Leviticus 19:16

Leviticus 19:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)“ ‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “ ‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
• New King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of Leviticus 19:16

14You must not curse the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD. 15You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly. You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD. 17You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him. 18Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:16 word by word

לֹא־תֵלֵ֤ךְ רָכִיל֙ בְּעַמֶּ֔יךָ לֹ֥א תַעֲמֹ֖ד עַל־דַּ֣ם רֵעֶ֑ךָ אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• You must notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• goהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• about spreading slanderרָכִילrâkîyl · slanderH7400
• among your peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• endangerעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• endangerעַל‛al · uponH5921
• the lifeדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
• of your neighborרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
• Iאֲנִי'ănîy · IH589
• am the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068

Cross-references for Leviticus 19:16

• Exodus 23:1“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.
• Psalms 15:3who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend,
• Proverbs 11:13A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
• Proverbs 20:19He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
• Jeremiah 6:28All are hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt.
• Jeremiah 9:4“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.
• Ezekiel 22:9Among you are slanderous men bent on bloodshed; within you are those who eat on the mountain shrines and commit acts of indecency.
• 1 Timothy 3:11In the same way, the women must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.
• 2 Timothy 3:3unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,
• 1 Peter 2:1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
• Exodus 20:16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
• 1 Kings 21:10But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
• Matthew 26:60But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward
• Matthew 27:4“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
• Acts 6:11Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”
• Acts 24:4But in order not to delay you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly.

Commentaries on Leviticus 19:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer - רכיל rachil signifies a trader, a peddler, and is here applied to the person who travels about dealing in scandal and calumny, getting the secrets of every person and family, and retailing them wherever he goes. A more despicable character exists not: such a person is a pest to society, and should be exiled from the habitations of men. Neither shalt thou stand against the blood, etc. - Thou shalt not be as…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Stand against the blood of thy neighbor - Either, to put his life in danger by standing up as his accuser (compare Matthew 26:60); or, to stand by idly when thy neighbor‘s life is in danger. Whichever interpretation we adopt, the clause prohibits that which might interfere with the course of justice.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16You must not go about spreading slander: Imagine a merchant who trades in damaging rumors and accusations. This behavior quickly weakens the valued community spirit in Israel (see Proverbs 11:13; 16:28; 20:19; 26:20; 2 Corinthians 12:20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1611-16. Ye shall not steal--A variety of social duties are inculcated in this passage, chiefly in reference to common and little-thought-of vices to which mankind are exceedingly prone; such as committing petty frauds, or not scrupling to violate truth in transactions of business, ridiculing bodily infirmities, or circulating stories to the prejudice of others. In opposition to these bad habits, a spirit of humanity and brotherly kindness is strongly…Read the comment

Topics related to Leviticus 19:16

• Accusation, False
• Blood
• Busybody
• False Teachers
• Falsehood
• Gossip
• Neighbor
• Talebearer

In the dictionaries

• Corner
• Dead
• Deal
• Divers
• Gender
• Husband
• Mar
• Prostitute
• Reap
• Rebuke

Commentaries on Leviticus 19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings