Leviticus 19:16

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.

📖 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 You shall not spread a false report; do not join hands with the wicked to be a dishonest witness.
• Exod 23:7 : 7 Keep far from a false matter, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked.
• Ezek 22:9 : 9 In you are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in you they eat on the mountains: in the midst of you they commit lewdness.
• Ps 15:3 : 3 He who does not slander with his tongue, nor do evil to his neighbor, nor take up a reproach against his neighbor.
• Prov 11:13 : 13 A gossip reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.
• Prov 20:19 : 19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore, do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
• Jer 6:28 : 28 They are all grievous rebels, walking with slanders; they are bronze and iron; they are all corrupters.
• Jer 9:4 : 4 Take heed every one of his neighbor, and do not trust in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will walk with slanders.
• Matt 26:60-61 : 60 But found none: yes, though many false witnesses came, yet they found none. At last came two false witnesses, 61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
• 1 Kgs 21:10-13 : 10 And set two men, worthless fellows, before him to bear witness against him, saying, You blasphemed God and the king. And then carry him out and stone him, that he may die. 11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants of his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, and as it was written in the letters she had sent to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 And two men, worthless fellows, came in and sat before him; and the men bore witness against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth blasphemed God and the king. Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died.
• Acts 6:11-13 : 11 They secretly instigated men who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God. 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 13 They set up false witnesses who said, This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law.
• Acts 24:4-9 : 4 However, that I may not be further tedious to you, I beg you to hear us briefly in your kindness. 5 For we have found this man to be a pestilent fellow, and a creator of discord among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: 6 Who also attempted to desecrate the temple: whom we seized, and would have judged according to our law. 7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great force took him away out of our hands, 8 Commanding his accusers to come before you: by examining of whom you yourself may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him. 9 And the Jews also agreed, saying that these things were true.
• 1 Tim 3:11 : 11 In the same way, their wives must be dignified, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
• 2 Tim 3:3 : 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good,
• Titus 2:3 : 3 The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine, teachers of good things;
• 1 Pet 2:1 : 1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,
• Exod 20:16 : 16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
• Matt 27:4 : 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See to that yourself.