Sexually (result) זֶ֫רַע

We are in chapter eighteen of Leviticus with our word for today. זֶ֫רַעּ seed, sowing, offspring, descendants. It is used 229 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used the most in the sense of descendant. Here is a good example. Genesis 9:9 Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your זַרְעֲכֶ֖ם offspring after you. It is also used in the sense of semen on the analogy of seeds being involved in the reproduction of plants. Leviticus 15:16-18, 32 If a man has an emission of זָ֑רַע semen, he shall bathe his whole body in water and be unclean until the evening. And every garment and every skin on which the זָ֑רַע semen comes shall be washed with water and be unclean until the evening. If a man lies with a woman and has an emission of זָ֑רַע semen, both of them shall bathe themselves in water and be unclean until the evening … This is the law for him who has a discharge and for him who has an emission of זֶ֖רַע semen, becoming unclean thereby. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Leviticus 18:20 And you shall not lie לְזָ֑רַע [There are two words that are translated sexually into English our word refers to the result. Our word tomorrow refers to the action itself] sexually with your neighbor's wife and so make yourself unclean with her. The original two words that are translated sexually leave no doubt as to what was going on. We are talking about adultery. The word affair is used instead because it sounds like fun instead of something that would cause such an avalanche of pain and negative events. When talking about sexual sin God emphasizes that there are consequences to them. At the same time God reminds us that the corrupted culture around us teaches that there are no consequences to sin. This is why God started our chapter with the warning of not being influenced by Egypt and Canaan. We will look at these consequences in the next few days as we look at more of the details in the rest of the chapter. The seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery”, is expressly stated in Leviticus 18:20. A man might argue, “I can enjoy my neighbor’s wife because she isn’t a relative, so it’s legal.” But God said it was wrong, and that settled it. The Bible repeats the stern warnings against adultery. I’ll close with this great reminder. Proverbs 2:16-19 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.