macrina, part 11 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, high confidenceca. 380
Lev 18:7On the Beatitudes 1203 · Gregory of Nyssaquotation, high confidenceca. 380–394
Lev 18:7The Conferences 8.23 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429

Leviticus 18:8

You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; it would dishonor your father.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:8Leviticus, lines 127–149 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, medium confidenceearly 5th cent.
Lev 18:8Questions on Leviticus 61 (on Lev 18:16) · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 419–420

Leviticus 18:14

You must not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations with her; she is your aunt.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:14Letter 10, canons of the Roman synod to the bishops of Gaul, chapter 14 · Siricius, bishop of Romeallusion, medium confidence385

Leviticus 18:15

You must not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; you are not to have sexual relations with her.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:15Homilies on Leviticus 11.2 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Leviticus 18:16

You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:16Homily on Luke 27 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 233–250
Lev 18:16Commentary on Matthew 10.21 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 246–248
Lev 18:16Book 3, lines 26–51 · Juvencusecho, medium confidenceca. 330
Lev 18:16Letters 198, 199 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 357–378
Lev 18:16On the Destruction of Jerusalem 2.2 · Anonymousallusion, low confidenceca. 370
Lev 18:16On the Destruction of Jerusalem 2.5 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 370
Lev 18:16On Virgins 3.6 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 377
Lev 18:16Explanation of Twelve Psalms 35.13.2 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-397
Lev 18:16Letter 4.96 (to Martianus) · Isidore of Pelusiumallusion, medium confidenceca. 393-ca. 435
Lev 18:16Questions on Leviticus 61 (on Lev 18:16) · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 419–420

Leviticus 18:18

You must not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is still alive.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:18Dialogue with Trypho 134.3 · Justin Martyrallusion, medium confidenceca. 155–160
Lev 18:18Letter 160 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 357–378
Lev 18:18Apostolic Canon 19 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 380
Lev 18:18Letter 10, canons of the Roman synod to the bishops of Gaul, chapter 12 · Siricius, bishop of Romequotation, medium confidence385
Lev 18:18–28Leviticus, lines 127–149 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.

Leviticus 18:19

You must not approach a woman to have sexual relations with her during her menstrual period.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:19The Instructor 2.10.92 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 190–200
Lev 18:19Fragment on 1 Corinthians (Jenkins § 34, part 2) · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 226-254
Lev 18:19Homilies 11.28 · Anonymousallusion, high confidence4th century (reworking earlier material)
Lev 18:19Recognitions 6.10 · Anonymousallusion, high confidenceGreek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407
Lev 18:19Recognitions 9.9 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceGreek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407
Lev 18:19Apostolic Constitutions 6.28.7 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Lev 18:19On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins 3.21 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidence411–412

Leviticus 18:20

You must not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:20The Instructor 2.10.91 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 190–200

Leviticus 18:22

You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:22The Instructor 2.10.91 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 190–200
Lev 18:22Commentary on Romans 4.4 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Lev 18:22Preparation for the Gospel 8.8.32 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 313–324
Lev 18:22Demonstration of the Gospel 4.10.6 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 314–324
Lev 18:22Apostolic Constitutions 6.28.4 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 380

Leviticus 18:24

Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 18:24–25Demonstration of the Gospel 4.10.6 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 314–324
Lev 18:24Homilies on Matthew 52.1 · John Chrysostomallusion, low confidenceca. 390