But you shall not kill an ox or a sheep and her young in one day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Leviticus 22:28
What does Leviticus 22:28 mean?
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Leviticus 22:28
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This law isn't just about avoiding cruelty; it's a profound lesson in cultivating mercy by recognizing the tender bond between parent and child. It instructs us to be mindful of such relationships, even in the necessary taking of life, mirroring God's own compassion.
But you shall not kill an ox or a sheep and her young in one day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse appears within a section detailing regulations for sacrifices offered to God, emphasizing that only unblemished animals are acceptable. Just before this, Moses is told that young animals can be offered from eight days old, but the specific instruction here prohibits slaughtering a mother animal and its young on the same day, aiming to cultivate mercy and tenderness in the Israelites.
Why would God care if a sheep and its lamb were killed on the same day? This seemingly small detail reveals a much bigger picture about God's heart and His expectations for us.
Leviticus 22:28 isn't just about animal husbandry; it's a profound lesson in mercy. The command to not kill a mother and her young on the same day was meant to instill a deep sense of compassion in the Israelites.
The Heart of the Matter
The rabbis understood this. They saw it as a way to prevent cruelty and to remind people of the tender bond between parent and offspring. It was a call to actively cultivate a merciful disposition, reflecting God's own character. This wasn't a loophole for expediency; it was a principle for godly living.
Reflecting Divine Mercy
When we take the lives of animals for sustenance, it's a solemn act. This law urges us to approach it with respect, acknowledging the life given and doing so in a way that doesn't harden our hearts. It's about recognizing that even in necessary actions, there's room for tenderness and consideration.
God’s laws often touch upon the most fundamental relationships. This verse offers a glimpse into how He views the vital connection between parents and their children, even in the animal kingdom.
The prohibition in Leviticus 22:28 highlights God's awareness and care for the parent-child bond. It’s a reminder that these relationships are divinely ordained and carry inherent significance.
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A Divine Echo
This law served to impress upon the Israelites the sacredness of the relationship between a mother and her offspring. It wasn't just about preventing cruelty to animals, but about teaching them to recognize and honor these vital connections, which would then translate to human relationships.
Valuing Life and Connection
By extending this consideration, God was teaching His people to value life and the natural order He created. It was a way to underscore that all life, and the bonds within it, are ultimately under His watchful eye and subject to His principles of compassion.
This passage also speaks to tenderness towards mothers and young, prohibiting taking a mother bird with her young, emphasizing a desire for mercy.
Exodus 23:19This verse shares the principle of not boiling a young animal in its mother's milk, which is a parallel commandment designed to instill compassion and respect for the parent-offspring bond.
Proverbs 12:10This proverb directly states that 'the righteous care for the needs of their animals,' highlighting the importance of compassion even towards the creatures God has given us dominion over.
Matthew 10:29Jesus' teaching that not even a sparrow falls without the Father's notice points to God's deep care for His creation, a value reflected in the humane treatment commanded in Leviticus.
clarkeLeviticus 22:28: "And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day."
Ye shall not kill it and her young in one day - This precept was certainly intended to inculcate mercy and tenderness of heart; and so the Jews understood it. When it is necessary to take away the lives of innocent animals for the support of our own, we should do it in such a way as not to blunt our moral feelings; and deplore the necessity, while we feel an express gratitude to God for permissi…
pooleLeviticus 22:28: "And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day."
Because it savoured of cruelty. See Poole Deu 22:6 .
This law isn't just about avoiding cruelty; it's a profound lesson in cultivating mercy by recognizing the tender bond between parent and child. It instructs us to be mindful of such relationships, even in the necessary taking of life, mirroring God's own compassion.
This verse appears within a section detailing regulations for sacrifices offered to God, emphasizing that only unblemished animals are acceptable. Just before this, Moses is told that young animals can be offered from eight days old, but the specific instruction here prohibits slaughtering a mother animal and its young on the same day, aiming to cultivate mercy and tenderness in the Israelites.
This verse appears within a section detailing regulations for sacrifices offered to God, emphasizing that only unblemished animals are acceptable. Just before this, Moses is told that young animals can be offered from eight days old, but the specific instruction here prohibits slaughtering a mother animal and its young on the same day, aiming to cultivate mercy and tenderness in the Israelites.
"But you shall not kill an ox or a sheep and her young in one day." — This law isn't just about avoiding cruelty; it's a profound lesson in cultivating mercy by recognizing the tender bond between parent and child. It instructs us to be mindful of such relationships, e…
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Last reviewed October 2026