Focused Passage

Leviticus 19:15-16

Be Holy Because I Am Holy: Covenant Life Before God and Neighbor

The LORD commands the whole assembly of Israel to be holy because He is holy, then applies that holiness across reverence for parents, Sabbath keeping, rejection of idols, proper fellowship offerings, care for the poor and foreigner, honesty, justice, love of neighbor, sexual and agricultural boundaries, rejection of pagan practices, Sabbath and sanctuary reverence, honoring the elderly, love for the foreigner, and honest weights and measures.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

15 You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.

16 You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 15

Cross-references

James 2:1 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 1:17 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 27:19 Classic cross-references James 2:9 Classic cross-references Proverbs 24:23 Classic cross-references

Original words

You must not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle pervert תַעֲשׂ֥וּ H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural . . . עָ֙וֶל֙ H5766 Noun - masculine singular justice בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֔ט H4941 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular you must not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle show partiality תִשָּׂ֣א H5375 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular . . . פְנֵי־ H6440 Noun - masculine plural construct to the poor דָ֔ל H1800 Adjective - masculine singular construct or וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle favoritism תֶהְדַּ֖ר H1921 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular . . . פְּנֵ֣י H6440 Noun - common plural construct to the rich גָד֑וֹל H1419 Adjective - masculine singular you are to judge תִּשְׁפֹּ֥ט H8199 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular your neighbor עֲמִיתֶֽךָ׃ H5997 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular fairly בְּצֶ֖דֶק H6664 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 16

Cross-references

Exodus 23:1 Classic cross-references Exodus 23:7 Classic cross-references Proverbs 11:13 Classic cross-references Proverbs 20:19 Classic cross-references Psalms 15:3 Classic cross-references

Original words

You must not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle go תֵלֵ֤ךְ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular about spreading slander רָכִיל֙ H7400 Noun - masculine singular among your people בְּעַמֶּ֔יךָ H5971 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular You must not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle endanger תַעֲמֹ֖ד H5975 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular . . . עַל־ H5921 Preposition the life דַּ֣ם H1818 Noun - masculine singular construct of your neighbor רֵעֶ֑ךָ H7453 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular I אֲנִ֖י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular am the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

Literally blood

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