‘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.
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.
- KJV Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon 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.
- 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 17:3Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.
- 1 Jn 2:9He who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in the darkness even until now.
- 1 Jn 2:11But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
- 1 Jn 3:12–15unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
- Prov 26:24–26A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
- Prov 27:5–6Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
- Gal 6:1Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.
- Matt 18:15–17“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
- Eph 5:11Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.
- 1 Tim 5:20Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.
- 1 Tim 5:22Lay hands hastily on no one, neither be a participant in other men’s sins. Keep yourself pure.
- Rom 1:32who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.
- Gen 27:41Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
- 1 Cor 5:2You are puffed up, and didn’t rather mourn, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you.
- 2 Tim 4:2preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.
- Prov 9:8Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
- Titus 1:13This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
- Gal 2:11–14But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned.
- Titus 2:15Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise you.
- Ps 141:5Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don’t let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.
- 2 Jn 1:10–11If anyone comes to you, and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him,
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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.