Leviticus 19:2-12

2 to say to the community of Israel, "Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy. 1
3 Each of you must respect your mother and your father, and must keep the Sabbath, as I have commanded. I am the Lord your God. 2
4 "Do not abandon me and worship idols; do not make gods of metal and worship them. I am the Lord your God. 3
5 "When you kill an animal for a fellowship offering, keep the regulations that I have given you, and I will accept the offering.
6 The meat must be eaten on the day the animal is killed or on the next day. Any meat left on the third day must be burned,
7 because it is ritually unclean, and if anyone eats it, I will not accept the offering.
8 Any who eat it will be guilty of treating as ordinary what is dedicated to me, and they will no longer be considered my people.
9 "When you harvest your fields, do not cut the grain at the edges of the fields, and do not go back to cut the heads of grain that were left. 4
10 Do not go back through your vineyard to gather the grapes that were missed or to pick up the grapes that have fallen; leave them for poor people and foreigners. I am the Lord your God.
11 "Do not steal or cheat or lie. 5
12 Do not make a promise in my name if you do not intend to keep it; that brings disgrace on my name. I am the Lord your God. 6

Leviticus 19:2-12 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 6

  • 1. 19.2Leviticus 11.44, 45; 1 P 1.16.
  • 2. 19.3 aExodus 20.12;Deuteronomy 5.16; bExodus 20.8;Deuteronomy 5.12.
  • 3. 19.4 aLeviticus 26.1; bExodus 20.23; 34.17;Deuteronomy 17.25.
  • 4. 19.9, 10Leviticus 27.15;Deuteronomy 24.19-22.
  • 5. 19.11 aExodus 20.15;Deuteronomy 5.19; bExodus 20.16;Deuteronomy 5.20.
  • 6. 19.12Exodus 20.7;Deuteronomy 5.11;Matthew 5.33.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.