5378 law, OT
Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5375 law  »  5378 law, OT

OT laws and legal traditions govern every aspect of the life of the covenant people of God.

Kinds of OT law

Criminal law

Exodus 21:12-14 Criminal law deals with crimes against persons punishable by a court.

Civil law

Deuteronomy 16:18-20 Civil law deals with the upholding in court of legally established rights against possible abuse. See also Deuteronomy 15:12-18

Social law

Exodus 22:21-22 Social law deals with behaviour or standards of behaviour which are not strictly enforceable in the courts. See also Deuteronomy 24:19-22

Cultic law

Cultic law deals explicitly with the ritual or religious life of the people of God. Leviticus chapters 1-7 are totally devoted to this kind of law:

Leviticus 1:10-13; Leviticus 4:13-21; Leviticus 7:11-18

Examples of OT law

Conditions for freeing servants

Exodus 21:2-6 pp Deuteronomy 15:12-18 See also Exodus 21:3-11; Leviticus 25:39-55

Dealing with injuries

Exodus 21:23-25 See also Matthew 5:38

Property is to be protected

Exodus 22:1 See also Leviticus 6:1-7; Luke 19:8

The rights of aliens must be respected

Exodus 22:21 See also Leviticus 19:33; Deuteronomy 10:19

Justice must be universally respected

Exodus 23:2-3 See also Leviticus 19:15

The Sabbath must be observed by all

Exodus 23:12 See also Exodus 20:8-11

Three annual festivals are to be celebrated

Exodus 23:15-16 See also Exodus 12:17; Deuteronomy 16:16

Worship must be in accordance with God's will and must be kept pure

Deuteronomy 12:1-7; Deuteronomy 13:6-8

Certain foods are declared to be unclean

Leviticus 11:1-23 pp Deuteronomy 14:3-20

A tenth of all produce must be given to God

Deuteronomy 14:22 See also Leviticus 27:30

Cultic laws are grounded in the holiness of God

Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 19:1-2 See also 1 Peter 1:16

Full details were given for each type of offering: burnt, grain, fellowship, sin and guilt offerings. Only perfect animals were to be offered:

Leviticus 1:3; Leviticus 2:1-2; Leviticus 3:1-2; Leviticus 4:27-28; Leviticus 5:17-18

Rules governing infectious or contagious diseases

Leviticus 13:2; Leviticus 15:13

There must not be unlawful sexual relations

Leviticus 18:6

A Day of Atonement must be held

See also Leviticus 23:26-32 pp Leviticus 16:2-34 pp Numbers 29:7-11

See also

5475  property
6614  atonement
7340  clean and unclean
7402  offerings
7424  ritual law
7434  sacrifice
7446  slavery
8488  tithing
8622  worship



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