Leviticus 18:2

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.

Speak {H1696} unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, and say {H559} unto them, I am the LORD {H3068} your God {H430}.

"Speak to the people of Isra'el; tell them, 'I am ADONAI your God.

“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD your God.

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am Jehovah your God.

Commentary

Leviticus 18:2 serves as a foundational declaration, setting the stage for the detailed laws of holiness that follow in the book of Leviticus. It establishes the divine authority and the covenant relationship between God and the children of Israel, providing the ultimate reason for their obedience to His commands.

Context

The Book of Leviticus is primarily a manual for holiness, given by God to the newly formed nation of Israel after their exodus from Egypt. It details the laws, rituals, and moral codes necessary for a holy people to live in the presence of a holy God. Chapter 18, in particular, introduces a series of prohibitions concerning sexual immorality and unacceptable practices, which were common among the surrounding pagan nations like Egypt and Canaan. This introductory verse, "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God," establishes the divine imperative behind these laws, grounding them in God's unique identity and His covenant with His people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority and Identity: The declaration "I am the LORD your God" is a powerful statement of God's sovereignty and His right to command. It asserts that the laws given are not mere suggestions or human traditions, but divine mandates from the Creator and Sustainer of life. This phrase is a common preamble to divine commands throughout the Pentateuch, emphasizing God's ultimate authority over His people.
  • Covenant Relationship: The phrase "your God" highlights the exclusive and intimate covenant relationship God established with Israel at Mount Sinai. This relationship implies both divine protection and human responsibility. Because God is their God, they are obligated to live in a way that honors Him and reflects His character.
  • Foundation for Obedience and Holiness: This verse serves as the bedrock for all the subsequent commandments regarding moral purity. The call to live a distinct and holy life, separate from the corrupt practices of other nations, is rooted in the very identity of the God who has chosen them. Their holiness is a direct response to His holiness, echoing the broader command in Leviticus 19:2.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the LORD" translates the Hebrew tetragrammaton, YHWH (Yahweh), which is God's personal, covenant name. This name signifies His eternal, self-existent nature, often rendered as "I AM THAT I AM" in Exodus 3:14. It emphasizes His faithfulness to His promises and His active presence among His people. Coupled with "your God" (Elohim, a general term for God or deity, but here used specifically to refer to Israel's God), it underscores the personal and exclusive relationship He has with Israel, making His commands uniquely binding upon them.

Practical Application

For believers today, Leviticus 18:2 remains profoundly relevant. It reminds us that all moral and ethical commands in Scripture are ultimately rooted in the unchanging character and sovereign authority of God. Our obedience is not arbitrary but flows from who He is and the covenant relationship we have with Him through Christ. Just as Israel was called to be distinct from the surrounding nations, Christians are called to live a holy life, reflecting the character of the God who has redeemed us. This verse serves as a constant reminder that God's identity as "the LORD your God" is the ultimate basis for all righteous living and the source of our moral compass.

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 6:7 (6 votes)

    And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

  • Leviticus 11:44 (5 votes)

    For I [am] the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I [am] holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

  • Ezekiel 20:5 (4 votes)

    ¶ And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I [am] the LORD your God;

  • Leviticus 20:7 (3 votes)

    Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I [am] the LORD your God.

  • Psalms 33:12 (2 votes)

    ¶ Blessed [is] the nation whose God [is] the LORD; [and] the people [whom] he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

  • Genesis 17:7 (2 votes)

    ¶ And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

  • Leviticus 19:3 (2 votes)

    Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I [am] the LORD your God.