Christian Standard Bible
Leviticus 19:16
16Do not go about spreading slander among your people; do not jeopardize your neighbor’s life; I am the Lord.
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
14Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you are to fear your God; I am the Lord. 15“Do not act unjustly when deciding a case. Do not be partial to the poor or give preference to the rich; judge your neighbor fairly. Do not go about spreading slander among your people; do not jeopardize your neighbor’s life; I am the Lord. 17“Do not harbor hatred against your brother. Rebuke your neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him. 18Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.
Read all of Leviticus 19Leviticus 19:16 word by word
לֹא־תֵלֵ֤ךְ רָכִיל֙ בְּעַמֶּ֔יךָ לֹ֥א תַעֲמֹ֖ד עַל־דַּ֣ם רֵעֶ֑ךָ אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Leviticus 19:16
- Exodus 23:1“You must not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked to be a malicious witness.
- Psalms 15:3who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor,
- Proverbs 11:13A gossip goes around revealing a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
- Proverbs 20:19The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid someone with a big mouth.
- Jeremiah 6:28All are stubborn rebels spreading slander. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt.
- Jeremiah 9:4Everyone has to be on guard against his friend. Don’t trust any brother, for every brother will certainly deceive, and every friend spread slander.
- Ezekiel 22:9There are men within you who slander in order to shed blood. People who live in you eat at the mountain shrines; they commit depraved acts within you.
- 1 Timothy 3:11Wives, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything.
- 2 Timothy 3:3unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good,
- 1 Peter 2:1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.
- Exodus 20:16Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.
- 1 Kings 21:10Then seat two wicked men opposite him and have them testify against him, saying, “You have cursed God and the king!” Then take him out and stone him to death.
- Matthew 26:60but they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two who came forward
- Matthew 27:4“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What’s that to us?” they said. “See to it yourself!”
- Acts 6:11Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
- Acts 24:4But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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