Leviticus 19:16

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לֹא־תֵלֵ֤ךְ רָכִיל֙ בְּעַמֶּ֔יךָ לֹ֥א תַעֲמֹ֖ד עַל־דַּ֣ם רֵעֶ֑ךָ אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֽה

Transliteration

lōʾ-ṯēlēḵ rāḵîl bəʿammêḵā lōʾ ṯaʿămōḏ ʿal-dam rēʿeḵā ʾănî YHWH

Grammar Details

• *lōʾ*: negative particle - not
• *ṯēlēḵ*: Qal imperfect, 2nd masculine singular - you shall go/walk
• *rāḵîl*: noun, masculine singular - slanderer/talebearer
• *bəʿammêḵā*: preposition + noun, masculine plural + 2nd masculine singular suffix - among your people
• *ṯaʿămōḏ*: Qal imperfect, 2nd masculine singular - you shall stand
• *ʿal*: preposition - upon/against
• *dam*: noun, masculine singular construct - blood of
• *rēʿeḵā*: noun, masculine singular + 2nd masculine singular suffix - your neighbor
• *ʾănî*: 1st person singular independent pronoun - I
• *YHWH*: proper noun - the LORD

Word Meanings

• *ṯēlēḵ* *rāḵîl*: go about as a slanderer/spread slander/gossip
• *ṯaʿămōḏ* *ʿal*-*dam*: stand against the blood/endanger the life/fail to protect

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Thou shalt not go up and down as a tabearer among thy peop: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  You shall not go around as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thou shalt not go{H3212} up and down as a talebearer{H7400} among thy people:{H5971} neither shalt thou stand{H5975} against the blood{H1818} of thy neighbor:{H7453} I am Jehovah.{H3068}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thou shalt not go{H3212}{(H8799)} up and down as a talebearer{H7400} among thy people{H5971}: neither shalt thou stand{H5975}{(H8799)} against the blood{H1818} of thy neighbour{H7453}: I am the LORD{H3068}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Thou shalt not go vp ad doune a preuy accuser amoge thy people, nether shalt thou helpe to shed the bloude of thy neyghboure: I am the Lorde.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Thou shalt let no preuy accuser go amoge ye people. Nether shalt thou stonde agaynst yi neghbours bloude: for I am ye LORDE.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Thou shalt not walke about with tales among thy people. Thou shalt not stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Thou shalt not go vp and downe with tales among thy people, neither shalt thou stande agaynst the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lorde.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Thou shalt not go up and down [as] a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I [am] the LORD.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  "'You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people; neither shall you stand against the life{literally, "blood"} of your neighbor. I am Yahweh.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `Thou dost not go slandering among thy people; thou dost not stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I `am' Jehovah.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am Jehovah.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am Jehovah.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Do not go about saying untrue things among your people, or take away the life of your neighbour by false witness: I am the Lord.

• World English Bible (2000)

  "'You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people. "'You shall not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am Yahweh.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  You must not go about as a slanderer among your people. You must not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is at stake. I am the LORD.

Referenced Verses

• Exod 23:1 : 1 Do not spread a false report, and do not join hands with a wicked person to be a malicious witness.
• Exod 23:7 : 7 Stay far from a false accusation; do not kill the innocent and the righteous, for I will not justify the wicked.
• Ezek 22:9 : 9 The men in you who slander for the purpose of shedding blood eat at the high places; they commit lewdness in your midst.
• Ps 15:3 : 3 Who does not slander with his tongue, does no harm to his neighbor, and does not bring disgrace upon a relative.
• Prov 11:13 : 13 A gossip reveals secrets, but a trustworthy person keeps a matter confidential.
• Prov 20:19 : 19 A gossip betrays a confidence, so avoid anyone who talks too much.
• Jer 6:28 : 28 All of them are stubborn rebels, going about with slander. They are bronze and iron; all of them act corruptly.
• Jer 9:4 : 4 Each one deceives his neighbor, and they do not speak the truth. They have trained their tongues to speak lies and exhaust themselves with wrongdoing.
• Matt 26:60-61 : 60 But they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two witnesses came forward. 61 They declared, "This man said, 'I can destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'"
• 1 Kgs 21:10-13 : 10 Then seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them accuse him, saying, 'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death. 11 So the elders and nobles of this city, who lived there, carried out Jezebel’s instructions, just as she had written in the letters she sent them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Two worthless men came and sat opposite Naboth. They testified against him before the people, saying, 'Naboth has cursed God and the king.' So they took him outside the city, stoned him to death, and he died.
• Acts 6:11-13 : 11 Then they secretly instigated men to say, 'We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.' 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes. They came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 13 They presented false witnesses who said, 'This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.'
• Acts 24:4-9 : 4 But so as not to take more of your time, I beg you to listen to us briefly in your kindness. 5 We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7 But Lysias, the commander, came and intervened with great force, taking him out of our hands. 8 By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all the charges we are bringing against him. 9 The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
• 1 Tim 3:11 : 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded and faithful in all things.
• 2 Tim 3:3 : 3 They will be unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, and hostile to what is good.
• Titus 2:3 : 3 Likewise, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of good things.
• 1 Pet 2:1 : 1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and every kind of slander.
• Exod 20:16 : 16 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
• Matt 27:4 : 4 He said, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.' But they replied, 'What is that to us? You take care of it.'