Leviticus 19:17
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The verse doesn't just say "don't hate"; it connects that inner feeling to an outward action: "reason frankly" or "rebuke." It reveals that not confronting someone who is in the wrong isn't kindness, but can actually lead to bearing their sin yourself, making you complicit.
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes right after instructions about protecting others from harm, like not spreading gossip or standing by while someone is in danger. It shifts focus inward, addressing the internal attitude of hatred towards a fellow Israelite, and then provides the action that demonstrates love instead: direct, honest confrontation with the person who has wronged you. This approach is meant to prevent sin from festering, both in the offender and potentially in the one who holds the grievance.
We often think hatred is just about actions, but God's Word gets to the root. What does it mean to hate your brother in your heart?
This verse draws a sharp contrast between inward resentment and outward correction. God doesn't just want us to avoid acting hateful; He wants us to root out hatred from our hearts.
The phrase 'lest you incur sin because of him' sounds heavy. What does it mean to 'bear sin' for someone else?
This final clause reveals a profound truth about our interconnectedness as humans, especially within God's people. It's not just about our own spiritual health, but also about our responsibility for one another.
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Understand the original words
sane' · Hebrew Verb
An intense emotional hostility or ill-will directed toward another, which the Bible identifies as a root of murder and spiritual alienation.
chet · Hebrew Noun
A serious moral failing or transgression against the law of God; specifically here, the guilt acquired by neglecting to confront a brother’s wrongdoing.
Jesus directly references this principle, outlining a process for addressing sin within the community that starts with private rebuke, mirroring the command in Leviticus to speak frankly to a neighbor.
Luke 17:3This passage directly quotes Jesus commanding believers to 'rebuke your brother' if he sins, showing the continuation and application of the Levitical instruction in the New Testament.
Romans 1:32Paul includes 'those who practice them' alongside those who 'approve of those who practice them,' highlighting how failing to confront sin can implicitly endorse it, connecting to the idea of 'suffering sin upon' someone.
Ephesians 4:26The command to 'not let the sun go down on your anger' speaks to the importance of resolving conflict and addressing issues promptly, aligning with the spirit of frank rebuke rather than harboring hatred.
1 John 3:15This verse states that 'anyone who hates his brother is a murderer,' emphasizing the severe spiritual consequence of harboring hatred, which Leviticus 19:17 seeks to prevent by commanding loving correction.
bensonLeviticus 19:17: "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 . Thou shalt not hate — As thou dost, in effect, if thou dost not rebuke him. Thy brother — The same as thy neighbour; that is, every man. If thy brother hath done wrong, thou shalt neither divulge it to others, nor hate him, and smother that hatred by sullen silence; nor flatter him therein, but shalt freely, and in love, tell him of his f…
pooleLeviticus 19:17: "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him."
To prevent murder, last spoken of, he forbids hatred, which is the common cause, and a degree of murder, 1Jo 3:15 . Thy brother; the same with neighbour , as it follows, i.e. every man, Matthew 5:44 ; for it is manifest that God’s law commanded them to love strangers no less than Israelites. If thy brother hath done thee or others any injury, thou shalt ne…
The verse doesn't just say "don't hate"; it connects that inner feeling to an outward action: "reason frankly" or "rebuke." It reveals that not confronting someone who is in the wrong isn't kindness, but can actually lead to bearing their sin yourself, making you complicit.
This verse comes right after instructions about protecting others from harm, like not spreading gossip or standing by while someone is in danger. It shifts focus inward, addressing the internal attitude of hatred towards a fellow Israelite, and then provides the action that demonstrates love instead: direct, honest confrontation with the person who has wronged you. This approach is meant to prevent sin from festering, both in the offender and potentially in the one who holds the grievance.
This verse comes right after instructions about protecting others from harm, like not spreading gossip or standing by while someone is in danger. It shifts focus inward, addressing the internal attitude of hatred towards a fellow Israelite, and then provides the action that demonstrates love instead: direct, honest confrontation with the person who has wronged you. This approach is meant to prevent sin from festering, both in the offender and potentially in the one who holds the grievance.
"“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him." — The verse doesn't just say "don't hate"; it connects that inner feeling to an outward action: "reason frankly" or "rebuke." It reveals that not confronting someone who is in the wrong isn't kindnes…
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Last reviewed October 2026
