Biblical commentary , Genesis 9:22; Leviticus 18:6-18

Question

What is the traditional Jewish belief of "uncovering the nakedness" of someone, as mentioned in Leviticus 18 verses 7-18? Does it represent having sexual relations with them or does it literally refer to nudity?

If the traditional belief is that it refers to sexual relations, does it also apply to Noah in Genesis Chapter 9 verse 22?

Answer

Thank you for your question on Biblical modes of expression. As you rightly guessed the Biblical expression "uncovering the nakedness" usually has a sexual connotation. In the passage you mentioned in Leviticus, one should also include verse 6 : "None of you shall come near anyone of his own flesh to uncover nakedness".

Eben Ezra, a Biblical commentator from the Middle Ages explains the words "come near... to uncover nakedness" as meaning having sexual relation. See also Leviticus 20:21-22

In the passage about Noah, the commentaries are not so clear-cut. The Biblical text seems to avoid mention of the act committed upon Noah by his youngest son. In the Talmud we find some tradition saying that he was castrated by his son or that Ham had sexual intercourses with his father while he was drunk (Sanhedrin 70a). But as a general rule, most Sages transmit the simple meaning of the text, teaching that it is disrespectful for sons to see their parents (or their teachers) unclothed.

I hope I helped a little,

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Monique Susskind Goldberg