You must keep My charge not to practice any of the abominable customs that were practiced before you, so that you do not defile yourselves by them. I am the LORD your God." You must keep My chargeThe phrase "keep My charge" in Hebrew is "וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּי" (u'shemartem et-mishmarti). The root word "שָׁמַר" (shamar) means to guard, protect, or observe. This implies a vigilant and active responsibility to uphold God's commandments. In the historical context of ancient Israel, this charge was a divine mandate to maintain holiness and purity, setting the Israelites apart from surrounding nations. The charge is not merely a passive observance but an active engagement in living out God's statutes. not to practice any of the abominable customs
The Hebrew word for "abominable" is "תּוֹעֵבָה" (to'evah), which refers to practices that are detestable or loathsome to God. These customs were often associated with pagan rituals and idolatry, which were prevalent among the Canaanite nations. The historical context reveals that these practices included various forms of immorality and idolatry, which were in direct opposition to the holiness God required of His people. The call here is to reject and distance oneself from such practices, emphasizing the need for moral and spiritual purity. that have been done before you
This phrase underscores the historical continuity of these abominable practices. The Israelites were entering a land where these customs were deeply entrenched. The warning serves as a reminder of the past and a caution against repeating the same errors. It highlights the importance of learning from history and the consequences of disobedience to God's laws. so that you do not defile yourselves by them
The concept of defilement in Hebrew is "טָמֵא" (tamei), which means to become unclean or impure. In the Levitical system, defilement was not just a physical state but a spiritual one, affecting one's relationship with God. The Israelites were called to maintain purity to remain in covenant relationship with God. This phrase serves as a warning that engaging in these customs would lead to spiritual contamination and separation from God. I am the LORD your God
This declaration, "אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם" (Ani YHWH Eloheichem), is a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and authority. It reinforces the reason for obedience: not merely to follow rules, but to honor the covenant relationship with the Creator. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) emphasizes God's eternal and unchanging nature, while "your God" personalizes the relationship, reminding the Israelites of their unique identity as God's chosen people. This phrase serves as both a reassurance of God's presence and a call to loyalty and faithfulness. Persons / Places / Events 1. The IsraelitesThe primary audience of Leviticus, the Israelites were God's chosen people, called to live according to His laws and separate from the surrounding nations. 2. CanaanThe land into which the Israelites were entering, inhabited by people practicing customs that God deemed abominable. 3. MosesThe leader of the Israelites and the mediator of God's laws, including the instructions found in Leviticus. 4. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who gave the laws and commandments to His people to guide them in holiness. 5. Abominable CustomsPractices of the Canaanites and other nations that were detestable to God, often involving idolatry and immorality. Teaching Points Holiness as SeparationGod calls His people to be distinct from the world, living according to His standards rather than cultural norms. The Danger of AssimilationEngaging in practices contrary to God's commands leads to spiritual defilement and separation from God. God's AuthorityThe phrase "I am the LORD your God" underscores God's authority and the importance of obedience to His commands. Cultural DiscernmentBelievers today must discern which cultural practices align with God's Word and which do not. The Call to ObedienceObedience to God's commands is a demonstration of our love and commitment to Him. Bible Study Questions 1. What are some modern "abominable customs" that Christians might be tempted to adopt, and how can we guard against them? 2. How does understanding the cultural context of Canaan help us apply Leviticus 18:30 to our lives today? 3. In what ways does the call to holiness in Leviticus 18:30 relate to the New Testament teachings on holiness? 4. How can we practically apply the principle of not defiling ourselves by worldly practices in our daily lives? 5. What role does community play in helping believers remain faithful to God's commands, as seen in the context of Leviticus 18:30? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 20The Ten Commandments provide a foundational understanding of God's moral expectations, which are expanded upon in Leviticus. Deuteronomy 18Warns against adopting the detestable practices of the nations, reinforcing the message of Leviticus 18:30. 1 Peter 1:15-16Calls Christians to be holy in all conduct, echoing the call to holiness found in Leviticus. Romans 12:2Encourages believers not to conform to the patterns of this world, similar to the call in Leviticus to avoid the customs of the surrounding nations. People Israelites, Molech, MosesPlaces Canaan, Egypt, TemanTopics Abominable, Charge, Commit, Committed, Customs, Defile, Detestable, Disgusting, Follow, Kept, Observe, Orders, Ordinance, Practice, Practiced, Practise, Practised, Requirements, Statutes, Therein, Thus, Unclean, YourselvesDictionary of Bible Themes Leviticus 18:30 5286 custom
8326 purity, moral and spiritual Leviticus 18:6-30 7525 exclusiveness Leviticus 18:23-30 7348 defilement Leviticus 18:26-30 6103 abomination Leviticus 18:29-30 8269 holiness, separation from worldly Library General Character of Christians.
