Leviticus 19:14-24

14 Do not curse the deaf or put something in front of the blind so as to make them stumble over it. Obey me; I am the Lord your God. 1
15 "Be honest and just when you make decisions in legal cases; do not show favoritism to the poor or fear the rich. 2
16 Do not spread lies about anyone, and when someone is on trial for his life, speak out if your testimony can help him. I am the Lord.
17 "Do not bear a grudge against others, but settle your differences with them, so that you will not commit a sin because of them. 3
18 Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself. I am the Lord. 4
19 "Obey my commands. Do not crossbreed domestic animals. Do not plant two kinds of seed in the same field. Do not wear clothes made of two kinds of material. 5
20 "If a slave woman is the recognized concubine of a man and she has not been paid for and freed, then if another man has sexual relations with her, they will be punished, but not put to death, since she is a slave.
21 The man shall bring a ram to the entrance of the Tent of my presence as his repayment offering,
22 and with it the priest shall perform the ritual of purification to remove the man's sin, and God will forgive him.
23 "When you come into the land of Canaan and plant any kind of fruit tree, consider the fruit ritually unclean for the first three years. During that time you must not eat it.
24 In the fourth year all the fruit shall be dedicated as an offering to show your gratitude to me, the Lord.

Leviticus 19:14-24 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 5

  • 1. 19.14Deuteronomy 27.18.
  • 2. 19.15Exodus 23.6-8;Deuteronomy 16.19.
  • 3. 19.17Matthew 18.15.
  • 4. 19.18Matthew 5.43; 19.19; 22.39;Mark 12.31;Luke 10.27;Romans 13.9;Galatians 5.14;James 2.8.
  • 5. 19.19Deuteronomy 22.9-11.

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. so . . . them; [or] so that you do not commit this sin against them.
  • [b]. they . . . not; [or] an investigation will be made but they will not be.
  • [c]. to show your gratitude to me; [or] in praise of me.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.