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Leviticus 19

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1Yahweh 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: and 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 up and down 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. Three years they 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 an old man, 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 (public domain)

You shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:18

Summary

Leviticus chapter 19 presents a series of laws and ethical guidelines intended to shape the daily lives of the Israelites as they live in covenant with God. It begins with a call to holiness, emphasizing that the people are to be holy because God is holy. The chapter includes various commandments that cover a wide range of social, moral, and ritual aspects of life, calling for respect for parents, observance of the Sabbath, and practices of not stealing, lying, or cheating. Additionally, it stresses the importance of love, especially towards neighbors, encapsulating the idea that how individuals treat one another reflects their relationship with God. The chapter uniquely combines both holiness and social justice, addressing personal conduct as well as the communal responsibility to care for the marginalized, such as the poor and the stranger. The mandate to love one’s neighbor is presented as a core principle underlying many of these commandments, indicating that authenticity in worship is intrinsically linked to ethical living. This highlights the theological significance of interpersonal relationships as a reflection of one’s devotion to God. Ultimately, Leviticus 19 serves as a guide for communal living that prioritizes justice, compassion, and reverence for God. It reiterates that righteousness involves both a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with fellow humans, providing believers with a comprehensive framework for ethical decision-making and lifestyle choices in light of God’s character and expectations. This chapter’s teachings remain central for understanding Christian ethics, notably through the lens of love and community responsibility.

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Chapter outline

How Leviticus 19 unfolds

  1. Leviticus 19:1–2 Call to Holiness

    Yahweh instructs Moses to tell the Israelites to be holy, reflecting God's holiness. This establishes the foundational principle for the laws that follow.

  2. Leviticus 19:3–4 Respect and Worship

    The Israelites are commanded to honor their parents and keep the Sabbath, emphasizing respect in family and dedication to God.

  3. Leviticus 19:5–10 Sacrificial Guidelines and Social Care

    Instructions on peace offerings are given, alongside commands to leave harvest corners for the poor and foreigners, highlighting social responsibility.

  4. Leviticus 19:11–18 Moral and Ethical Commands

    A series of prohibitions against stealing, lying, and hatred is stated, culminating in the command to love one's neighbor as oneself.

  5. Leviticus 19:19–29 Ritual Laws and Personal Conduct

    Various regulations on agricultural practices and personal grooming are presented, alongside warnings against exploitation and immorality.

  6. Leviticus 19:30–36 Sabbaths and Justice

    The need to keep the Sabbath and maintain just practices in judgment is underscored, promoting fairness and reverence for God.

  7. Leviticus 19:37 Summary of the Statutes

    The chapter concludes with a reminder to observe all statutes and ordinances, reinforcing the covenant relationship with Yahweh.

Key verses

  • Leviticus 19:18Leviticus 19:18 encapsulates the chapter's emphasis on ethical living as a reflection of one’s relationship with God.

Main themes in Leviticus 19

Holiness

The theme of holiness is introduced in verses 1-2, where God commands the Israelites to be holy as He is holy. This command sets a tone for the chapter, intertwining ethical living with spiritual devotion. Holiness in this context emphasizes that the people’s conduct must reflect their relationship with a holy God.

Social Justice

Social justice is highlighted in verses 9-10, where provisions are made for the poor and foreigners during harvest. This chapter complicates social justice by linking it to the people’s spiritual obligations, showing that care for the marginalized is an expression of holiness. The welfare of the community is thus seen as integral to covenant faithfulness.

Interpersonal Relationships

Interpersonal relationships are significantly addressed throughout Leviticus 19, particularly in verses 11-18, which provide specific guidelines for ethical treatment of others. The chapter develops this theme by linking personal conduct directly to community harmony, showing that righteous behavior fosters a healthy society. Ultimately, the text illustrates that one’s relationship with God is inherently connected to the way they treat their neighbors, highlighting the importance of mutual respect and ethical living.

Love and Compassion

The command to love one’s neighbor as oneself in verse 18 stands as a foundational principle for ethical behavior within Leviticus 19. This principle is intricately woven into various laws throughout the chapter, reflecting God’s compassionate nature and His desire for His people to embody that compassion. By emphasizing love and compassion, the chapter reinforces their critical role in both community life and individual spiritual practice, urging readers towards deeper relational commitments.

Cross-references

Passages that echo Leviticus 19

Study questions

Questions for studying Leviticus 19

  1. What does the command to be holy mean for the Israelites?
  2. How do the laws in this chapter reflect social justice?
  3. In what ways are personal relationships emphasized in this chapter?
  4. What implications does the prohibition against idolatry have for Israelite worship?
  5. How does the command to love one's neighbor manifest in community life?
  6. What significance does the mention of the poor and foreigners hold in Israelite society?

Leviticus 19: frequently asked questions

What is Leviticus 19 about?+
Leviticus chapter 19 presents a series of laws and ethical guidelines intended to shape the daily lives of the Israelites as they live in covenant with God. It begins with a call to holiness, emphasizing that the people are to be holy because God is holy. The chapter includes various commandments that cover a wide range of social, moral, and ritual aspects of life, calling for respect for parents, observance of the Sabbath, and practices of not stealing, lying, or cheating. Additionally, it stresses the importance of love, especially towards neighbors, encapsulating the idea that how individuals treat one another reflects their relationship with God. The chapter uniquely combines both holiness and social justice, addressing personal conduct as well as the communal responsibility to care for the marginalized, such as the poor and the stranger. The mandate to love one’s neighbor is presented as a core principle underlying many of these commandments, indicating that authenticity in worship is intrinsically linked to ethical living. This highlights the theological significance of interpersonal relationships as a reflection of one’s devotion to God. Ultimately, Leviticus 19 serves as a guide for communal living that prioritizes justice, compassion, and reverence for God. It reiterates that righteousness involves both a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with fellow humans, providing believers with a comprehensive framework for ethical decision-making and lifestyle choices in light of God’s character and expectations. This chapter’s teachings remain central for understanding Christian ethics, notably through the lens of love and community responsibility.
What is the key verse in Leviticus 19?+
Leviticus 19:18: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD."
What are the main themes of Leviticus 19?+
The main themes of Leviticus 19 are Holiness, Social Justice, Interpersonal Relationships, Love and Compassion.

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