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Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
Leviticus 19:17 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB “‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
  • BSB 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.
  • NKJV ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
  • NASB ‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may certainly rebuke your neighbor, but you are not to incur sin because of him.
  • NLT “Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Israel must not hate a brother in the heart but lovingly rebuke him to avoid sharing his sin.

Overview

This remarkable command reaches beyond outward action to the attitude of the heart, forbidding hidden hatred. Loving honesty, including faithful rebuke, is the alternative to harboring resentment. Jesus and the apostles build on this, teaching that true love confronts sin rather than silently nursing bitterness.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 21

  • Luke 17:3Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
  • 1 Jn 2:9He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
  • 1 Jn 2:11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
  • 1 Jn 3:12–15Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
  • Prov 26:24–26He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
  • Prov 27:5–6Open rebuke is better than secret love.
  • Gal 6:1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
  • Matt 18:15–17Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
  • Eph 5:11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
  • 1 Tim 5:20Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
  • 1 Tim 5:22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
  • Rom 1:32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
  • Gen 27:41And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
  • 1 Cor 5:2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
  • 2 Tim 4:2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
  • Prov 9:8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
  • Titus 1:13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
  • Gal 2:11–14But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
  • Titus 2:15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
  • Ps 141:5Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
  • 2 Jn 1:10–11If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Leviticus videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Leviticus 19:17YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on LeviticusMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.

How Leviticus 19:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.