Leviticus 18:1 kjv
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Leviticus 18:1 nkjv
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Leviticus 18:1 niv
The LORD said to Moses,
Leviticus 18:1 esv
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Leviticus 18:1 nlt
Then the LORD said to Moses,
Leviticus 18 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 3:1-2 | Moses was tending the flock... the angel of the LORD appeared... | God's initial calling and direct communication with Moses. |
| Ex 6:1 | Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh..." | God assures Moses of His plan and power. |
| Ex 19:3 | Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying... | God establishing the covenant directly with Israel through Moses. |
| Num 1:1 | The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting... | Standard opening formula for many divine commands in Numbers. |
| Deut 4:10 | Recall the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb... | Reminds Israel of God speaking to Moses at Sinai. |
| Deut 5:1 | Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: "Hear, O Israel, the statutes..." | Moses reiterates God's law as commanded to him. |
| Jn 1:17 | For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. | Affirms Moses' role as the channel for the Law. |
| Lev 11:44-45 | For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. | Connects purity laws to God's inherent holiness. |
| Lev 19:2 | "Speak to all the congregation... 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.'" | Reiteration of God's holy nature as the basis for Israel's conduct. |
| Lev 20:26 | "Thus you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart..." | Explains the purpose of holiness: Israel is set apart by God. |
| Deut 7:6 | "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you..." | Israel's holiness stems from divine election and purpose. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also... because it is written, 'YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.'" | New Testament echo and application of the call to holiness from Lev. |
| Lev 18:3 | "You shall not do according to the deeds of the land of Egypt... nor... of Canaan..." | The immediate context; warns against the surrounding pagan practices. |
| Lev 20:23 | "Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I am driving out..." | Reinforces the necessity of separation from wicked national customs. |
| Deut 12:29-31 | "Be careful that you are not ensnared by following them... For every abominable act..." | Explicit warning against adopting the idolatrous and immoral practices of the Canaanites. |
| Ps 106:35-38 | "But mingled with the nations and learned their practices... they shed innocent blood..." | Shows the danger of failing to heed God's warnings against paganism. |
| Eze 20:7-8 | "Cast away... the detestable things... and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt..." | Recalls Israel's past struggle with Egyptian idolatry, linking it to defilement. |
| Matt 5:17-18 | "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill." | Christ affirms the enduring moral principles within the Law. |
| Rom 13:9-10 | "For this, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY... and whatever other commandment there is, are summed up in this one saying...'" | NT summarizes moral law, reiterating purity themes found in Leviticus. |
| 1 Cor 6:9-10 | "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators... nor adulterers..." | Echoes Leviticus' prohibitions against sexual immorality as fundamental sin. |
| Eph 5:3-5 | "But sexual immorality and all impurity... must not even be named among you..." | Reinforces Christian standards of purity, aligning with Lev 18 principles. |
| Lev 18:24-28 | "Do not defile yourselves by any of these things... for by all these the nations... became defiled... so that the land will not spew you out..." | Explains the consequence of disobedience: land's defilement and Israel's expulsion. |
| Deut 28:1, 15 | "Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God... all these blessings will come... But if you do not obey..." | General principle of covenant obedience bringing blessing, disobedience bringing curse. |
Leviticus 18 verses
Leviticus 18 1 Meaning
Leviticus 18:1 initiates a divine declaration, stating directly that the Lord (Yahweh) communicated to Moses, thereby setting the foundational authority for the subsequent moral and ritual purity laws in the chapter. This verse signifies the direct divine origin of the commands that follow, emphasizing that they are not human wisdom or cultural tradition, but precepts from God Himself for His chosen people. It establishes Moses as God's chosen intermediary, through whom these essential instructions are to be delivered to the Israelites.
