You must keep the children of Israel separate from their uncleannessThis directive emphasizes the importance of ritual purity in the Israelite community. In the context of Leviticus, uncleanness often refers to ceremonial impurity, which could result from various sources such as bodily discharges, skin diseases, or contact with dead bodies. The separation underscores the holiness required to approach God, reflecting His nature as pure and set apart. This concept of separation is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are called to be holy and distinct from the world (
1 Peter 1:15-16).
so that they do not die by defiling My tabernacle
The tabernacle was the dwelling place of God's presence among the Israelites, a sacred space where heaven and earth met. Defiling it through uncleanness was a serious offense, as it could lead to death, highlighting the severity of approaching God in an impure state. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's holiness and the need for atonement, which is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who provides the means for believers to approach God with confidence (Hebrews 10:19-22).
which is among them
The presence of the tabernacle among the Israelites signifies God's desire to dwell with His people, a theme that runs throughout Scripture. This presence required the community to maintain purity and holiness. In the New Testament, this concept is expanded as believers themselves become the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), emphasizing the ongoing need for spiritual purity and the transformative presence of God within His people.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were given the Law through Moses.
2.
The TabernacleThe portable dwelling place for the divine presence of God among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness.
3.
MosesThe prophet and leader who received the Law from God and communicated it to the Israelites.
4.
UncleannessA state of ritual impurity that could result from various physical conditions or actions, requiring purification rituals.
5.
God's PresenceThe divine presence that dwelled in the Tabernacle, symbolizing God's holiness and His covenant relationship with Israel.
Teaching Points
Holiness and SeparationGod calls His people to be distinct and separate from sin and impurity, reflecting His holiness.
The Seriousness of SinSin and impurity are not trivial matters; they have serious consequences, including separation from God's presence.
The Role of the TabernacleThe Tabernacle was a physical representation of God's presence, requiring purity to approach it, much like our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit today.
The Need for PurificationJust as the Israelites needed purification rituals, we need the cleansing power of Christ to maintain spiritual purity.
Living in CommunityThe laws of cleanliness were not just personal but communal, emphasizing the impact of individual actions on the community's spiritual health.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Leviticus 15:31?
2.How does Leviticus 15:31 emphasize the importance of holiness in daily life?
3.What does "separate the Israelites from their impurity" teach about God's standards?
4.How does Leviticus 15:31 connect with New Testament teachings on purity?
5.In what ways can we apply the concept of purity in modern contexts?
6.How can we ensure our actions align with God's call to holiness today?
7.Why does Leviticus 15:31 emphasize separation due to impurity in a modern context?
8.How does Leviticus 15:31 relate to the concept of holiness in daily life?
9.What historical practices influenced the laws in Leviticus 15:31?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 15?
11.Leviticus 15 - How do believers reconcile these purity laws with other Old Testament statutes that seemingly conflict or differ in emphasis?
12.Ezekiel 4:12–15: How could using cow dung rather than human waste reconcile the apparent conflict with Jewish purity laws?
13.If Leviticus 11 is God's eternal command, why does Acts 10:9-16 appear to contradict these dietary laws?
14.In Leviticus 12:2, why does the text declare a mother 'unclean' immediately after childbirth if bearing children was divinely mandated (Genesis 1:28)?What Does Leviticus 15:31 Mean
You must keep the children of IsraelThe command is addressed to Moses and Aaron, but responsibility extends to every leader, parent, and individual in the camp. God’s people are not left to drift; they are to “keep” or guard one another.
•Exodus 19:6 reminds Israel they are “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation,” underscoring collective accountability.
•Deuteronomy 6:6-7 calls parents to teach God’s words diligently to their children, showing that safeguarding holiness begins in the home.
• In the New Testament,1 Peter 2:9 echoes the same identity for believers, proving that communal vigilance over holiness remains vital.
separate from their uncleannessUncleanness inLeviticus 15 covers bodily discharges, but the principle spans every moral and spiritual impurity. Separation is not isolation from people but separation from sin.
•Leviticus 11:44 “‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” Holiness demands distance from what God declares unclean.
•2 Corinthians 6:17 “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.” The call persists for the church, confirming that standards of purity are consistent across covenants.
• Practical implications:
– Identify anything that dulls sensitivity to sin.
– Confess and cleanse quickly (1 John 1:9).
– Build habits—Scripture meditation, fellowship—that promote a clean walk.
so that they do not dieThe stakes are life and death; sin always kills. Physical death under the Law pictures eternal death apart from Christ.
•Numbers 18:22 “The Israelites must never again go near the Tent of Meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and die.”
•Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death…” The warning in Leviticus foreshadows the gospel reality: only atonement spares from judgment.
• Grace does not soften the seriousness of sin; it magnifies the cost Christ bore to free us from its penalty.
by defiling My tabernacleSin spreads; it contaminates God’s dwelling if unchecked. The tabernacle is holy space where God reveals His glory.
•Leviticus 16:16 “He shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the Israelites.” Even involuntary impurity affects worship.
•1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “You are God’s temple… If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him.” Today the church and individual believer are God’s sanctuary; defilement still matters.
• Application: worship must flow from clean hearts. Casual attitudes toward sin inevitably erode reverence and fellowship.
which is among themGod dwells in the midst of His people—not afar off. His nearness is both comfort and accountability.
•Exodus 29:45-46 “I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.”
•John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.” The ultimate fulfillment is Christ dwelling with humanity.
•Revelation 21:3 “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.” Final communion depends on present holiness; God prepares a people to live forever in His immediate presence.
summaryLeviticus 15:31 teaches that God’s people must actively guard one another from impurity, because unchecked sin brings death and desecrates the place where God lives with His own. The command underscores communal responsibility, the lethal seriousness of sin, the sanctity of worship, and the privilege of God’s indwelling presence. Holiness is not optional; it is the necessary response to a holy God who chooses to live among His redeemed people.
(31)
Thus shall ye separate.--That is, according to the regulations laid down in this chapter. "Ye"--
i.e.,Moses and Aaron, to whom they were conjointly addressed (see
Leviticus 15:1)--are to restrain the children of Israel, lest they be punished with death when they approach the Lord in a defiled state.
Defile my tabernacle.--Better,my dwelling place,which can here be used, though inLeviticus 8:10, where it also occurs, the expression "dwelling-place" does not suit so well.
Verse 31. -
That they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them. The main purpose in the laws of uncleanness is to keep first God's house and then God's people free from the danger of defilement by foul things presenting themselves freely before him and among them. These foul things, symbolizing sinful things, create a ceremonial defilement symbolizing moral defilement.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
You must keepוְהִזַּרְתֶּ֥ם(wə·hiz·zar·tem)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5144:To hold aloof, abstain, to set apart, devotethe childrenבְּנֵי־(bə·nê-)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121:A sonof Israel {separate}יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל(yiś·rā·’êl)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his descfrom their uncleanness,מִטֻּמְאָתָ֑ם(miṭ·ṭum·’ā·ṯām)Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2932:Religious impurityso that they do notוְלֹ֤א(wə·lō)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nodieיָמֻ֙תוּ֙(yā·mu·ṯū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4191:To die, to killby defilingבְּטַמְּאָ֥ם(bə·ṭam·mə·’ām)Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2930:To be or become uncleanMy tabernacleמִשְׁכָּנִ֖י(miš·kā·nî)Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4908:A residence, the Tabernaclethatאֲשֶׁ֥ר(’ă·šer)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thatis among them.בְּתוֹכָֽם׃(bə·ṯō·w·ḵām)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8432:A bisection, the centre
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OT Law: Leviticus 15:31 Thus you shall separate the children (Le Lv Lev.) 
