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 shall not curse a person who is deaf, nor put a stumbling block before a person who is blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the Lord. 15‘You shall not do injustice in judgment; you shall not show partiality to the poor nor give preference to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly. You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people; and you are not to jeopardize the life of your neighbor. I am the Lord. 17‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may certainly rebuke your neighbor, but you are not to incur sin because of him. 18You shall not take vengeance, nor hold any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall 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 shall not goהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• aboutהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• a slandererרָכִילrâkîyl · slanderH7400
• among your peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• jeopardizeעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• jeopardizeעַל‛al · uponH5921
• lifeדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
• of your neighborרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
• I am the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068

Cross-references for Leviticus 19:16

• Exodus 23:1“You shall not give a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked person to be a malicious witness.
• Psalms 15:3He does not slander with his tongue, Nor do evil to his neighbor, Nor bring shame on his friend;
• Proverbs 11:13One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, But one who is trustworthy conceals a matter.
• Proverbs 20:19One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
• Jeremiah 6:28All of them are stubbornly rebellious, Going about as a slanderer; They are bronze and iron. They are, all of them, corrupt.
• Jeremiah 9:4“Let everyone be on guard against his neighbor, And do not trust any brother; Because every brother utterly betrays, And every neighbor goes about as a slanderer.
• Ezekiel 22:9Slanderous men have been among you for the purpose of shedding blood, and among you they have eaten at the mountain shrines. In your midst they have committed outrageous sin.
• 1 Timothy 3:11Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.
• 2 Timothy 3:3unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
• 1 Peter 2:1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,
• Exodus 20:16“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
• 1 Kings 21:10and seat two worthless men opposite him, and have them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
• Matthew 26:60They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward,
• Matthew 27:4saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You shall see to it yourself!”
• Acts 6:11Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
• Acts 24:4But, that I may not weary you further, I beg you to grant us a brief hearing, by your kindness.

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