Leviticus 19:18
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.
The verse doesn't just say "don't hold a grudge," it adds a crucial distinction: "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge." This tells us that holding onto anger (bearing a grudge) is seen as just as harmful as actively seeking revenge, implying that internal resentment is a form of active harm in itself.
This verse comes right after instructions on how to confront someone who has wronged you, urging them to correct their behavior. God then immediately follows up by forbidding any lingering bitterness or desire for personal payback if the confrontation doesn't lead to full reconciliation. This sets the stage for the radical command to love your neighbor, emphasizing a deep, active care for others that moves beyond personal grievances.
Ever felt wronged and wanted to 'get even'? The Bible doesn't just say 'don't do it,' it unpacks what that really means.
Leviticus 19:18 starts with two powerful prohibitions: 'You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge.'
No Retaliation
'Vengeance' isn't just about grand acts of revenge. It’s about refusing to pay someone back for a wrong they did to you. It’s not about letting them 'get away with it,' but about trusting God to handle justice. The ancient commentators gave examples like refusing to lend something to someone who refused to lend to you. It’s about not mirroring their unkindness.
No Lingering Resentment
'Bearing a grudge' is even deeper. It means holding onto the hurt, remembering the offense, and letting it poison your heart. It’s not just about not acting vengefully, but about not holding onto the anger. It’s about actively choosing to let go of the memory of the injury.
The flip side of 'don't do this' is a radical 'do this instead.' And it's the foundation for everything else.
The verse doesn't leave us with just prohibitions. It immediately offers the positive, life-giving command: 'but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
More Than Just Feelings
This isn't just about having warm fuzzy feelings. It's about actively pursuing the well-being of others. It means doing good to them, just as you instinctively know to do good to yourself.
The Universal Neighbor
Who is our 'neighbor'? The text here says 'the sons of your own people,' but the broader biblical context (and Jesus' teaching in the parable of the Good Samaritan) makes it clear: our neighbor is anyone we encounter. All humanity is one family, created by God.
The Standard: Yourself
Understand the original words
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.
ahav · Hebrew Verb
A profound, selfless devotion and commitment to the well-being of another, commanded as the foundation of interpersonal ethics.
Jesus explicitly quotes Leviticus 19:18, calling it the second greatest commandment and highlighting its foundational importance for the entire Law.
Romans 12:19Paul echoes the prohibition against vengeance, directing believers to leave revenge to God, which is a direct application of 'not taking vengeance' in Leviticus.
Luke 10:29-37The parable of the Good Samaritan expands the definition of 'neighbor' beyond one's own people, illustrating the expansive love commanded in Leviticus 19:18.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7This passage describes the characteristics of love, which directly contrasts with vengeance and grudges, showing what the love commanded in Leviticus 19:18 looks like in action.
1 Peter 2:21-23Peter reminds believers that Christ suffered without retaliating, providing a perfect example of refraining from vengeance and bearing wrongs, mirroring the command in Leviticus.
gillLeviticus 19:18: "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD."
Thou shalt not avenge,.... That is, not avenge ourselves on him that has done us an ill thing, but leave it to him to whom vengeance belongs, see Romans 12:19 ; which is done when a man does an ill thing for another, or denies to grant a favour which he has been denied by another; Jarchi thus illustrates it, one says to him (his neighbour…
calvinLeviticus 19:18: "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD."
- Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. What every man's mind ought to be towards his neighbor, could not be better expressed in many pages that in this one sentence. We are all of us not only inclined to love ourselves more than we should, but all our powers hurry us away in this direction; nay, philautia (self-love) blinds us so mu…
The verse doesn't just say "don't hold a grudge," it adds a crucial distinction: "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge." This tells us that holding onto anger (bearing a grudge) is seen as just as harmful as actively seeking revenge, implying that internal resentment is a form of active harm in itself.
This verse comes right after instructions on how to confront someone who has wronged you, urging them to correct their behavior. God then immediately follows up by forbidding any lingering bitterness or desire for personal payback if the confrontation doesn't lead to full reconciliation. This sets the stage for the radical command to love your neighbor, emphasizing a deep, active care for others that moves beyond personal grievances.
This verse comes right after instructions on how to confront someone who has wronged you, urging them to correct their behavior. God then immediately follows up by forbidding any lingering bitterness or desire for personal payback if the confrontation doesn't lead to full reconciliation. This sets the stage for the radical command to love your neighbor, emphasizing a deep, active care for others that moves beyond personal grievances.
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 19:18 is available in the Sola app.
The measure for this love is 'as yourself.' We are naturally wired to look out for our own needs and well-being. God calls us to extend that same sincere concern and care to others, even those who have wronged us.
Why should we bother with such difficult commands? The verse ends with a foundational truth that changes everything.
The verse concludes with a powerful anchor: 'I am the LORD.' This isn't just a closing signature; it's the core reason why these commands matter.
God's Character as Our Model
God is holy, just, and merciful. He doesn't hold grudges, and His justice is perfect. By commanding us to love our neighbor and not seek vengeance, He is calling us to reflect His own character. We are to be like Him.
God's Authority as Our Mandate
Because God is the Creator and Sovereign Lord, His commands carry absolute authority. He has the right to establish the rules for how His creation should interact. We obey not out of obligation alone, but out of recognition of His supreme position and love for us.
God's Ownership as Our Identity
'I am the LORD' also signifies ownership. We belong to God. As His people, we are called to a higher standard of living, demonstrating His love and justice to the world.
"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." — The verse doesn't just say "don't hold a grudge," it adds a crucial distinction: "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge." This tells us that holding onto anger (bearing a grudge) is seen as…
