Levítico 19
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Levítico 19
NJB (MT versing) Idolatry Forbidden Moral and Ceremonial Laws The Life of Holiness Laws of Holiness and Justice NJB Text 19:1-8 19:1-3 19:1 19:1-3 19:1-2a 19:2-4 19:2b 19:3a 19:3b 19:4-8 19:4 19:4 Sundry Laws 19:5-8 19:5-8 19:5-8 19:9-10 19:9-10 19:9-10 19:9-10 19:9-10 19:11-12 19:11-12 19:11-12 19:11-12 19:11-14 19:13-14 19:13-14 19:13-14 19:13-14 19:15-16 19:15-16 19:15-16 19:15-16 19:15-18 19:17-18 19:17-18 19:17-18 19:17-18 19:19 19:19-22 19:19 19:19 19:19a 19:19b 19:20-22 19:20-22 19:20-22 19:20-22 19:23-25 19:23-25 19:23-25 19:23-25 19:23-25 19:26-28 19:26-28 19:26-28 19:26-28 19:26 19:27-28 19:29-30 19:29-30 19:29-30 19:29-30 19:29 19:30 19:31 19:31 19:31 19:31 19:31 19:32 19:32 19:32 19:32 19:32 19:33-34 19:33-34 19:33-34 19:33-34 19:33-34 19:35-37 19:35-36 19:35-37 19:35-37 19:35-37 19:37 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This chapter deals with various regulations (note the curses of Deuteronomy 27). These are repeated in several places in the Pentateuch. This shows some type of editing. Remember, OT compilations or editing are also inspired. List of subject and parallels. be holy for I am holy, Lev. 19:2 ‒ Exod. 19:5-6; Lev. 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7,26; Num. 15:40; Deut. 7:6; 14:2,21 honor parents, Lev. 19:3 ‒ Exod. 20:12; Deut. 5:16; 27:16 (see full note online at Deut. 5:16) keep the sabbath, Lev. 19:3b ‒ Exod. 20:8; 23:12; 31:15; Lev. 19:30; Deut. 5:12-14 no idolatry, Lev. 19:4 ‒ Exod. 20:3-4,23; 34:17; Deut. 4:15-19; 5:7-9 peace offering regulations, Lev. 19:5-8 ‒ Leviticus 3; 7:28-34 gleaning (see full note online at Deut. 24:19-23), Lev. 19:9-10 ‒ Lev. 23:22; Deut. 23:24-25; 24:19-21 no stealing, Lev. 19:11 ‒ Exod. 20:15; 21:16; Deut. 5:19 (may refer to kidnaping, see Deut. 24:7) no false witness, Lev. 19:11 ‒ Exod. 20:16; Deut. 5:20 (see full note online at Deut. 5:20) do not take YHWH's name in vain, Lev. 19:12 ‒ Exod. 20:7; Deut. 5:11; 6:13; 10:20 (see full note online at Deut. 5:11) do not oppress or rob neighbor, Lev. 19:13a ‒ Exod. 22:7-15,21-23 pay the hired help immediately, Lev. 19:13b ‒ Deut. 24:14-15 treat the disabled with care, not malice, Lev. 19:14 ‒ Deut. 27:18 be fair in judgment, Lev. 19:15-16 ‒ Lev. 23:3,6-9; Deut. 1:17; 16:19; 24:17; 27:19,25 (see full note online at Deut. 1:17) do not hate or take revenge on your covenant partner but love him, Lev. 19:17-18 ‒ Deut. 32:35 (see full note online) do not mix things, Lev. 19:19 ‒ Deut. 22:9-11 improper sexual activity with a slave, Lev. 19:20-22 ‒ Deut. 22:23-27 initial dedication of fruit tree harvest to God until the fifth year, Lev. 19:23-25 do not eat blood, Lev. 19:26a ‒ Lev. 3:17; 7:26-27; Deut. 12:16,23-25 do not practice divination or soothsaying, Lev. 19:26b,31 ‒ Lev. 20:6; 27; Deut. 18:9-13,14 (see full note online at Deut. 18:9-14) do not cut your beards, Lev. 19:27-28 ‒ Lev. 21:5; Deut. 14:1 (see full note online) do not sell/give your daughter to prostitution, Lev. 19:29 ‒ Deut. 23:17-18; for priest's daughters see Lev. 21:9 (see full note online at Deut. 23:17-18) revere YHWH's sanctuary, Lev. 19:30b ‒ Lev. 26:2 honor the aged, Lev. 19:32 treat the stranger/sojourner well, Lev. 19:33-34 ‒ Exod. 22:21 fair commerce, Lev. 19:35-36 ‒ Deut. 25:13-16 Notice how Israel made no distinction between what we now label as "cultic" and "moral." All of life was sacred and a gift from God. Not only the Sabbath but every day, the people of God model His character to a pagan world. There is a lot of confusion in this chapter between SINGULAR and PLURAL in the MT and the ancient versions.
