Leviticus - Chapter 19

Leviticus 19.1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Leviticus 19.2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. Leviticus 19.3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19.4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19.5 And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will. Leviticus 19.6 It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if ought remain until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire. Leviticus 19.7 And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable; it shall not be accepted. Leviticus 19.8 Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD: and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Leviticus 19.9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. Leviticus 19.10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19.11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. Leviticus 19.12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19.13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. Leviticus 19.14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19.15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. Leviticus 19.16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the LORD. Leviticus 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Leviticus 19.18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19.19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee. Leviticus 19.20 And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free. Leviticus 19.21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering. Leviticus 19.22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the LORD for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him. Leviticus 19.23 And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of. Leviticus 19.24 But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD withal. Leviticus 19.25 And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19.26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times. Leviticus 19.27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. Leviticus 19.28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19.29 Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness. Leviticus 19.31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19.32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19.33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. Leviticus 19.34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19.35 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Leviticus 19.36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. Leviticus 19.37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.

Leviticus : Chapter 19

The Holiness Code in Leviticus Chapter 19

Leviticus chapter 19 presents a comprehensive holiness code, inviting each of us to reflect on how to live a holy life in our daily lives. This rich and diverse text addresses essential topics such as respect for parents, observance of the Sabbath, social justice, and love for others.

It is crucial to understand that holiness must permeate every aspect of our lives. These laws are not mere rules, but reflect the character of God and His desire for a distinct people who live by His precepts. To deepen our understanding of this call to practical holiness in our daily lives, we invite you to examine five key biblical passages.

Illuminating Bible Passages

James 2:8

"If you truly obey the royal law found in Scripture, which says, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing good." - James quotes Leviticus 19:18, calling it the royal law'.

Matthew 22:39

"And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" - Jesus quotes Leviticus 19:18 as the second greatest commandment.

1 Peter 1:16

"For it is written: 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" - Peter quotes Leviticus 19:2, applying the call to holiness to Christians.

Ephesians 6:2-3

"Honor your father and your mother," which is the first commandment with a promise: "that it may go well with you and that you may live long on the earth." - Paul quotes the commandment from Leviticus 19:3 concerning the honor of parents.

1 Corinthians 10:14

"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." - This verse echoes the prohibition of idolatry contained in Leviticus 19:4.

By meditating on these passages, we are invited to live our faith fully, to integrate holiness into every aspect of our lives, and to respond to the divine call with love and devotion.