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh, with the Affections and Lusts." St. Paul is supposed to have been the first herald of gospel grace to the Galatians; and they appear to have rejoiced at the glad tidings, and to have received the bearer with much respect. But after his departure, certain judaizing teachers went among them, and labored but too successfully, to alienate their affections from him, and turn them form the simplicity of the gospel. The malice and errors of those deceitful …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects"They have Corrupted Themselves; their Spot is not the Spot of his Children; they are a Perverse and Crooked Generation. "
Deut. xxxii. 5.--"They have corrupted themselves; their spot is not the spot of his children; they are a perverse and crooked generation." We doubt this people would take well with such a description of themselves as Moses gives. It might seem strange to us, that God should have chosen such a people out of all the nations of the earth, and they to be so rebellious and perverse, if our own experience did not teach us how free his choice is, and how long-suffering he is, and constant in his choice. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The Doctrine of Arbitrary Scriptural Accommodation Considered.
"But the Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise,--Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into Heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) or, Who shall descend into the deep?' (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth; and in thine heart:' that is, the word of Faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from …
John William Burgon—Inspiration and Interpretation Epistle Lxiv. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli .
To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli [174] . Here begins the epistle of the blessed Gregory pope of the city of Rome, in exposition of various matters, which he sent into transmarine Saxony to Augustine, whom he had himself sent in his own stead to preach. Preface.--Through my most beloved son Laurentius, the presbyter, and Peter the monk, I received thy Fraternity's letter, in which thou hast been at pains to question me on many points. But, inasmuch as my aforesaid sons found me afflicted with the …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn by the Disciples, and the Healing of the Man with the Withered Hand
IN grouping together the three miracles of healing described in the last chapter, we do not wish to convey that it is certain they had taken place in precisely that order. Nor do we feel sure, that they preceded what is about to be related. In the absence of exact data, the succession of events and their location must be matter of combination. From their position in the Evangelic narratives, and the manner in which all concerned speak and act, we inferred, that they took place at that particular …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Obedience
Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments.' Deut 27: 9, 10. What is the duty which God requireth of man? Obedience to his revealed will. It is not enough to hear God's voice, but we must obey. Obedience is a part of the honour we owe to God. If then I be a Father, where is my honour?' Mal 1: 6. Obedience carries in it the life-blood of religion. Obey the voice of the Lord …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments The Blessings of Noah Upon Shem and Japheth. (Gen. Ix. 18-27. )
Ver. 20. "And Noah began and became an husbandman, and planted vineyards."--This does not imply that Noah was the first who began to till the ground, and, more especially, to cultivate the vine; for Cain, too, was a tiller of the ground, Gen. iv. 2. The sense rather is, that Noah, after the flood, again took up this calling. Moreover, the remark has not an independent import; it serves only to prepare the way for the communication of the subsequent account of Noah's drunkenness. By this remark, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Meditations for Household Piety.
1. If thou be called to the government of a family, thou must not hold it sufficient to serve God and live uprightly in thy own person, unless thou cause all under thy charge to do the same with thee. For the performance of this duty God was so well pleased with Abraham, that he would not hide from him his counsel: "For," saith God, "I know him that he will command his sons and his household after him that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology.
(Ad. vol. i. p. 42, note 4.) In comparing the allegorical Canons of Philo with those of Jewish traditionalism, we think first of all of the seven exegetical canons which are ascribed to Hillel. These bear chiefly the character of logical deductions, and as such were largely applied in the Halakhah. These seven canons were next expanded by R. Ishmael (in the first century) into thirteen, by the analysis of one of them (the 5th) into six, and the addition of this sound exegetical rule, that where two …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Leviticus 18:30 NIVLeviticus 18:30 NLTLeviticus 18:30 ESVLeviticus 18:30 NASBLeviticus 18:30 KJV
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