Bible Strands
Leviticus 26:12
I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh speaks to Israel through Moses at Sinai, immediately after declaring He will establish a dwelling place among them in Leviticus 26:11. The statement functions as a covenant guarantee following the obedience conditions detailed in the surrounding passage.
The words — הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי (hit.ha.lakh.Ti) translates literally as "I will walk about," and תִּהְיוּ (tih.yu) means "you will become." These verbs frame the covenant relationship as an active, continuous presence rather than a static arrangement.
The thread — The covenant formula appears in Jeremiah 30:22 and Jeremiah 7:23, where it follows the call to obey God. Second Corinthians 6:16 applies the "God among people" promise to the church, identifying believers as the temple of the living God.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that Israel’s identity is defined by God’s presence among them, not by isolated ritual observance. It requires the reader to accept that covenant relationship entails mutual commitment: God’s indwelling presence and the people’s obedient walk.
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
And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
- Jeremiah 30:22 “And you will be My people, and I will be your God.”
- Jeremiah 7:23 but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you.
- Exodus 6:7 I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.
- Deuteronomy 23:14 For the LORD your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, lest He see anything unclean among you and turn away from you.
- Joel 2:27 Then you will know that I am present in Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. My people will never again be put to shame.
- Hebrews 11:16 Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
- Exodus 19:5 Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
- Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
- Zechariah 13:9 This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”