Bible Strands
Leviticus 19:17
You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God addresses Israel through Moses, placing this command within the immediate context of prohibitions against slander, endangerment, and revenge.
The words — תִשְׂנָא (tis.na') translates literally as "you will hate," and תּוֹכִיחַ (to.khi.ach) means "you will rebuke."
The thread — The linkage of internal hatred with external correction appears in Luke 17:3, 1 John 2:9, and 1 John 2:11, where the texts equate unresolved interpersonal hostility with spiritual darkness.
Why it lands — The text commands direct verbal confrontation of a neighbor’s fault to prevent internalized resentment and shared moral guilt.
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 hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
Cross-references
- Luke 17:3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
- 1 John 2:9 If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness.
- 1 John 2:11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
- Proverbs 26:24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
- Proverbs 27:5 Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
- 1 John 3:12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
- Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
- Matthew 18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
- Ephesians 5:11 Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
- Genesis 27:41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”