Levítico 19:2-4
19:2 "Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel" This is a Piel IMPERATIVE, like so many in the chapters in Leviticus, but this one is uniquely addressed to the whole congregation (cf. Exod. 12:3). ▣ "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" The VERB (BDB 224, KB 243, Qal IMPERFECT) is used as an IMPERATIVE or JUSSIVE, with an emphasis on "continue to be holy," as are all the VERBS in Lev. 19:2b-5). This is the reason for all of these stipulations. God is to be reflected in the daily life of His people (cf. Lev. 11:44,45; 20:7,26; Matt. 5:48). See SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY and SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HOLY ONE. 19:3 "you shall reverence his mother and his father" Notice that a stable family pattern, reflected in Exod. 20:12, is what will make a strong society. There are several texts that express this same truth from a negative perspective (cf. Exod. 21:15,17; Lev. 20:9; Deut. 21:18-21; Prov. 20:20; 23:22; 30:17). Also notice that the mother is mentioned first (cf. Lev. 21:2), which shows the respect for her in the Hebrew society. The LXX, Peshitta, and Vulgate reverse the order of the MT. The VERB "revere" (BDB 431, KB 432, Qal PERFECT) is literally "fear." It is used in several senses. fear of God ‒ Gen. 3:10; 18:15; 20:8; 28:12 of men ‒ Gen. 32:8; 42:3; 43:18; Exod. 2:14; 14:10; Deut. 20:8; 31:8 in awe of God ‒ Exod. 9:30; Lev. 19:14,32; 25:17,36,43 of men ‒ Exod. 34:30 (i.e. Moses) honor/respect/fear God ‒ Gen. 42:18; Exod. 1:17,21; 18:21; Deut. 4:10; 6:2,13,24; 8:6; 10:12,20; 14:23; 17:19; 31:12-13 parents ‒ Lev. 19:3 (Deut. 5:16, different VERB) YHWH's sanctuary ‒ Lev. 19:30; 26:2 leaders (i.e. Moses and Joshua) ‒ Josh. 4:14 not fear other gods ‒ Jdgs. 6:10 ▣ "you shall keep My sabbaths" The VERB, like all VERBS in Lev. 19:2b-5, is IMPERFECT, which denotes continual action. Notice "sabbath" is PLURAL. This admonition means "keep all the regulations about My sabbath worship, week by week and year by year. It is important to Him (cf. Gen. 2:1-3; Exod. 20:8-11). 19:4 "Do not turn to idols" The term translated "idols" is difficult to define (BDB 47, KB 55). diminutive of El (the general name for god in the ANE; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, A) from Arabic root ‒ useless from Akkadian root ‒ powerless NET Bible suggests "worthless," p. 254 and mentions that Snaith translates it as "worthless godlings," which combines two of the theories. It is obvious, as one goes through this chapter, that much of it reflects a delineation of the Ten Commandments, although in a different order (cf. Exod. 20:4-6). See SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY. The VERB "turn" (BDB 815, KB 937, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense, negated) implies a turning from and a turning to (cf. Deut. 31:18,20; Hosea 3:1). This terrible spiritual reality is expressed in Jer. 2:13! See SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM.
Levítico 19:5-8
19:5 "peace offerings" See full note at Leviticus 3 and 7:28-34. ▣ "so that you may be accepted" There is no VERB in the MT. The NOUN (BDB 953) has three connotations. goodwill, favor acceptance ‒ see here and Exod. 28:38; Lev. 1:3; 22:19,29; 23:11 will, desire, pleasure Proper offering, proper animal, proper place, proper ritual were all required for the sacrifice to be accepted (i.e. Lev. 22:19,20,21). It is difficult to know if "the acceptance" is of the "offering" or the "offerer," possibly both. 19:6 "but what remains until the third day shall be burned with fire" This is possibly because the fellowship meal was meant to include other Israelis and Levites. Israelites did not eat much meat and certainly an individual could not eat this much meat at one time, so they were encouraged to invite their covenant partners to share with them. There may be some kind of hygienic purpose to this regulation. 19:7 "So if it is eaten at all" This is an intensified grammatical construction (i.e. an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB from the same root, also note Lev. 19:17 and 20). 19:8 "the holy thing" The difference between "the most holy" and "the holy," in referring to sacrifices, has to do with where the blood was placed. if taken into the inner shrine it became "most holy" and could be eaten only by priests if put on the altar of sacrifice (i.e. peace offerings) it was "holy" but could be eaten by nonpriests, priests and their families ▣ "that person shall be cut off from his people" This obviously refers to some kind of separation from the people of God. Some see it as excommunication, while others see it as a divine death. The context implies death. See note at Lev. 7:20.
Levítico 19:9-10
19:9 "you shall not reap" This was a provision for the poor and sojourner (cf. Lev. 23:22; Deut. 23:4-25; 24:19-22). They were not to completely harvest their field crops or vineyards in order that the poor and needy might have access to gather something to eat.
Levítico 19:11-12
19:11 "You shall not steal" This may refer to kidnapping. See SPECIAL TOPIC: STEALING. ▣ "nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another" See full note online at Exod. 20:16. 19:12 "You shall not swear falsely by My name" See full note online at Exod. 20:7. This refers to an oath, either in a business deal or in worship. See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH (OT).
Levítico 19:13-14
19:13 "You shall not oppress your neighbor" This refers to the wages given to a day laborer at the end of the day, whereby he might feed himself and his family (i.e. Exod. 23:3). The owner of the land wanted to be assured that the man would return the next day and often held the money until then, but this was regarded as taking advantage of the poor (cf. Deut. 24:14-15). 19:14 Action toward other members of the covenant people, even though they might have some kind of handicap, was considered to be an action against God (cf. Matt. 25:45). If a person were "deaf" how would they know someone had "cursed" them? lip reading (i.e. use sight) unimportant that it was heard, a curse once pronounced had an effect (like God's word, Isa. 55:9-11) cursing depreciates the "divine image" in all humans; this depreciation is "felt" by how others act toward the handicapped one
Levítico 19:15-16
19:15-16 God did not show partiality (cf. Deut. 10:17), so neither should His people. These two verses express the need for warnings to both judges and witnesses about lying for personal gain warnings about withholding knowledge of an act/event/crime 19:16 NASB, NRSV, NJB "as a slanderer" NKJV, JPSOA footnote "as a talebearer" "spread lies" "deal basely" "accuse" The NOUN (BDB 940, KB 1236) has an uncertain root meaning. to travel to slander So, does it refer to someone who is a deceptive business person who travels a slanderer who goes from person to person, home to home telling falsehoods? Whichever, the consequences may be devastating, even death. This is far more than gossip but implies a witness in a legal case (NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 1114-1115). ▣ "You are not to act against the life of your neighbor" "nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor" NRSV, JPSOA "you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor" "and when someone is on trial for his life, speak out if your testimony can help him" "do not take sides against your neighbor on a capital charge" "you shall not conspire against the blood of your neighbor" The MT has "you shall not stand forth against the blood of your neighbor" (BDB 196 CONSTRUCT BDB 945). There are two majority opinions. if you know the truth about a court case you must speak do not give false testimony in a capital offense trial
