Leviticus 19

Jehovah

Jehovah (LORD) — the covenant name, "I AM"

Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. Leviticus 19:2–4

Jehovah, the premortal Christ, invites His people to become holy like Him. As the resurrected Savior He renewed the same invitation: be perfect "even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect."

How we know: the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him

• quoted by 1 Peter 1:16 — "Be ye holy; for I am holy" — quoted to disciples redeemed by the blood of Christ (1:18-19).
• alluded to by 3 Nephi 12:48 — The risen Christ: "be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect."
• alluded to by Matthew 5:48 — Jesus restates the call to be like God: "Be ye therefore perfect."

Jehovah

And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:10–16

Jehovah ties care for the poor, honesty, and reverence for His name to who He is. Jesus later taught the higher version of the oath law — let your word simply be true.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him

• alluded to by Matthew 5:33 — "Thou shalt not forswear thyself" — Jesus cites the oath law before giving the higher law.

Jehovah

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. Leviticus 19:18

The same Lord who gave this commandment as Jehovah quoted it in mortality as the second great commandment. Love of neighbor was always His law.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him

• quoted by Matthew 22:39 — Jesus names it the second great commandment.
• quoted by Mark 12:31 — Jesus: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
• quoted by Luke 10:27 — Quoted before the parable of the good Samaritan.
• quoted by Matthew 19:19 — Jesus lists it to the rich young man.

Sacrifice as a similitude of Christ

And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering. Leviticus 19:21–22

A ram dies, atonement is made, and sin is forgiven. Every such offering was a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten, whose Atonement is the real reason sins are forgiven.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · a traditional type, cited

• interpreted by Moses 5:7 — Sacrifice "is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father."
• interpreted by Alma 34:14 — The whole law points "to that great and last sacrifice" of the Son of God.
• alluded to by Isaiah 53:10 — The Servant makes "his soul an offering for sin" - the Hebrew word there ('asham) is the same word as "trespass offering" in verses 21-22.

Jehovah

Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:28–32

Jehovah seals laws about the body, the Sabbath, His sanctuary, spiritualism, and honoring the aged with His own name. The Sabbath and the sanctuary are His, the premortal Christ's.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him

Jehovah

But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:34–37

Jehovah reminds Israel that He is the Deliverer who brought them out of Egypt, so they must love the stranger. In latter-day revelation Christ identifies Himself as the One who led Israel out of Egypt.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him

• interpreted by D&C 136:22 — "I am he who led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt."