This verse lists three more sexual sins that were done in Jerusalem.

One commits abomination with his neighbor’s wife refers to adultery. For the Hebrew word rendered abomination, see 5.9. Since it refers to things that God hates, this clause may be rendered “Some men do something I hate by committing adultery with their neighbors’ wives.”

Another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law refers to incest, which makes both parties ritually unclean. For the Hebrew word rendered lewdly, see Ezek 21.9, where it is translated “lewdness.” Translators may express this clause as “Others make their daughters-in-law unfit for my presence by sleeping [or, having sexual intercourse] with them.”

Another in you defiles his sister, his father’s daughter also refers to incest, probably with a half sister. It is not clear why the Hebrew specifies this sister as his father’s daughter, because the crime applies equally to a half sister who is the daughter of the man’s mother. Defiles renders the same Hebrew verb translated “humble” in verse 10, so it is better rendered “forces … to have sexual relations” (New Century Version) or “rapes.” A model for this whole clause is “Others among you force their half sisters to sleep with them.”

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .