Leviticus 19:3 kjv
Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 19:3 nkjv
'Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 19:3 niv
"?'Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 19:3 esv
Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 19:3 nlt
"Each of you must show great respect for your mother and father, and you must always observe my Sabbath days of rest. I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 19 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 20:12 | "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land..." | Fifth Commandment, parental honor. |
| Deut 5:16 | "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you..." | Reiteration of parental honor. |
| Prov 23:22 | "Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." | Wisdom regarding honoring parents. |
| Eph 6:1-3 | "Children, obey your parents in the Lord... 'Honor your father and mother' — which is the first commandment with a promise." | New Testament affirmation of parental honor. |
| Col 3:20 | "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." | Christian call to obedience. |
| Matt 15:3-6 | Jesus condemns hypocrisy regarding "Corban" vow that neglects parents' needs. | Jesus' emphasis on true parental honor. |
| Exod 20:8-11 | "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy..." | Fourth Commandment, Sabbath observance. |
| Deut 5:12-15 | "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy... Remember that you were slaves in Egypt..." | Sabbath tied to creation and redemption. |
| Exod 31:13-17 | "You must observe my Sabbaths... it is a sign between me and you..." | Sabbath as a perpetual covenant sign. |
| Isa 58:13-14 | "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath... then you will find your joy in the LORD..." | Blessings for honoring the Sabbath. |
| Neh 13:15-22 | Nehemiah enforces Sabbath rest, closing city gates and expelling merchants. | Historical example of strict Sabbath keeping. |
| Mark 2:27-28 | Jesus states, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." | Jesus' authority over Sabbath interpretation. |
| Heb 4:1-11 | Discussion of "Sabbath-rest" remaining for the people of God, pointing to spiritual rest in Christ. | Spiritual fulfillment of Sabbath rest. |
| Lev 11:44-45 | "Be holy, because I am holy." | Core of the Holiness Code, divine character. |
| Lev 18:2 | "I am the LORD your God; follow my decrees..." | Reinforcing God's authority in commands. |
| Lev 19:2 | "Be holy, because I, the LORD your God, am holy." | Immediate preceding context for holiness. |
| Lev 26:1 | "Do not make idols... For I am the LORD your God." | God's identity as basis for worship principles. |
| Exod 3:14 | "I AM WHO I AM." | Reveals God's self-existent name, Yahweh. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" | NT application of Holiness Code principles. |
| Deut 6:4-5 | "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one... Love the LORD your God..." | The Shema, stressing God's singular identity. |
| Rom 13:8-10 | Love fulfills the law; references commandments including parental honor. | Love as summation of horizontal commandments. |
| Jas 2:10 | "Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." | Law's unity, failure in one impacts all. |
Leviticus 19 verses
Leviticus 19 3 Meaning
Leviticus 19:3 is a foundational commandment within the Holiness Code, instructing the Israelites to simultaneously revere their parents and observe the Sabbath. These seemingly distinct commands are bound together by the recurring theological affirmation, "I am the LORD your God," establishing divine authority as the basis for both moral and ritual obedience. It highlights that true holiness encompasses proper conduct in horizontal human relationships (family) and vertical divine relationship (worship and time sanctified to God).
Leviticus 19 3 Context
Leviticus 19 stands as a pivotal chapter within the book, often referred to as the "Holiness Code" (chapters 17-26). This code elaborates on how Israel is to live a holy life as a people set apart by God, following the tabernacle's consecration. Leviticus 19:3 begins the detailed explanation of practical holiness after the overarching command in 19:2, "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." The verse sets forth two foundational commandments — honoring parents and keeping the Sabbaths — demonstrating that holiness is not confined to ritual worship but extends into fundamental familial and communal life, all rooted in the identity and authority of Yahweh. Historically, these commands distinguished Israel's ethical and social fabric from surrounding polytheistic cultures where deity and family customs might not have held such universal and reciprocal ethical weight or a unified source of authority.
Leviticus 19 3 Word analysis
- You shall each (אִישׁ, 'ish): Though commonly "man" or "male," here in context it implies "every person," indicating that this command applies universally to all Israelites, both male and female, child and adult. It signifies personal, individual responsibility.
