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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Leviticus 18:2 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD your God.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/18-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/03_Lev_18_02.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 18:2 - Unlawful Sexual Relations" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD your God." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/leviticus/18-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/leviticus/18-2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/leviticus/">Leviticus</a> > <a href="/leviticus/18.htm">Chapter 18</a> > Verse 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad2.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/leviticus/18-1.htm" title="Leviticus 18:1">◄</a> Leviticus 18:2 <a href="/leviticus/18-3.htm" title="Leviticus 18:3">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/leviticus/18.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/leviticus/18.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220Speak to the Israelites and say to them: &#8216I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/leviticus/18.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/leviticus/18.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/leviticus/18.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/18.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/18.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, &#8216I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘I am Yahweh your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am Yahweh your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/18.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am Jehovah your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/leviticus/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />to tell the people of Israel: I am the LORD your God! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/18.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Tell the Israelites: I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/18.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />to say to the people of Israel, "I am the LORD your God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/18.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Tell the Israelis that I am the LORD your God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/18.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'I am the LORD your God!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, 'I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/18.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘I am Yahweh your God. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />“Speak to the sons of Israel, and you have said to them: I [am] your God YHWH;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, I am Jehovah your God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, I am Jehovah your God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: I am the Lord your God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: I am the Lord your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/18.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I, the LORD, am your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: I am the LORD your God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />“Speak with the children of Israel and say to them: 'I AM LORD JEHOVAH your God.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/18.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/18.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, I <i>am</i> the Lord your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/18-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NWs_V1RyMFo?start=4726" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/18.htm">Unlawful Sexual Relations</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>Then the LORD said to Moses, <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1696.htm" title="1696: dab·bêr (V-Piel-Imp-ms) -- To speak. A primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively, to speak; rarely to subdue.">“Speak</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bə·nê (N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">the Israelites</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity."></a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wə·’ā·mar·tā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-2ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">and tell</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ă·lê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- To, into, towards. ">them:</a> <a href="/hebrew/589.htm" title="589: ’ă·nî (Pro-1cs) -- I. Contracted from 'anokiy; I.">I</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">am the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem (N-mpc:: 2mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">your God.</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/6-7.htm">Exodus 6:7</a></span><br />I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/20-2.htm">Exodus 20:2</a></span><br />“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/5-6.htm">Deuteronomy 5:6</a></span><br />“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/29-13.htm">Deuteronomy 29:13</a></span><br />and so that He may establish you today as His people, and He may be your God as He promised you and as He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/31-33.htm">Jeremiah 31:33</a></span><br />“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-5.htm">Ezekiel 20:5</a></span><br />and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. With an uplifted hand I said to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-19.htm">Ezekiel 20:19</a></span><br />I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/36-28.htm">Ezekiel 36:28</a></span><br />Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/37-23.htm">Ezekiel 37:23</a></span><br />They will no longer defile themselves with their idols or detestable images, or with any of their transgressions. I will save them from all their apostasies by which they sinned, and I will cleanse them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/1-10.htm">Hosea 1:10</a></span><br />Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And it will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-25.htm">Romans 9:25-26</a></span><br />As He says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people, and I will call her ‘My Beloved’ who is not My beloved,” / and, “It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/6-16.htm">2 Corinthians 6:16</a></span><br />What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/8-10.htm">Hebrews 8:10</a></span><br />For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">1 Peter 2:9-10</a></span><br />But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. / Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/21-3.htm">Revelation 21:3</a></span><br />And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, I am the LORD your God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/18-4.htm">Leviticus 18:4</a></b></br> Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I <i>am</i> the LORD your God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/11-44.htm">Leviticus 11:44</a></b></br> For I <i>am</i> the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I <i>am</i> holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/19-3.htm">Leviticus 19:3,4,10,34</a></b></br> Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I <i>am</i> the LORD your God… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/17-14.htm">Children</a> <a href="/leviticus/17-14.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/leviticus/17-14.htm">Israelites</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/18-21.htm">Children</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-2.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-26.htm">Israelites</a><div class="vheading2">Leviticus 18</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/18-1.htm">Unlawful marriages and unlawful lusts</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/18.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/leviticus/18.