Leviticus 19:23-33

23 "When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, you are to consider the fruit forbidden.[a] It will be forbidden to you for three years; it is not to be eaten.
24 In the fourth year all its fruit must be consecrated as a praise offering to the Lord.[b]
25 But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way its yield will increase for you;[c] I am the Lord your God.
26 "You are not to eat [anything] with blood [in it].[d] [e] You are not to practice divination or sorcery.[f]
27 You are not to cut off the hair at the sides of your head or mar the edge of your beard.[g]
28 You are not to make gashes on your bodies for the dead[h] or put tattoo marks on yourselves;[i] I am the Lord.
29 "Do not debase[j] your daughter by making her a prostitute,[k] or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity.
30 You must keep My Sabbaths and revere My sanctuary;[l] I am the Lord.
31 "Do not turn to mediums[m] or consult spiritists,[n] or you will be defiled by them;[o] I am the Lord your God.
32 "You are to rise in the presence of the elderly and honor the old.[p] Fear your God; I am the Lord.
33 "When a foreigner lives with you in your land, you must not oppress him.[q]

Leviticus 19:23-33 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 19

This chapter contains various laws, ceremonial and moral, tending to the sanctification of men, in imitation of the holy God, Le 19:1,2; as concerning the reverence of parents, and observing the sabbaths, Le 19:3; against idolatry, Le 19:4; about offering and eating of peace offerings, Le 19:5-8; concerning harvest and gleaning of fields and vineyards, Le 19:9,10; respecting the breach of several of the commandments of the law, as the eighth, ninth, and third, particularly, Le 19:11-13; and others relating to the ill usage of the deaf and blind, and having respect to persons rich or poor in judgment, and acting the part of a tale bearer among people, Le 19:14-16; and bearing hatred and ill will to any of their neighbours, Le 19:17,18; and others forbidding mixtures in the generation of cattle, sowing fields, and wearing apparel, Le 19:19; and concerning the punishment of a man that lay with a bondmaid, and the offering he should bring for his atonement, Le 19:20-22; then follow certain laws concerning fruit trees, when the fruit of them should be eaten, Le 19:23-25; and concerning eating with blood, using enchantments, and observing times, and managing the hair of the head and beard, and avoiding to make any marks, prints, and cuttings in the flesh for the dead, Le 19:26-28; a caution not to prostitute a daughter to whoredom, and to observe the sabbath, and reverence the sanctuary of God, and pay no regard to wizards and familiar spirits, Le 19:29-31; to show reverence to ancient persons, and not to vex and distress strangers, Le 19:32-34; and to do no injustice in weight and measure, Le 19:35,36; all which instructions are to be carefully observed, and put in execution, Le 19:37.

Footnotes 17

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