Leviticus 19

Leviticus 19 is part of the holiness code, where God instructs Israel on how to live as a holy people, set apart from other nations. The chapter includes a diverse range of moral, ethical, and ritual laws that reflect God's desire for His people to live in righteousness, justice, and love toward both Him and others. These instructions cover areas such as respect for parents, proper worship, social justice, and care for the vulnerable.

Leviticus 19:1-3 (NKJV)
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
3 Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.’”

God begins by calling His people to holiness, reflecting His own nature. Holiness isn’t just about religious rituals but involves reverence for parents, a foundational relationship in society, and proper observance of the Sabbath, which honors God’s creation and covenant. These two commands emphasize both social and spiritual respect.

Leviticus 19:4 (NKJV)
4 “Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the Lord your God.”

The prohibition against idols is central to maintaining a relationship with the one true God. This command reminds the Israelites that they are to remain loyal to God, rejecting the false gods of the surrounding nations and keeping their worship pure.

Leviticus 19:5-8 (NKJV)
5 “And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, you shall offer it of your own free will.
6 It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day. And if any remains until the third day, it shall be burned in the fire.
7 And if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination. It shall not be accepted.
8 Therefore everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the hallowed offering of the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from his people.”

These verses focus on the proper way to offer a peace offering. The offering must be done willingly and consumed within a specific timeframe, showing the importance of following God’s instructions. The act of eating the offering beyond the allowed time profanes it, symbolizing disrespect for God’s holiness. Failure to obey results in being cut off, stressing the need for purity and care in worship.

Leviticus 19:9-10 (NKJV)
9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.
10 And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.”

These commands promote social justice and compassion. God instructs landowners to leave portions of their crops for the poor and the foreigner, reflecting His care for the vulnerable. This system of gleaning ensured that everyone had access to food, and it instilled generosity and fairness in the community.

Leviticus 19:11-12 (NKJV)
11 “You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.
12 And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.”

These verses emphasize integrity and truthfulness in relationships. Stealing, lying, and false oaths destroy trust and dishonor God, who calls His people to a life of honesty. Swearing falsely by God’s name not only deceives others but also profanes the holiness of God, misusing His sacred name.

Leviticus 19:13 (NKJV)
13 “You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.”

This command focuses on fairness in business and employment. Defrauding or withholding wages is a form of oppression, and timely payment is required to ensure justice for workers. God’s law ensures that vulnerable individuals, such as laborers, are treated with respect and fairness.

Leviticus 19:14 (NKJV)
14 “You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord.”

This verse highlights compassion and justice for those with disabilities. Cursing the deaf or causing the blind to stumble reflects cruelty, and God calls His people to act in a way that reflects reverence for Him. Compassion for the vulnerable is linked directly to the fear of God.

Leviticus 19:15-16 (NKJV)
15 “You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
16 You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.”

Justice is central to God's character, and His people are called to act with fairness, whether dealing with the poor or the powerful. Partiality undermines true justice. Additionally, the prohibition against gossip and false testimony protects the integrity and safety of others, reflecting God’s concern for truthful and just relationships.

Leviticus 19:17-18 (NKJV)
17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

These verses are foundational for interpersonal relationships. God calls for love and forgiveness, rejecting hatred, grudges, and personal vengeance. Loving one’s neighbor as oneself encapsulates the essence of God’s law, demanding kindness, justice, and mercy in every interaction. This command would later be reiterated by Jesus as the second greatest commandment.

Leviticus 19:19 (NKJV)
19 “You shall keep My statutes. You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind. You shall not sow your field with mixed seed. Nor shall a garment of mixed linen and wool come upon you.”

These seemingly peculiar regulations remind the Israelites of God’s order and separation in creation. They serve as tangible reminders of the call to holiness and distinctiveness. Just as they were to avoid mixing different kinds of animals or fabrics, so they were to remain separate from the corrupt practices of other nations.

Leviticus 19:20-22 (NKJV)
20 “Whoever lies carnally with a woman who is betrothed to a man as a concubine, and who has not at all been redeemed nor given her freedom, for this there shall be scourging; but they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
21 And he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, a ram as a trespass offering.
22 The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he has committed. And the sin which he has committed shall be forgiven him.”

This situation concerns a specific violation where a man lies with a woman who is a servant, not fully free. The punishment reflects both accountability and mercy. The man must offer a sacrifice to atone for his sin, showing that even in cases where the death penalty is not required, sin still requires restitution and repentance before God.

Leviticus 19:23-25 (NKJV)
23 “When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten.
24 But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the Lord.
25 And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase: I am the Lord your God.”

This passage outlines guidelines for fruit-bearing trees when the Israelites enter the Promised Land. The first three years, the fruit is considered "uncircumcised" and not to be eaten, likely to ensure the tree's healthy growth. In the fourth year, the fruit is offered to the Lord, showing gratitude for His provision. Only in the fifth year can the fruit be eaten, demonstrating a reliance on God’s timing and blessing for provision.

Leviticus 19:26-28 (NKJV)
26 “You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying.
27 You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard.
28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.”

These verses emphasize the rejection of pagan practices, both in dietary habits and in physical appearance. Eating blood, practicing divination, and disfiguring one’s body were common among the surrounding pagan nations, often associated with idol worship. God commands His people to avoid these practices to maintain their distinction and to prevent them from falling into idolatry or superstitious rituals.

Leviticus 19:29 (NKJV)
29 “Do not prostitute your daughter, to cause her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry, and the land become full of wickedness.”

This command reflects God’s desire to protect the purity and dignity of women. Prostitution, particularly when coerced, degrades society and leads to moral decay. By forbidding this practice, God upholds the sanctity of family and community, aiming to prevent the spread of wickedness throughout the land.

Leviticus 19:30 (NKJV)
30 “You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord.”

The command to observe the Sabbath and to revere the sanctuary is a reminder of God’s authority and holiness. The Sabbath represents rest in God, while revering the sanctuary signifies respect for His dwelling place among His people. Both practices are expressions of worship and devotion to God.

Leviticus 19:31 (NKJV)
31 “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.”

Consulting mediums and familiar spirits was a form of seeking guidance from the dead or the spiritual realm, often tied to idolatry. God forbids this practice, as it defiles His people by turning them away from reliance on Him. True guidance and wisdom come from God alone, not from occult practices.

Leviticus 19:32 (NKJV)
32 “You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.”

This command calls for respect toward the elderly, recognizing their wisdom and experience. Honoring the aged reflects a culture of reverence and humility, and it is linked directly to the fear of God. Treating the elderly with dignity is part of the broader command to love and respect others.

Leviticus 19:33-34 (NKJV)
33 “And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him.
34 The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

God commands the Israelites to treat foreigners with kindness and equality, reminding them of their own history as strangers in Egypt. The command to love the stranger as oneself reflects God’s justice and compassion, extending the same love and respect to all people, regardless of their background or nationality.

Leviticus 19:35-36 (NKJV)
35 “You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume.
36 You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”

These verses emphasize honesty and fairness in business dealings. God calls for accurate measurements and weights to prevent cheating and exploitation. Honest commerce is essential for a just society, and God links this command to His identity as the one who delivered Israel from Egypt, reminding them that their moral conduct should reflect their relationship with Him.

Leviticus 19:37 (NKJV)
37 “Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them: I am the Lord.”

The chapter concludes with a call to obedience. God reiterates the importance of keeping all His statutes and judgments. The phrase “I am the Lord” emphasizes God’s authority and His relationship with Israel. Their obedience is not merely legalistic but stems from their covenant with the Lord, who has set them apart to reflect His holiness.