Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Don't seek revenge or hold grudges against your fellow people, but love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. I am the LORD.
God is commanding His people to reject revenge and grudges, instead choosing to love others with the same care they show themselves.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Leviticus, God gave Moses a series of laws on Mount Sinai to guide the Israelites in living as a holy people after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This verse is part of the Holiness Code, which emphasized moral and ethical standards to foster community harmony and prevent cycles of vengeance among the tribes. It reflected the cultural context of a nomadic society where grudges could easily disrupt social unity and God's covenant with Israel.
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