Levítico 19:17-18
19:17 "You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart" This is a regulation (or possibly two separate laws) regarding attitude, much like Exod. 20:17. This shows that a root of bitterness was not allowed between individuals of covenant people of God. Leviticus 19:18 shows that God will set everything straight; it is not up to the individual Israelite to do so (cf. Deut. 32:35). ▣ "you may surely reprove your neighbor" This is an intensified grammatical form (i.e. an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root, BDB 406, KB 410). Israelites could disagree and confront one another ([1] personally, see Ben Sira 9:3; [2] in a lawsuit, see NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 442, #1) but not hate one another. How faithful followers treat each other is a reflection of their love and respect for God. 19:18 "love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord" Notice that some degree of self love is mandatory as we see ourselves in an appropriate relationship to God and, therefore, to others (cf. Deut. 32:35; Rom. 12:19). This same law is mentioned in Lev. 19:34, where it is expanded to include the resident alien. This was Jesus' "second great commandment" (cf. Matt. 5:43; 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Rom. 13:9; Gal. 5:14; James 2:8). For a helpful discussion of the relationship of the NT believers to OT law, see Fee and Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, pp. 165-169.
Levítico 19:19
19:19 The theological or cultural reason behind this rule has been lost. Like other rules, it probably related to magic, sorcery (Lev. 19:31; 20:6; 27, see SPECIAL TOPIC: MAGIC and the full notes online at Deuteronomy 18) things related to pagan worship (cf. Lev. 18:3,24-30, i.e. sacrifices or priestly clothes)
Levítico 19:20-22
19:20 "if a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave acquired for another man" Leviticus 19:20-22 seems to form a separate unit going back to sexual improprieties which had to do with slave women. There are some double standards in the Old Testament. However, this seems to imply that a price had to be paid. ▣ "acquired for another man" "who is betrothed as a concubine to another man" "designated for another man" "the recognized concubine of a man" "who is a concubine slave of a man" JPSOA, REB "who has been designated for another man" "she is a domestic carefully guarded for a man" "who is a bond maid betrothed to a husband" The MT has the PARTICIPLE (BDB 358, KB 356, Niphal PARTICIPLE), which KB simply defines as "intended for (another) man." BDB adds the designation "concubine." The Niphal occurs only here. It is not meant to be a negative term in any way. She is not the problem, the one who lies with her is the guilty party. ▣ "who has in no way been redeemed" This is the third example in this chapter of an emphatic construction (i.e. an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and a VERB from the same root, BDB 804, KB 911, cf. Lev. 19:7,17). This one, however, has a PERFECT VERB and not the normal IMPERFECT. See SPECIAL TOPIC: RANSOM/REDEEM. ▣ NASB, TEV "there shall be punishment" "for this there shall be scourging" NRSV, REB, LXX, Peshitta "an inquiry shall be held" "he will be liable for a fine" "there shall be an indemnity" The phrase, "there shall be punishment" (BDB 134, KB 152), is very difficult (NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 707, #3) to understand and the rabbis differ over its meaning. It may refer according to the Jerusalem Bible, to damages which must be paid (i.e. the dowry price) to the slave girl's owner or to her fianc�. BDB defines the term as "punishment after iniquity." KB defines the term as "obligation to compensate." 19:22 "make atonement" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ATONEMENT.
Levítico 19:23-25
19:23 "When you enter the land" This phrase clearly shows that parts of Leviticus were given by YHWH to Moses before Israel entered the Promised Land this is an anachronism by a later editor ▣ NASB, NRSV, JPSOA, REB "forbidden" NKJV, NJB "uncircumcised" "ritually unclean" "impure" The MT has "uncircumcised" (lit. "foreskin"), which was an idiom for that which was unclean or "to be removed." 19:24 The fruit from the fourth year was to be offered to the Lord as a sign that all of the fruit belonged to Him. The Old Testament quite often takes the part to refer to the whole. This is true of the Sabbath day, which reflects the truth that all days belong to God, see SPECIAL TOPIC: SABBATH (OT) the firstborn, that all children belong to God, see SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRSTBORN the tithe, that all income belongs to God, see SPECIAL TOPIC: TITHING the first fruits, which shows that all of the produce belongs to God The term (BDB 239) is translated "an offering of praise." The same word refers to a pagan harvest festival in Jdgs. 9:27. Some scholars suspect that this law had its origin in contrast to pagan worship. Many of Israel's laws were meant to separate the Israelites from Egyptian and Canaanite practices (cf. Lev. 18:3).
Levítico 19:26-28
19:26 Instead of a prohibition of eating blood (cf. Lev. 17:12), the LXX has "Do not eat on the mountains," which would reflect Ba'al worship (cf. Isa. 57:5-7; Ezek. 6:13; 18:6,15; 20:28; 22:9; Hosea 4:13). ▣ "divination or soothsaying" These were different ways that the surrounding nations determined the will of God (see full note online at Deut. 18:10-12). Although Leviticus is speaking to the people of God, it shows that they had been influenced, or would be influenced, by Canaanite worship practices. 19:27 "You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard" This was related somehow to the Canaanite worship rites of mourning (cf. Lev. 21:1-5; Deut. 14:1-2) but we are simply unsure at this point (i.e. Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, p. 61). See SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES. 19:28 "You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves" This same type of procedure is found in Lev. 21:5 and Deut. 14:1. It relates somewhat to Canaanite worship practices (cf. 2 Kings 18). This does not relate to modern artistic tattoos. The word "tattoo" (BDB 508) occurs only here.
Levítico 19:29-30
19:29-30 This relates to YHWH's Tabernacle being totally different from the worship practices of the fertility cults of the ANE. See SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST. 19:29,31 There are three IMPERFECTS used in a JUSSIVE sense. do not profane, Lev. 19:29 do not turn to, Lev. 19:31 do not seek, Lev. 29:31 Notice the same contextual thrust in Lev. 19:4, "do not turn to. . ." 19:30 "You shall keep My sabbaths and revere My sanctuary" This reflects Exod. 20:8-11.
Levítico 19:31
19:31 "mediums or spiritists" These were people who tried to contact the dead (cf, Deut. 18:10-12). Ancestor worship or an attempt to manipulate "the powers" dominated ancient worship practices. See full notes online in Deuteronomy 18.
Levítico 19:32
19:32 "You shall rise up before the grayheaded" This is a unique passage about reverence for the aged. See Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology 2nd ed., pp. 568-570. It is possible that the aged person here is part of the community leadership (i.e. elder, judge) and this was an act of defiance toward authority, not just age.
Levítico 19:33-34
19:33 Abraham and Isaac were sojourners in a foreign land. Israel knew how it felt, as they were slaves in Egypt (cf. Exod. 22:21; 23:9; Deut. 5:15; 10:19). Israel must be distinct, holy, different, reflecting YHWH's character. See SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT). 19:34 "The stranger who resides with you. . .you shall love him as yourself" This even expands the concept which was mentioned in Lev. 19:18, where we are told to love our neighbors. Here we are told to even include our resident aliens. In the New Testament it is expanded to include even those who persecute us.
Levítico 19:35-37
19:35-37 This basically deals with honesty in business practices. The famous statement, "business is business" is an untrue maxim. We should reflect who our God is in every area of our lives. 19:36 "ephah. . .hin" YHWH was concerned with fair business practices (cf. Prov. 11:1; 20:23; Hos 12:7; Amos 8:5; Micah 6:11). How one does business reveals his heart and priorities! See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES. ▣ "just balances, just weights" This is an example of the term (BDB 841, cf. Deut. 25:15), usually translated "righteousness" (see SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS) in a non-theological sense. 19:37 "statutes. . .ordinances" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION.