Laws in the Book of Leviticus

Leviticus, (Latin: "And He Called"), Hebrew Wayiqraʾ, third book of the Latin Vulgate Bible, the name of which designates its contents as a book (or manual) primarily concerned with the priests and their duties. Although Leviticus is basically a book of laws, it also contains some narrative (chapters 8–9, 10:1–7, 10:16–20, and 24:10–14). The book is usually divided into five parts: sacrificial laws (chapters 1–7); the inauguration of the priesthood and laws governing their office (chapters 8–10); laws for ceremonial purity (chapters 11–16); laws governing the people's holiness (chapters 17–26); and a supplement concerning offerings to the sanctuary and religious vows (chapter 27).

"Scholars agree that Leviticus belongs to the Priestly (P) source of the Pentateuchal traditions. This material is dated according to one theory in the 7th century BC and is regarded as the law upon which Ezra and Nehemiah based their reform. Older material, however, is preserved in P, particularly the "Holiness Code" (chapters 17–26), dating from ancient times.

"Because the closing chapters of the preceding book (Exodus) and the opening chapters of the following book (Numbers) are also P materials, the existence of Leviticus as a separate book is presumably a secondary development. This hypothesis suggests that Leviticus properly belongs to a larger literary unit that is variously understood to include the first four, five, or six books of the Old Testament." – Encyclopaedia Britannica



Incest is forbidden: None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the Lord. – Leviticus 18:6-18.


Sexual immorality is forbidden: Thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her. – Leviticus 18:20.


Perversion is forbidden: Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: and the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. – Leviticus 18:22-25.


And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 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 19:1-2.


You shall revere your mother and father, and keep the Sabbaths. – Leviticus 19:3


Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods. – Leviticus 19:4.


You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. – Leviticus 19:11


You shall not swear by God's name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God. – Leviticus 19:12.


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 19:13.


Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the Lord. – Leviticus 19:14.


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 19:15.


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 19:16.


Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. – Leviticus 19:17


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 19:18.


Laws of degree and kind: 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 19:19.


Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times. – Leviticus 19:26.


Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks [tatoos] upon you: I am the Lord. – Leviticus 19:28.


Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God. – Leviticus 19:31.


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 19:3.


Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have. – Leviticus 19:35-36.

Top ↑



The Via Christa does not financially profit from any link we post.


References

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Leviticus," Encyclopædia Britannica. August 12, 2013 [accessed March 4, 2020].

The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).

Purchase a Bible here: The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV). Thomas Nelson, Inc.

The Holy Bible. Some Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.