- Revere / Fear (יָרֵא, yare): This Hebrew word encompasses more than mere fright; it signifies profound respect, awe, reverence, and obedience. It's the same word often used for "fearing God" (Deut 6:13), suggesting that parents, as God's representatives, are due a reverence that acknowledges their authority and position. This is a command of deep deference and active obedience, not just passive respect.
- Your mother (אִמּוֹ, immo) and your father (וְאָבִיו, v'aviv): The common Hebrew phrase for parents. The order of "mother" before "father" is notable here (contrary to Exod 20:12 where father precedes mother). Scholars propose various reasons: perhaps to elevate the mother's unique role in a child's early life and care, or to emphasize the importance of showing respect even to the often-less-feared parent, or simply to show that both parents are equally due reverence regardless of typical societal hierarchy. It implies joint parental authority.
- And you shall keep (תִּשְׁמֹרוּ, tishmoru): From the root שָׁמַר (shamar), meaning to guard, observe, heed, or protect. It's an active word implying careful adherence and preservation of the command, not just passive awareness.
- My Sabbaths (שַׁבְּתֹתַי, shabbatotai): Plural, likely referring to both the weekly Sabbath (Exod 20:8) and the annual holy days or feast days that also functioned as "sabbaths" of rest and assembly (e.g., Lev 23). It underscores a pattern of sanctified time woven throughout the year, marking Israel's dedication to God and providing cycles of rest and worship.
- I am the LORD (אֲנִי יְהוָה, ani Yahweh): This is God's covenant name (Yahweh), indicating His personal, immutable, and powerful presence. It signifies His absolute authority as the one who commands and keeps covenant.
- Your God (אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, Eloheykem): The plural of majesty or intensity, referring to the one true God who is uniquely bound in a covenant relationship with Israel. This phrase ani Yahweh Eloheykem ("I am the LORD your God") is a foundational "holiness formula" used throughout Leviticus to ground the commands in God's authoritative and relational identity. It signifies that the commands are not arbitrary but stem from His character and covenant faithfulness to His people.
Leviticus 19 3 Bonus section
The pairing of "revering mother and father" with "keeping My Sabbaths" in Leviticus 19:3 is striking and intentional. It demonstrates that God's plan for holiness seamlessly integrates piety (Sabbath observance) with ethics (respect for parents). This counters any notion that ritual purity is sufficient without ethical living, or that ethical living negates the need for proper worship. In ancient Israelite society, respect for elders and parents was crucial for social order and the transmission of traditions. By elevating parental honor to the level of Sabbath observance, the verse underlines that these familial bonds are essential to God's covenant structure. The parents' role as early educators and authorities reflects God's own authority, making their honor a crucial first step in a life of godliness. Furthermore, both commands involve honoring authority—human authority delegated by God in the home, and God's ultimate authority over time and creation in the Sabbath. Breaking either command disrupts the divinely ordained order and indicates a deeper rebellion against the "LORD your God."
Leviticus 19 3 Commentary
Leviticus 19:3 beautifully links two fundamental spheres of human obligation: the vertical (to God) and the horizontal (to fellow humans, specifically parents). By placing reverence for parents alongside the observance of the Sabbath, God illustrates that true holiness is holistic, encompassing both sacred time dedicated to Him and the respect due to those in authority within the family. "Reverence" for parents is rooted in the "fear of the LORD," suggesting that dishonoring parents is, in essence, a disrespect for God who ordained their authority. Similarly, keeping the Sabbaths is not merely a ritual but a recognition of God as Creator, Sustainer, and Deliverer, acknowledging His ownership of time and His right to our worship. The concluding phrase, "I am the LORD your God," serves as the ultimate theological foundation, reminding Israel that these commands are not suggestions but authoritative directives from the one who established their covenant relationship. Disobedience to either command implies a disregard for Yahweh's identity and sovereignty. The juxtaposition of these commands reinforces that a right relationship with God necessarily translates into right relationships with others, starting with one's closest family, forming a microcosm of God's desired order for all society. This command lays a groundwork for personal responsibility, family stability, and communal devotion that defined Israel's uniqueness as a holy nation.