Leviticus 18 1 Context
Leviticus chapter 18 is part of the extensive legal section of the Pentateuch, specifically within God's instructions given to Israel at Mount Sinai shortly after their exodus from Egypt. The broader context of Leviticus is establishing the covenant relationship between a holy God and His redeemed people, detailing the laws of worship, sacrifice, cleanness, and moral purity necessary for them to dwell in His presence. This particular chapter transitions from purity laws concerning physical states and animal sacrifices (previous chapters) to moral purity, particularly concerning unlawful sexual relationships and child sacrifice. The historical and cultural backdrop is crucial: Israel is preparing to enter Canaan, a land whose inhabitants (Canaanites) practiced a variety of sexually perverse acts and abhorrent religious rituals, including sacrificing their children. This verse sets the stage for a distinct set of divine commands that forbid these practices, making clear Israel's identity as a people set apart by God from the surrounding pagan cultures of Egypt (where they came from) and Canaan (where they were going). It forms a strong polemic against the prevailing moral relativism and cultic abuses of their ancient Near Eastern neighbors, underscoring that God's standards are immutable and distinct.
Leviticus 18 1 Word analysis
- And the LORD: And: Hebrew waw connective (וַ), indicating continuity with preceding divine commands and establishing that this is a direct, immediate communication in the ongoing narrative of God speaking to His people. the LORD: Hebrew YHVH (יְהוָה, Yahweh), the personal covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent, faithful nature. Its use here emphasizes that the forthcoming commands originate from the ultimate divine authority with whom Israel is in a unique relationship, making obedience a matter of loyalty to their God. This name highlights God's sovereignty and His initiative in revealing His will.
- spoke: Hebrew va-yĕ·ḏab·bêr (וַיְדַבֵּר), a Piel imperfect form of dabar, often translated "to speak." The Piel stem indicates an intensive or causative action, signifying a deliberate, authoritative, and often direct and emphatic communication, not a mere suggestion or informal chat. It denotes a clear and weighty utterance intended to convey binding instructions. It signifies God initiating the communication, not responding to a question.
- to Moses: Hebrew el-Mō·šeh (אֶל־מֹשֶׁה). Moses (Mōšeh) is the divinely appointed mediator, leader, and prophet chosen by God to receive and transmit His laws to the Israelites. This emphasizes the unique, direct channel of revelation through which God conveyed His will, ensuring the authority and authenticity of the commands that followed. It underscores the unparalleled prophetic role Moses played in establishing God's covenant with Israel.
- saying: Hebrew lē'·mōr (לֵאמֹר), an infinitive construct of amar ("to say"), often used to introduce direct speech. It indicates that the precise words or content of the divine communication are about to follow. It formally sets up the subsequent text as verbatim divine revelation, giving it the full weight of God's spoken word.
- "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying": This is a standard formula repeatedly used throughout the Pentateuch, especially in Leviticus and Numbers, to introduce God's direct commandments or declarations. It serves as an emphatic authentication of the message's divine origin and authority. It removes any ambiguity about the source of the laws, asserting that these are not Moses's personal ideas or tribal customs, but the explicit and binding word of Yahweh, given through His chosen spokesman to His covenant people. This authoritative introduction underpins the profound seriousness and non-negotiable nature of the sexual purity and moral laws detailed in Leviticus 18, setting them apart as foundational to Israel's holiness and distinction among the nations.
Leviticus 18 1 Bonus section
This introductory verse is critical because it contextualizes the severe prohibitions of chapter 18 within a framework of divine command rather than cultural convention. Without this preface, the subsequent laws might be interpreted as merely arbitrary rules or societal norms. However, "And the LORD spoke to Moses" elevates these moral injunctions—especially those regarding sexuality and child sacrifice—to a matter of cosmic significance, integral to Israel's unique identity as a holy nation, separate from the abominations of Egypt and Canaan. The absolute authority implied here warns against the dangers of moral relativism, emphasizing that there are fixed, divinely revealed standards for human conduct.
Leviticus 18 1 Commentary
Leviticus 18:1 is not merely an introduction; it is a foundational statement of divine authority for the entire chapter. By declaring that "the LORD spoke to Moses," the verse immediately establishes that the moral laws concerning sexual conduct and idolatrous practices which follow are not human constructs, but rather holy ordinances emanating directly from the Creator God. This divinely mandated standard sets Israel apart from the surrounding nations whose practices were morally corrupt and religiously defiled. The specificity of God speaking to Moses signifies His covenant relationship with Israel and His method of revelation, thereby binding the nation to these precepts as an expression of their loyalty to Him. This brief verse underpins the seriousness of the prohibitions and their ultimate purpose: to guide God's people in living lives of holiness, reflecting the holiness of God Himself.