Leviticus 18:2

2 "Speak to the People of Israel. Tell them: I am God, your God.

Leviticus 18:2 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 18:2

Speak unto the children of Israel
To the heads of their tribes, that they might deliver to them the following laws; or Moses is bid to publish them among them, either by word of mouth, or by writing, or both: and say unto them, I am the Lord your God;
with which they were to be introduced; showing the right he had to enact and enjoin such laws, since he was Jehovah, the Being of beings, and from whom they received their beings; their sovereign Lord and King, who had a right to rule over them, and command what he pleased; and also the obligation they lay under to him to regard them, and yield a cheerful obedience to them, since he was their God, not only that had made them, but had redeemed them out of Egypt; and who had made a covenant with them, and had taken special care of them, and had bestowed many wonderful favours on them; and for this purpose is this phrase often used in this chapter, and very frequently in the next. See ( Leviticus 18:2 Leviticus 18:4 Leviticus 18:30 ) ( Leviticus 19:3 Leviticus 19:4 Leviticus 19:10 Leviticus 19:25 Leviticus 19:31 Leviticus 19:34 Leviticus 19:36 ) .

Leviticus 18:2 In-Context

1 God spoke to Moses,
2 "Speak to the People of Israel. Tell them: I am God, your God.
3 Don't live like the people of Egypt where you used to live, and don't live like the people of Canaan where I'm bringing you. Don't do what they do.
4 Obey my laws and live by my decrees. I am your God.
5 Keep my decrees and laws: The person who obeys them lives by them. I am God.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.