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Read the Bible

JPS Old Testament

Leviticus 19:16

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Accusation, False;   Blood;   Busybody;   Falsehood;   False Teachers;   Gossip;   Neighbor;   Talebearer;   Thompson Chain Reference - Evil;   Silence-Speech;   Speaking, Evil;   Talebearers;   The Topic Concordance - Speech/communication;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Slander;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Weights;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amos, Theology of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Gaal;   Law;   Pentateuch;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Court Systems;   Leviticus;   Pentateuch;   Slander;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Canon of the Old Testament;   Congregation, Assembly;   Crimes and Punishments;   Deuteronomy;   Hexateuch;   Holiness;   Law;   Priests and Levites;   Sanctification, Sanctify;   Slander, Talebearing;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Hating, Hatred;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Leviticus;   Slander;   Tale;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Calumny;   Commandments, the 613;   Life;   Police Laws;   Ransom;   Sidra;   Tort;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your people: neither shall you stand against the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
King James Version
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 .
Lexham English Bible
You shall not go about with slander among your people; you shall not endanger your neighbor's life; I am Yahweh.
New Century Version
You must not spread false stories against other people, and you must not do anything that would put your neighbor's life in danger. I am the Lord .
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 .
Amplified Bible
'You shall not go around as a gossip among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor [with slander or false testimony]; I am the LORD.
New American Standard Bible
'You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people; and you are not to jeopardize the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Thou shalt not walke about with tales among thy people. Thou shalt not stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord.
Legacy Standard Bible
You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand against the life of your neighbor; I am Yahweh.
Contemporary English Version
Don't be a gossip, but never hesitate to speak up in court, especially if your testimony can save someone's life.
Complete Jewish Bible
"‘Do not go around spreading slander among your people, but also don't stand idly by when your neighbor's life is at stake; I am Adonai .
Darby Translation
Thou shalt not go about as a talebearer among thy people; thou shalt not stand up against the life of thy neighbour: I am Jehovah.
Easy-to-Read Version
You must not go around spreading false stories against other people. Don't do anything that would put your neighbor's life in danger. I am the Lord .
English Standard Version
You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord .
George Lamsa Translation
You shall not accuse your own people neither shall you stand against the blood of your neighbor; I am the LORD.
Good News Translation
Do not spread lies about anyone, and when someone is on trial for his life, speak out if your testimony can help him. I am the Lord .
Christian Standard Bible®
Do not go about spreading slander among your people; do not jeopardize your neighbor’s life; I am the Lord.
Literal Translation
You shall not go as a slanderer among your people; you shall not stand up against the blood of your neighbor; I am Jehovah.
Miles 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.
American Standard Version
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
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.
Bishop's 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.
King James Version (1611)
Thou shalt not goe vp and downe as a tale-bearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Thou shalt not walk deceitfully among thy people; thou shalt not rise up against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord your God.
English Revised Version
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.
Berean Standard Bible
You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Thou schalt not be a sclaunderere, nether a priuey bacbitere in the puplis; thou schalt not stonde ayens the blood of thi neiybore; Y am the Lord.
Young's Literal Translation
`Thou dost not go slandering among thy people; thou dost not stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I [am] Jehovah.
Update Bible Version
You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your relatives: you shall not stand against the blood of your neighbor: I am Yahweh.
Webster's Bible Translation
Thou shalt not go up and down [as] a tale-bearer among thy people; neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor; I [am] the LORD.
World English Bible
You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your people: neither shall you stand against the blood of your neighbor: I am Yahweh.
New King James Version
You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
New Living Translation
"Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. "Do not stand idly by when your neighbor's life is threatened. I am the Lord .
New Life Bible
Do not go around saying things that hurt your people. Do not do things against the life of your neighbor. I am the Lord.
New Revised Standard
You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord .
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thou shalt not go about talebearing, among thy people Thou shalt not stand by, over the blood of thy neighbour: I, am Yahweh.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou shalt not be a detractor nor a whisperer among the people. Thou shalt not stand against the blood of thy neighbour. I am the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand forth against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
THE MESSAGE
"Don't spread gossip and rumors. "Don't just stand by when your neighbor's life is in danger. I am God .
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the LORD.

