Leviticus-Chap-19-1–22
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please
do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Re Tanakh
versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of the
following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org”
(MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org”
(SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!
Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books -
Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or
Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history
of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations or
(additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
YYYYYYY
Remember
the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
YYYYYYY
Part One..
With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Leviticus Chapter 19 is often called the “Heart of the Torah”. It contains the ‘Holiness Code’, a collection of laws that translate the abstract concept of “holiness” into concrete actions. While the previous chapter focused on private morality, this section moves into the public sphere addressing how we treat our parents, the poor, and our workers. The central theme is that holiness is not found in isolation, but in how we conduct ourselves within a community.
May אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim (God), richly bless and keep you!
YYYYYYY
Below there are the chapters ‘Text’ followed by an ‘Explanation’s’ based on JPS-1917 version of the Torah:
Verse 1: And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:
Explanation: ‘This opening signifies a new and vital communication intended for the entire assembly.
Verse 2: Speak unto all the congregation of the children of
Explanation: This is the fundamental command of the chapter. Holiness in Judaism means being “set apart” through ethical living and self-discipline, mirroring the Divine nature.
Verse 3: Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and ye shall keep My sabbaths: I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם- יְהוָה- the LORD your Eloheychem.
Explanation: Revering parents and keeping the Sabbath are joined here to show that while we respect human authority, the Sabbath reminds us that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) is the ultimate authority over all.
Verse 4: Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם- יְהוָה- the LORD your Eloheychem’.
Explanation: A warning against replacing the Living אֱלֹהִים - Elohim with physical or conceptual substitutes.
Verse 5: ‘And when ye offer a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto יְהוָה - the LORD, ye shall offer it that ye may be accepted.
Explanation: Even a voluntary “peace offering” (Shelamim) must be done according to the specific Divine protocol to be valid.
Verse 6: It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow; and if aught remain until the third day, it shall be burnt with fire.
Explanation: This prevents the holy meat from becoming stale or “leftover”, ensuring the sacrificial meal remains a dignified event.
Verse 7: And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination; it shall not be accepted;
Explanation: Delaying the consumption beyond the allowed time turns a holy act into a desecration.
Verse 8: but every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the holy thing of יְהוָה - the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from his people.
Explanation: Respecting the “sanctity of time” is a key element of the Jewish spiritual discipline.
Verse 9: And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field; neither shalt thou gather the gleaning of thy harvest.
Explanation: This introduces the law of Pe’ah (the corner). A portion of every field must be left for those in need.
Verse 10: And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather the fallen fruit of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם- יְהוָה- the LORD your Eloheychem .
Explanation: Agriculture is not just for profit; it is a vehicle for social justice and providing for the vulnerable.
Verse 11: Ye shall not steal; neither shall ye deal falsely, nor lie one to another.
Explanation: These three prohibitions form the basis of a trustworthy society. Deception is viewed as a form of theft.
Verse 12: And ye shall not swear by My name falsely, so that thou profane the Name of thy אֱלֹהִים - Elohim: I am יְהוָה - the LORD.
Explanation: Bringing אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Name into a lie is the ultimate “Chillul” יְהוָה - the LORD the profanation of the Divine Name.
Verse 13: Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbour, nor rob him; the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
Explanation: Ethical treatment of workers is a religious duty. Withholding a pay check is equated to “oppression”.
Verse 14: Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind, but thou shalt fear thy אֱלֹהִים - Elohim: I am יְהוָה - the LORD.
Explanation: We must not take advantage of someone’s weakness or lack of knowledge. “Fear thy אֱלֹהִים - Elohim” is added because only אֱלֹהִים - Elohim knows if our intent was to help or hinder.
Verse 15: Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment; thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor favour the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
Explanation: Justice must be blind to social status. We should not favour the rich out of greed, nor the poor out of misplaced pity.
Verse 16: Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people; neither shalt thou stand idly by the blood of thy neighbour: I am יְהוָה - the LORD.
Explanation: This forbids gossip (Lashon Hara) and also commands us to intervene when we see someone’s life is in danger.
Verse 17: Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart; thou shalt surely rebuke thy neighbour, and not bear sin because of him.
Explanation: Instead of harbouring silent hatred, we are told to speak honestly to our neighbour to resolve conflicts.
Verse 18: Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am יְהוָה - the LORD.
Explanation: This is the “Golden Rule”. Vengeance and grudges are prohibited because they stem from the idea that we are separate, whereas we are actually part of one nation.
Verse 19: Ye shall keep My statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind; thou shalt not sow thy field with two kinds of seed; neither shall there come upon thee a garment of two kinds of stuff mingled together.
Explanation: These laws (Kilayim) remind us to respect the natural boundaries אֱלֹהִים - Elohim established in creation, animal, vegetable, and mineral.
Verse 20: And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, designated for a man, and not at all redeemed, nor was freedom given her; there shall be inquisition; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
Explanation: This addresses a complex social situation involving a woman in a transitional legal status, emphasizing that legal consequences depend on her specific standing.
Verse 21: And he shall bring his guilt-offering unto יְהוָה - the LORD, unto the door of the tent of meeting, even a ram for a guilt-offering.
Explanation: The man must take responsibility for his trespass through a physical act of atonement.
Verse 22: And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt-offering before יְהוָה - the LORD for his sin which he hath committed; and the sin which he hath committed shall be forgiven him”.
Explanation: This concludes the process of restoration through the intervention of the priest and the sincere effort of the individual.
YYYYYYY
My Closing Message:
In these first twenty-two verses, the Torah shows that holiness is practical. It is found in how we harvest our fields, how we pay our workers, and how we speak to our friends. By commanding us to “Love thy neighbour as thyself”, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim teaches us that the highest form of holiness is recognizing the Divine image in every person we encounter.
YYYYYYY
Please
Note: “hebraicstudies”
links are located down the page!
This
site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and
wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or
three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us,
especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very
much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember
what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via
several of our prophets...
“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;
“The More Torah, the More Life”,
For Elohim is the One who
gave us our ... “Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with you, and
please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before
food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with
you!
Enter ...