Leviticus 18:5 kjv
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18:5 nkjv
You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18:5 niv
Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18:5 esv
You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18:5 nlt
If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deu 4:1 | "...keep the statutes and judgments... that you may live and may go in and possess the land." | Obedience for life in the land |
| Deu 30:19-20 | "...choose life, that you and your descendants may live..." | Choice of life through obedience |
| Deu 32:47 | "For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life..." | God's word as Israel's life |
| Neh 9:29 | "Your laws, which if a man keeps he will live by them..." | Recalls God's life-giving laws |
| Eze 20:11 | "I gave them My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he will live by them." | Ezekiel reiterates the life-law principle |
| Eze 20:13, 21 | "They rebelled against My judgments, not walking in My statutes, which if a man does, he will live by them..." | Disobedience leads to death, despite life-giving laws |
| Ps 19:7-11 | "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;... by keeping them there is great reward." | Law as life-giving and beneficial |
| Ps 119:93 | "I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life." | Precepts bring life |
| Prov 4:22 | "For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." | Wisdom's words bring life and health |
| Isa 55:3 | "Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live..." | Hearing God leads to spiritual life |
| Jer 7:23 | "...obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people..." | Obedience establishes covenant relationship |
| Matt 19:17 | "If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." | Jesus connects commandments to life |
| Luke 10:28 | "...Do this and you will live." | Jesus confirms life through law (as question) |
| Rom 7:10 | "The commandment which was to bring life, I found to bring death." | Law's inability to give life due to sin |
| Rom 10:5 | "For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, 'The man who does those things shall live by them.'" | Paul quotes Lev 18:5, contrasts law with faith |
| Gal 3:12 | "Yet the law is not of faith; but 'The man who does them shall live by them.'" | Paul contrasts Law and Faith as sources of life |
| Gal 3:21 | "...if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law." | Law's inherent limitation in imparting life |
| John 5:24 | "He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life..." | Eternal life through hearing & believing Christ |
| John 6:63 | "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing..." | Life through the Spirit, not human effort |
| John 14:6 | "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." | Jesus as the ultimate source of Life |
| John 17:3 | "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." | Eternal life through knowing God and Christ |
| Phil 3:9 | "...not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ..." | Righteousness through faith, not law-keeping |
| Jas 1:22, 25 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only... in what he does, he will be blessed." | Emphasis on doing the Word (wisdom, not just law) |
Leviticus 18 verses
Leviticus 18 5 Meaning
Leviticus 18:5 proclaims that observing God's divine decrees (statutes) and just rulings (judgments) is the path to "life." This "life" encompasses well-being, flourishing, prosperity, and a blessed existence under God's covenant in the land, implying also spiritual vitality. The declaration "I am the LORD" underscores the absolute authority and divine origin of these commandments, establishing them as the foundational principles for human flourishing and the very basis of God's relationship with His people.
Leviticus 18 5 Context
Leviticus chapter 18, often referred to as part of the "Holiness Code" (chapters 17-27), sets forth God's decrees for ethical, sexual, and ritual purity for the people of Israel. As Israel was about to enter the land of Canaan, this chapter specifically addresses practices forbidden by God that were prevalent among the surrounding pagan nations (Egypt and Canaanites), such as incest, adultery, homosexual acts, bestiality, and child sacrifice. Verse 5 serves as the foundational principle for these prohibitions: living by God's holy standards leads to life and distinguishes Israel as a people set apart for God. Disobeying these commands, as seen in the broader narrative, leads to defilement, spiritual death, expulsion from the land, and ultimately, judgment.
Leviticus 18 5 Word analysis
- You shall therefore keep: The imperative nature implies an essential and urgent responsibility. It's a direct command to the community of Israel. The term "keep" (שָׁמַר, shamar) denotes not just passive obedience, but guarding, observing, attending to, and preserving these laws as precious.
- My statutes: (חֻקֹּתַי, khuqotai): These refer to God's divinely established decrees or ordinances, often statutes that may not have an apparent rationale to human understanding (e.g., certain dietary laws or ritualistic practices). They are non-negotiable, fundamental rules. The possessive "My" emphasizes God's personal ownership and authority over these laws, as their source.
- and My judgments: (וּמִשְׁפָּטַי, u-mishpatai): These refer to God's righteous rulings or judicial decisions, often laws that embody principles of justice, fairness, and morality that are more discernable to human reason (e.g., prohibitions against theft, murder, or principles for community living). They are the applications of divine justice in daily life. Again, "My" highlights their divine origin.
- by doing which: (אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אֹתָם, asher ya'aseh otam): This phrase underscores the requirement of active obedience. It is not enough to simply hear or know the laws; they must be put into practice. The emphasis is on action and adherence.
- a man: (הָאָדָם, ha'adam): Refers to humankind, a human being, individual person, signifying the universal applicability to every member of the covenant community.
- shall live: (וָחַי, va-ḥai): This term carries significant weight. It denotes more than mere biological existence. It signifies true vitality, well-being, spiritual health, prosperity in the land (temporal blessings), and a flourishing relationship with God within the covenant. In a broader theological sense, it also points to life beyond the immediate, hinting at true, lasting life, although the primary covenantal promise for ancient Israel was long life and prosperity in the Promised Land.
- I am the LORD: (אֲנִי יְהוָה, Ani Yahweh): This is a powerful self-designation of God, frequently used in the Holiness Code. It is a declaration of His divine, unchanging character, His covenant faithfulness, and His supreme authority as the Lawgiver, Creator, and Sustainer. It provides the ultimate warrant and power behind these commands, emphasizing that these laws originate from the one true and sovereign God.
Leviticus 18 5 Bonus section
The Hebrew understanding of "life" (chayim) often includes a holistic sense of flourishing and shalom (peace, well-being) rather than a narrow focus on simply avoiding death. Therefore, the "life" promised in Leviticus 18:5 signifies comprehensive thriving—socially, physically, spiritually, and in terms of secure dwelling in the land God had promised. This verse thus lays out a clear covenantal expectation: God’s way leads to life, whereas the ways of the world lead to spiritual, social, and national decay, and ultimately, death. It encapsulates the core premise of the Mosaic covenant: obey and live, disobey and perish. This also means the boundaries set forth in the chapter are not arbitrary restrictions but safeguards for life itself.
Leviticus 18 5 Commentary
Leviticus 18:5 serves as a theological cornerstone for understanding God's relationship with His covenant people. It succinctly links obedience to divine law with the experience of "life." For ancient Israel, this meant tangible blessings within the land, protection, prosperity, and the privilege of living as a holy nation set apart from the surrounding cultures whose defiling practices led to death and destruction. This verse reveals God's heart: His laws are not burdensome but are intended for humanity's true well-being and flourishing. They define holiness and righteousness, serving as a blueprint for a life lived in proper alignment with the Creator. While the Old Testament explicitly presents law-keeping as the path to life, the New Testament, through figures like Paul, elaborates that perfect obedience to the Law is humanly impossible due to sin (Rom 3:20, Gal 3:11). Thus, this verse (especially as quoted in Rom 10:5 and Gal 3:12) paradoxically highlights humanity's failure and points to the necessity of righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ as the true source of spiritual and eternal life, the one who perfectly fulfilled the Law and gives life by the Spirit (John 6:63).