Leviticus 18:4

4 1You shall follow my rules[a] and keep my statutes and walk in them. 2I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 18:4 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 18:4

Ye shall do my judgments
Which are just and right, and according to the rules of justice and equity; these are things, as Jarchi observes, which are said in the law with judgment, or are laws framed with the highest reason, even by the judgment of God himself, whose judgment is always according to truth: Aben Ezra thinks, these are the judicial laws in ( Exodus 21:1-23:33 ) ; but though they may include them, they have more particular respect to the following laws: and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein:
which he had ordained and appointed of his own will and pleasure, which Jarchi calls the decree of the king, or which he decreed and determined as a king, having absolute power over his subjects to enact and enjoin what he pleased; wherefore some think these refer to ceremonial laws, which depended upon the will of the lawgiver, and were not founded in any natural sense or reason, wherefore it follows: I [am] the Lord your God:
who had a right to make what laws he pleased, being their Sovereign, and which they in gratitude as well as in justice ought to obey, he being their God, their covenant God, who had done great and good things for them.

Leviticus 18:4 In-Context

2 "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God.
3 You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes.
4 You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God.
5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.
6 "None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I am the LORD.

Cross References 2

  • 1. ver. 26; Leviticus 19:19, 37; Leviticus 20:8, 22; Deuteronomy 5:18">2Deuteronomy 5:18; Deuteronomy 4:1, 6; Deuteronomy 5:1; Deuteronomy 6:1; Deuteronomy 12:1; Ezekiel 20:19
  • 2. [See ver. 2 above]

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or my just decrees; also verse 5
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.