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Speak to the Israelites</b><br>This phrase establishes the audience as the Israelites, the chosen people of God. It is important to note that the Israelites were descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they were in a covenant relationship with God. This covenant was marked by the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, which set them apart from other nations. The Israelites were to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests (<a href="/exodus/19-6.htm">Exodus 19:6</a>). This command to speak to them underscores the importance of communication from God through His appointed leader, Moses, who served as a mediator between God and the people.<p><b>and tell them:</b><br>The directive to "tell them" emphasizes the role of Moses as a prophet and leader. It highlights the importance of verbal communication in transmitting God's laws and decrees. In the ancient Near Eastern context, oral tradition was a primary means of preserving and conveying important information. This phrase also underscores the responsibility of leaders to faithfully communicate God's word to His people, a theme that is echoed throughout Scripture (<a href="/deuteronomy/6-6.htm">Deuteronomy 6:6-9</a>, <a href="/2_timothy/4-2.htm">2 Timothy 4:2</a>).<p><b>I am the LORD your God.</b><br>This declaration is a reaffirmation of God's identity and His covenant relationship with Israel. The use of "I am" connects to the divine name revealed to Moses at the burning bush (<a href="/exodus/3-14.htm">Exodus 3:14</a>), signifying God's eternal, self-existent nature. The term "LORD" (YHWH) is the personal name of God, emphasizing His covenant faithfulness. By stating "your God," it personalizes the relationship, reminding the Israelites of their unique status as God's chosen people. This phrase serves as a foundation for the laws that follow, as it establishes God's authority and the reason for obedience. It also foreshadows the New Covenant, where Jesus Christ, as God incarnate, fulfills the law and establishes a new relationship with believers (<a href="/matthew/5-17.htm">Matthew 5:17</a>, <a href="/hebrews/8-6.htm">Hebrews 8:6-13</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and are now receiving God's laws and commandments.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal existence and faithfulness to His promises. He is the one true God who has established a relationship with the Israelites.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The prophet and leader of the Israelites, through whom God communicates His laws and commandments to His people.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_sinai.htm">Mount Sinai</a></b><br>The place where God gave the Law to Moses, including the instructions found in Leviticus.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_covenant.htm">The Covenant</a></b><br>The agreement established between God and the Israelites, where God promises to be their God, and they are to be His people, following His laws and commandments.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_authority.htm">God's Sovereignty and Authority</a></b><br>Recognize that God is the ultimate authority in our lives. Just as He declared to the Israelites, "I am the LORD your God," He calls us to acknowledge His sovereignty and submit to His will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/covenant_relationship.htm">Covenant Relationship</a></b><br>Understand the importance of the covenant relationship between God and His people. This relationship is based on God's promises and our response of obedience and faithfulness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/call_to_holiness.htm">Call to Holiness</a></b><br>Embrace the call to holiness in our daily lives. As God is holy, we are to reflect His character in our actions, thoughts, and relationships.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/identity_in_god.htm">Identity in God</a></b><br>Our identity is rooted in our relationship with God. Just as the Israelites were identified as God's people, we too are called to live out our identity as followers of Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a></b><br>Obedience to God's commands is a demonstration of our love and commitment to Him. It is through obedience that we experience the fullness of life that God intends for us.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_leviticus_18.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 18</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_bible's_view_on_poverty.htm">What is the Bible's view on poverty?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_leviticus_18_22_say_on_men.htm">What does Leviticus 18:22 mean about male relations?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_were_canaanites_cursed_as_slaves.htm">Why were the Canaanites cursed with enslavement?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_2_kings_16_3_just_with_god.htm">How can 2 Kings 16:3 be reconciled with a supposedly just God if Ahaz is recorded as sacrificing his own son?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/leviticus/18.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) <span class= "bld">I am the Lord your God.</span>--The Lord is their recognised and sole sovereign, the children of Israel are therefore bound to obey His precepts, and not be led astray by the customs or statutes which prevailed among the people whose country they are to possess. Moreover, as He is holy, the Israelites, by faithfully obeying His sacred laws, will attain to that holiness which will bring them in communion with Him in whose image they were created. This phrase, which is so emphatically repeated twice more in this chapter (<a href="/leviticus/18-4.htm" title="You shall do my judgments, and keep my ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.">Leviticus 18:4</a>; <a href="/leviticus/18-30.htm" title="Therefore shall you keep my ordinance, that you commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that you defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.">Leviticus 18:30</a>), has only been used once before in this book. (See <a href="/leviticus/11-44.htm" title="For I am the LORD your God: you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creeps on the earth.">Leviticus 11:44</a>.)<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/18-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">“Speak</span><br /><span class="heb">דַּבֵּר֙</span> <span class="translit">(dab·bêr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1696.htm">Strong's 1696: </a> </span><span class="str2">To arrange, to speak, to subdue</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the Israelites</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּנֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(bə·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[and] tell</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאָמַרְתָּ֖</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’ā·mar·tā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">them,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲלֵהֶ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·lê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘I</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲנִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_589.htm">Strong's 589: </a> </span><span class="str2">I</span><br /><br /><span class="word">am the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your God.</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/18-2.htm">Leviticus 18:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/18-2.htm">Leviticus 18:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/18-2.htm">Leviticus 18:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/18-2.htm">Leviticus 18:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/18-2.htm">Leviticus 18:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/18-2.htm">Leviticus 18:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/18-2.htm">Leviticus 18:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/18-2.htm">Leviticus 18:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/18-2.htm">Leviticus 18:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/18-2.htm">Leviticus 18:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/18-2.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 18:2 Speak to the children of Israel (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/18-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 18:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 18:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/18-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 18:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 18:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>