English Standard Version
Leviticus 19:16
16You 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. “Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.
Context of Leviticus 19:16
14You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. 15"You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. 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. 17"You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall 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 shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.
- Psalms 15:3who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
- Proverbs 11:13Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
- Proverbs 20:19Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
- Jeremiah 6:28They are all stubbornly rebellious, going about with slanders; they are bronze and iron; all of them act corruptly.
- Jeremiah 9:4Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer.
- Ezekiel 22:9There are men in you who slander to shed blood, and people in you who eat on the mountains; they commit lewdness in your midst.
- 1 Timothy 3:11Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.
- 2 Timothy 3:3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
- 1 Peter 2:1So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
- Exodus 20:16"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- 1 Kings 21:10And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, 'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death."
- Matthew 26:60but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward
- Matthew 27:4saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself."
- Acts 6:11Then they secretly instigated men who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."
- Acts 24:4But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness 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
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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