After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.

LEVITICUS 18:3KJV
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Leviticus 18:3 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 18:3 mean?

Leviticus 18:3 tells the Israelites not to imitate the practices and customs of the Egyptians, where they used to live, or the Canaanites, where they are going. The verse warns them not to follow the ways or rules of those peoples.

In this verse, God is speaking to the Israelites through Moses as they prepare to enter the land of Canaan. The verse sets the stage for the laws that follow by making it clear that Israel is to be different from the nations around them. The focus is on not adopting the behaviors ("doings") and traditions ("ordinances") of either Egypt or Canaan, which were known for practices that went against Israel’s new way of life.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 18:3

  • "doings" (מַעֲשֶׂה, ma'aseh): This word refers to actions or deeds, especially habitual practices. Here, it points to the everyday behaviors and cultural habits of Egypt and Canaan, not just isolated acts.
  • "ordinances" (חֻקָּה, chuqqah): This word means statutes, customs, or established rules. The warning is not just about actions, but also about adopting the underlying systems or traditions that shaped those societies.
  • "walk" (יָלַךְ, halakh): This Hebrew verb often means to live or conduct oneself. The idea is not just about physical movement, but about living according to a certain pattern or way of life.

Why Leviticus 18:3 matters

  • Leviticus 18:3 clarifies that God’s instructions are not just about avoiding certain actions, but about resisting the pull of entire cultures and their value systems.
  • The verse helps explain why the following laws in Leviticus are so detailed: they are meant to set Israel apart from their neighbors, not just morally but culturally.
  • This verse connects the Israelites’ past (Egypt) and future (Canaan), showing that the call to be different is ongoing, not just a one-time change.

Where else these words appear

“Canaan” Hebrew H3667 · used in 91 verses

  • Genesis 9:18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
  • Genesis 45:17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;
  • Numbers 35:14 Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

“ordinances” Hebrew H2708 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
  • Numbers 9:3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
  • 2 Kings 23:3 And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.