{
  "id": "dict_002684",
  "term": "Incest",
  "slug": "incest",
  "letter": "I",
  "entry_type": "theological_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "Incest is sexual relations between close relatives. Scripture forbids such unions and treats them as sinful violations of God’s design for family and sexual holiness.",
  "simple_one_line": "",
  "tooltip_text": "",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [],
  "see_also": [],
  "lede_intro": "",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [],
  "description_academic_short": "Incest refers to sexual relations between persons who are closely related by blood or certain family bonds. In the Old Testament law, God expressly forbids these relationships and presents them as defiling and contrary to covenant holiness. The Bible consistently treats the family as a protected sphere in which sexual boundaries must be honored.",
  "description_academic_full": "Incest is sexual relations between close family members, especially those within the prohibited degrees of kinship named in Scripture. The clearest biblical treatment appears in the holiness laws, where such relationships are forbidden as immoral and defiling, and the New Testament likewise condemns a case of sexual union within a near family relationship. While questions can arise about how biblical kinship laws relate to later civil law systems or complex step-family situations, the safe biblical conclusion is clear: Scripture forbids sexual relations within close family bonds and treats them as a serious violation of God’s moral order, human dignity, and the sanctity of the household.",
  "background_biblical_context": "",
  "background_historical_context": "",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "",
  "key_texts_primary": [],
  "key_texts_secondary": [],
  "original_language_note": "",
  "theological_significance": "",
  "philosophical_explanation": "",
  "interpretive_cautions": "",
  "major_views_note": "",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "",
  "practical_significance": "",
  "meta_description": "Incest is sexual relations between close relatives. Scripture forbids such unions and treats them as sinful violations of God’s design for family and sexual holiness.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/incest/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/incest.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}