Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

LEVITICUS 18:5KJV
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Leviticus 18:5 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 18:5 mean?

Leviticus 18:5 says that if a person observes and follows God’s statutes and judgments, that person will find life in them, because these commands come from the LORD. The verse emphasizes that living by God’s instructions is meant to bring true life, not just rule-keeping.

In this verse, God is speaking to the Israelites through Moses, giving them instructions for how to live as His people. The context is a list of laws about moral and ritual conduct, setting Israel apart from other nations. The verse sums up the purpose of these laws: they are meant to guide the people into a way of life that reflects God’s character and leads to well-being.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 18:5

  • "keep" (שָׁמַר, shamar): This word means to guard, watch, or observe carefully. It suggests more than just following rules—it implies attentiveness and care in obeying God’s instructions.
  • "statutes" (חֻקָּה, chuqqah): This term refers to set ordinances or decrees, often those that are not explained but are to be followed because God commands them.
  • "judgments" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat): This word means legal decisions or just rulings, often about what is right or fair in society. It highlights that God’s laws include both moral and civil guidance.
  • "live" (חָיָה, chayah): This verb means to live or have life. In this context, it often carries the sense of flourishing or experiencing fullness of life, not just surviving.

Why Leviticus 18:5 matters

  • Leviticus 18:5 clarifies that God’s laws are not arbitrary; they are given for the good of the people, offering a way to experience real life as God intends.
  • The verse connects obedience to God’s commands with life itself, showing that following God is meant to be life-giving, not just a burden of rules.
  • This verse stands as a key summary in the chapter, marking the difference between Israel’s calling and the practices of surrounding nations, and it helps explain why the following laws matter.

Where else these words appear

“live” Hebrew H2425 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
  • Numbers 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
  • Nehemiah 6:11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

“statutes” 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.

“which” Hebrew H834 · used in 105 verses

  • Genesis 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
  • Genesis 31:49 And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
  • Deuteronomy 12:2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: