Bible Strands
Leviticus 19:16
You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Lord addresses the assembled Israelites through Moses, establishing covenant conduct during the wilderness period.
The words — The text employs רָכִיל (ra.Khil), literally a slanderer or talebearer, and תַעֲמֹד (ta.'a.Mod), literally you will stand.
The thread — This prohibition against malicious speech and endangering others parallels Exodus 23:1, Exodus 23:7, and Proverbs 20:19, which addresses those who reveal secrets.
Why it lands — The passage demands immediate restraint against gossip and active protection of a neighbor's safety. Readers must treat verbal conduct as a matter of communal survival rather than private opinion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord.
Cross-references
- Exodus 23:1 “You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.
- Exodus 23:7 Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.
- Proverbs 20:19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
- Proverbs 11:13 A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
- Ezekiel 22:9 Among you are slanderous men bent on bloodshed; within you are those who eat on the mountain shrines and commit acts of indecency.
- Jeremiah 6:28 All are hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt.
- Jeremiah 9:4 “Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.
- Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- 1 Kings 21:10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
- Psalms 15:3 who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend,