Leviticus 19:15-18

15 '1You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial * to the poor nor defer * to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
16 'You shall not go about as 2a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the 3life of your neighbor; I am the LORD.
17 'You 4shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you 5may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him.
18 '6You shall not take vengeance, 7nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but 8you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:15-18 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.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Exodus 23:3, 6; Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 10:17; Deuteronomy 16:19
  • 2. Psalms 15:3; Jeremiah 6:28; Jeremiah 9:4; Ezekiel 22:9
  • 3. Exodus 23:7; Deuteronomy 27:25
  • 4. 1 John 2:9, 11; 1 John 3:15
  • 5. Matthew 18:15; Luke 17:3
  • 6. Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30
  • 7. Psalms 103:9
  • 8. Matthew 19:19; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8

Footnotes 3

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