Leviticus 19:17-18
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Here, hating your brother isn't just about feeling anger; it's specifically about not speaking truth when needed, allowing sin to fester in someone else's life because you failed to address it. The verse flips the idea of "suffering sin" – it implies that by not rebuking, you become liable to bear the consequences of their unaddressed sin.
This instruction comes after prohibitions against gossip and bearing false witness, directly addressing how to handle interpersonal offenses. Instead of harboring hatred or staying silent when wronged, the Lord commands a direct, honest confrontation with the offender. This proactive approach aims to resolve issues and prevent the sin from festering, both in the offender and in the one who might otherwise become complicit by their silence.
Hate is easy. Love, especially tough love, takes courage and commitment. This verse calls us beyond just not hating to actively doing something.
The command 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart' isn't just about suppressing negative emotions. It's a call to actively pursue the well-being of our neighbor, even when they've wronged us.
Instead of letting resentment fester (like Absalom did with Amnon), the focus shifts to positive action. The core idea is that true love for our brother isn't passive; it demands engagement.
This active love means we address wrongdoing directly, but not with malice. It’s about caring enough to confront, not to condemn, but to help restore.
What if the most loving thing you can do for someone is to tell them they're wrong? This verse insists on it.
The command to 'reason frankly with your neighbor' (often translated as 'rebuke') is presented as the direct antidote to harboring hatred. It's not about harsh criticism or public shaming.
Instead, it’s a call for honest, direct conversation, done 'in love' and with the goal of restoration.
This 'frank reasoning' aims to prevent your neighbor from continuing in sin, recognizing that their sin has consequences for them. It’s a vital act of care, preventing them from 'incurring sin' or carrying its guilt.
Failing to speak up might seem easier, but this verse warns of a dangerous consequence: becoming complicit.
The phrase 'lest you incur sin because of him' carries a profound weight. It suggests that by not speaking frankly to a sinning neighbor, we can become entangled in their guilt.
Commentators understand this in a few ways: We might become guilty by association, or by failing in our duty to love and correct. We might also be seen as 'suffering sin upon him' by allowing them to continue in a path that leads to ruin.
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.
naqam · Hebrew Noun
The act of inflicting harm in retaliation for a perceived wrong, which belongs solely to God’s judgment rather than human impulse.
natar · Hebrew Verb
To keep or harbor bitterness, resentment, or a record of wrongs against someone, hindering true reconciliation.
Jesus echoes this command, telling His followers to rebuke a brother who sins against them, showing the enduring principle of confronting wrongdoing with love.
Matthew 18:15This passage outlines a process for addressing sin within the community, emphasizing private correction first, which aligns with the 'reason frankly' aspect of Leviticus.
Romans 1:32Paul highlights that those who practice and approve of wrongdoing not only do wrong themselves but also share guilt with those who commit such acts, underscoring the idea of not 'suffering sin upon him.'
Ephesians 4:26This verse speaks to righteous anger, stating 'Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,' which relates to the promptness and healthy resolution required when addressing a brother's sin.
1 John 3:15John states that 'No one who hates his brother has eternal life abiding in him,' directly linking internal hatred to a spiritual reality, reinforcing the command not to harbor such feelings.
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…
Here, hating your brother isn't just about feeling anger; it's specifically about not speaking truth when needed, allowing sin to fester in someone else's life because you failed to address it. The verse flips the idea of "suffering sin" – it implies that by not rebuking, you become liable to bear the consequences of their unaddressed sin.
This instruction comes after prohibitions against gossip and bearing false witness, directly addressing how to handle interpersonal offenses. Instead of harboring hatred or staying silent when wronged, the Lord commands a direct, honest confrontation with the offender. This proactive approach aims to resolve issues and prevent the sin from festering, both in the offender and in the one who might otherwise become complicit by their silence.
This instruction comes after prohibitions against gossip and bearing false witness, directly addressing how to handle interpersonal offenses. Instead of harboring hatred or staying silent when wronged, the Lord commands a direct, honest confrontation with the offender. This proactive approach aims to resolve issues and prevent the sin from festering, both in the offender and in the one who might otherwise become complicit by their silence.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Leviticus 19:17-18 is available in the Sola app.
The core message is that we are interconnected. Our actions, or inactions, regarding our neighbor's spiritual well-being have repercussions. Love compels us to act, not just to protect ourselves from complicity, but to actively help our neighbor find freedom from sin's grip.
ahav · Hebrew Verb
A profound, selfless devotion and commitment to the well-being of another, commanded as the foundation of interpersonal ethics.
"“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your…" — Here, hating your brother isn't just about feeling anger; it's specifically about not speaking truth when needed, allowing sin to fester in someone else's life because you failed to address it. The…