Contextual Overview

11 Ye shall not steal; neither shall ye deal falsely, nor lie one to another. 12 And ye shall not swear by My name falsely, so that thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. 13 Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbour, nor rob him; the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. 14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind, but thou shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD. 15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment; thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor favour the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. 16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people; neither shalt thou stand idly by the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD. 17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart; thou shalt surely rebuke thy neighbour, and not bear sin because of him. 18 Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

talebearer: Exodus 23:1, Psalms 15:3, Proverbs 11:13, Proverbs 20:19, Jeremiah 6:28, Jeremiah 9:4, Ezekiel 22:9, 1 Timothy 3:11, 2 Timothy 3:3, Titus 2:3, 1 Peter 2:1

stand: Exodus 20:16, Exodus 23:1, Exodus 23:7, 1 Kings 21:10-13, Matthew 26:60, Matthew 26:61, Matthew 27:4, Acts 6:11-13, Acts 24:4-9

Reciprocal: Genesis 9:5 - and at Ruth 2:2 - glean ears 1 Samuel 24:9 - General Psalms 50:20 - slanderest Psalms 101:5 - Whoso Proverbs 18:8 - words Ephesians 4:31 - evil speaking 1 Timothy 5:13 - wandering 1 John 3:15 - hateth

Cross-References

Genesis 19:4
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both young and old, all the people from every quarter.
Genesis 19:5
And they called unto Lot, and said unto him: 'Where are the men that came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.'
Genesis 19:8
Behold now, I have two daughters that have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes; only unto these men do nothing; forasmuch as they are come under the shadow of my roof.'
Genesis 19:10
But the men put forth their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and the door they shut.
Genesis 19:15
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying: 'Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are here; lest thou be swept away in the iniquity of the city.'
Genesis 19:16
But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him. And they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
Genesis 19:18
And Lot said unto them: 'Oh, not so, my lord;
Genesis 19:19
behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shown unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest the evil overtake me, and I die.
Genesis 19:35
And they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose, and lay with him; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
Genesis 19:36
Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thou shall not go up and down [as] a talebearer among thy people,.... The word used signifies a merchant, and particularly one that deals in drugs and spices, and especially a peddler in those things, that goes about from place to place to sell them; and such having an opportunity and making use of it to carry stories of others, and report them to their disadvantage, hence it came to be used for one that carries tales from house to house, in order to curry favour for himself, and to the injury of others; and such a man is a detestable person, and ought not to be encouraged, see 1 Timothy 5:13;

neither shall thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; either by bearing a false testimony, whereby his blood is in danger of being shed when innocent; or by being silent, and not hearing a testimony for him, whereby the shedding of his innocent blood might have been prevented; either way may be interpreted standing against it: the Jewish writers think, that a man by this law, is bound to do all he can to preserve the life of his neighbour, when it is by any means in danger, by drowning, or by thieves and wild beasts, so Jarchi:

I [am] the Lord; the just and righteous One, who will resent and punish for all unjust proceedings in courts of judicature, secret tale bearing, doing any injury to another, or not preventing it when in the power of his hands.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Stand against the blood of thy neighbor - Either, to put his life in danger by standing up as his accuser (compare Matthew 26:60); or, to stand by idly when thy neighbor’s life is in danger. Whichever interpretation we adopt, the clause prohibits that which might interfere with the course of justice.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Leviticus 19:16. Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer — רכיל rachil signifies a trader, a pedlar, and is here applied to the person who travels about dealing in scandal and calumny, getting the secrets of every person and family, and retailing them wherever he goes. A more despicable character exists not: such a person is a pest to society, and should be exiled from the habitations of men.

Neither shalt thou stand against the blood, &c. — Thou shalt not be as a false witness, because by such testimony the blood-the life of an innocent man may be endangered.


 
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