Leviticus 19
World English Bible
WEB1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘You shall be holy; for I, Yahweh your God, am holy. 3“‘Each one of you shall respect his mother and his father. You shall keep my Sabbaths. I am Yahweh your God. 4“‘Don’t turn to idols, nor make molten gods for yourselves. I am Yahweh your God. 5“‘When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to Yahweh, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted. 6It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day. If anything remains until the third day, it shall be burned with fire. 7If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination. It will not be accepted; 8but everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the holy thing of Yahweh, and that soul shall be cut off from his people. 9“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10You shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am Yahweh your God. 11“‘You shall not steal. “‘You shall not lie. “‘You shall not deceive one another. 12“‘You shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh. 13“‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. “‘The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. 14“‘You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh. 15“‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness. 16“‘You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people. “‘You shall not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am Yahweh. 17“‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 18“‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh. 19“‘You shall keep my statutes. “‘You shall not cross-breed different kinds of animals. “‘You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; “‘Don’t wear a garment made of two kinds of material. 20“‘If a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave girl, pledged to be married to another man, and not ransomed or given her freedom; they shall be punished. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free. 21He shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, even a ram for a trespass offering. 22The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before Yahweh for his sin which he has committed; and the sin which he has committed shall be forgiven him. 23“‘When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as forbidden. For three years it shall be forbidden to you. It shall not be eaten. 24But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, for giving praise to Yahweh. 25In the fifth year you shall eat its fruit, that it may yield its increase to you. I am Yahweh your God. 26“‘You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it. You shall not use enchantments, nor practice sorcery. 27“‘You shall not cut the hair on the sides of your head or clip off the edge of your beard. 28“‘You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you. I am Yahweh. 29“‘Don’t profane your daughter, to make her a prostitute; lest the land fall to prostitution, and the land become full of wickedness. 30“‘You shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary; I am Yahweh. 31“‘Don’t turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don’t seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God. 32“‘You shall rise up before the gray head and honor the face of the elderly; and you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh. 33“‘If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God. 35“‘You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in measures of length, of weight, or of quantity. 36You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin. I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37“‘You shall observe all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them. I am Yahweh.’”
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
Leviticus Chapter 19 serves as a pivotal section in the Holiness Code, emphasizing the importance of holiness in the lives of the Israelites. The chapter begins with a call for the people to be holy because the Lord their God is holy (#Leviticus 19:1-2). This foundational principle sets the tone for the various laws and commandments that follow, which are designed to guide the community in their relationship with God and one another. The chapter includes a series of ethical and moral instructions that cover a wide range of social and religious practices, highlighting the need for justice, compassion, and integrity in daily life. For instance, it addresses issues such as honoring parents (#Leviticus 19:3), observing the Sabbath (#Leviticus 19:3), and prohibiting idolatry (#Leviticus 19:4). These commands reflect God's desire for His people to live in a way that reflects His character and righteousness.
The chapter also emphasizes the importance of loving one's neighbor, encapsulated in the well-known command, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (#Leviticus 19:18). This commandment is central to the ethical teachings of both the Old and New Testaments, as Jesus later affirms its significance in the Gospels (#Matthew 22:39). Additionally, the chapter includes various social justice laws, such as provisions for the poor and the foreigner (#Leviticus 19:9-10), and commands against bearing grudges or seeking revenge (#Leviticus 19:17-18). Through these instructions, God calls His people to reflect His love and justice in their interactions, fostering a community that honors Him and cares for one another.
Referenced by
- Deuteronomy 10:19v34Deuteronomy 10:19 commands the Israelites to love the foreigner, for they were once foreigners in Egypt. Leviticus 19:34 similarly instructs the Israelites to love the foreigner as themselves, emphasizing empathy and love for the stranger.
- Deuteronomy 22:9v19Deuteronomy 22:9 prohibits sowing a vineyard with two kinds of seed, which aligns with Leviticus 19:19's prohibition against mixing different kinds of seeds, animals, and fabrics. Both passages emphasize the theme of purity and separation in the life of Israel.
- Ruth 2:2v9Ruth 2:2 describes Ruth gleaning in the fields, which is a practice established in Leviticus 19:9-10, where God commands landowners to leave the corners of their fields for the poor and the foreigner.
- 1 Samuel 28:7v311 Samuel 28:7 describes Saul seeking a medium, directly violating Leviticus 19:31, which forbids turning to mediums and spiritists.
- Proverbs 11:1v35Proverbs 11:1 speaks against dishonest scales, which is a principle also found in Leviticus 19:35-36, where God commands just weights and measures, emphasizing His desire for honesty and integrity.
- Ezekiel 43:12v2Ezekiel 43:12 emphasizes the holiness of the temple area. Leviticus 19:2 calls the Israelites to be holy as God is holy, underscoring the importance of holiness in the presence of God.
- Matthew 22:39v18Matthew 22:39 instructs to love your neighbor as yourself, echoing Leviticus 19:18, which emphasizes the importance of love and justice in community relationships.
- 1 Timothy 5:1v321 Timothy 5:1 advises treating older men with respect, which aligns with Leviticus 19:32's command to honor the elderly, showing continuity in the biblical principle of respecting elders.
Topics in this chapter
- Holiness
- Justice
- Love Your Neighbor
- Fairness
- Integrity
- Love
- Neighbor
- Community
- Covenant
- Ethics
- Honesty
- Sanctification
- God's Character
- Social Justice
- Compassion
- Idolatry
- Lawgiver
- Moses
- Rest
- Righteousness
- Sabbath
- The Commandments
- Canaan
- Care for the Poor
- Charity
- Commands in the Bible
- Covenant Faithfulness
- Covenant Sign
- Creation
- Deliverance
- Devotion
- Divine Art
- Egypt
- Ethical Living
- Exclusive Worship
- Faith
- God First
- God's Law
- God's Nature
- Godly Living
- Great Commandment
- Imitation
- Imitation of God
- Immigrant Rights
- Impartiality
- Inclusion
- Inclusivity
- Mediator
- Moral Conduct
- Mosaic Law
- Obedience
- Promised Land
- Prophet
- Provision
- Respect
- Service
- Set Apart
- Spiritual Purity
- Spirituality
- The Golden Rule
- The Lord
- The Name of God
- Truth
- Truthfulness
Related chapters
- Matthew 22Great CommandmentLove Your NeighborEthics
- Deuteronomy 22NeighborLove Your NeighborMosaic Law
- 1 Peter 1Godly LivingGod's NatureGod's Character
- Deuteronomy 24Care for the PoorGod's LawCharity
- James 2NeighborLove Your NeighborImpartiality
- Exodus 20TruthfulnessGod FirstSabbath
- Deuteronomy 25Mosaic LawEthicsFairness
- Deuteronomy 6Exclusive WorshipGreat CommandmentThe Commandments
- Mark 12Great CommandmentNeighborLove Your Neighbor
- Exodus 22Care for the PoorEthical LivingMosaic Law
- Exodus 23Immigrant RightsMosaic LawSabbath
- Luke 10Great CommandmentNeighborLove Your Neighbor
Your study
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