New International VersionYou must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices.
New Living TranslationSo do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life.
English Standard VersionYou shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes.
Berean Standard BibleYou must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs.
King James BibleAfter 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.
New King James VersionAccording to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances.
New American Standard BibleYou shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes.
NASB 1995‘You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes.
NASB 1977‘You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes.
Legacy Standard BibleYou shall not do according to what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do according to what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes.
Amplified BibleYou shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, and you shall not do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes (practices, customs).
Christian Standard BibleDo not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, or follow the practices of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You must not follow their customs.
Holman Christian Standard BibleDo not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, or follow the practices of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You must not follow their customs.
American Standard VersionAfter 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 statutes.
Contemporary English VersionSo don't follow the customs of Egypt where you used to live or those of Canaan where I am bringing you.
English Revised VersionAfter 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 statutes.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationYou used to live in Egypt. Don't live the way the Egyptians do. I am bringing you to Canaan. Don't live the way the Canaanites do. Never live by their standards.
Good News TranslationDo not follow the practices of the people of Egypt, where you once lived, or of the people in the land of Canaan, where I am now taking you.
International Standard VersionYou are not to do what you used to do in the land of Egypt where you lived. You are not to do what Canaan does, where I'm about to bring you, so that you live according to their statutes.
NET BibleYou must not do as they do in the land of Egypt where you have been living, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan into which I am about to bring you; you must not walk in their statutes.
New Heart English BibleYou shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived: and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you; neither shall you walk in their statutes.
Webster's Bible TranslationAfter the doings of the land of Egypt in which 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleYou must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs.
World English BibleYou shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived. You shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionyou do not do according to the work of the land of Egypt in which you have dwelt, and you do not do according to the work of the land of Canaan to where I am bringing you in, and you do not walk in their statutes.
Young's Literal Translation according to the work of the land of Egypt in which ye have dwelt ye do not, and according to the work of the land of Canaan whither I am bringing you in, ye do not, and in their statutes ye walk not.
Smith's Literal TranslationAccording to the doings of the land of Egypt where ye dwelt in it, ye shall not do: and according to the doings of the land of Canaan where I brought you there, ye shall not do: and in their laws ye shall not go. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleYou shall not do according to the custom of the land of Egypt, in which you dwelt: neither shall you act according to the manner of the country of Chanaan, into which I will bring you, nor shall you walk in their ordinances.
Catholic Public Domain VersionYou shall not act according to the custom of the land of Egypt, in which you have lived; nor shall you behave according to the habit of the region of Canaan, into which I will lead you; neither shall you walk in their ordinances.
New American BibleYou shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you once lived, nor shall you do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you; do not conform to their customs.
New Revised Standard VersionYou shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYou shall not do according to the doings of the land of Egypt wherein you dwelt, neither shall you do according to the doings of the land of Canaan whither I bring you; neither shall you walk in their ordinances.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAccording to the works of the land of Egypt in which you dwelt, you will not do, and you shall not do according to the works of the land of Canaan where I have brought you and you shall not walk in their laws. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917After 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 statutes.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationYe shall not do according to the devices of Egypt, in which ye dwelt: and according to the devices of the land of Chanaan, into which I bring you, ye shall not do; and ye shall not walk in their ordinances.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Unlawful Sexual Relations… 2“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD your God. 3You must not followthe practicesof the landof Egypt,whereyou used to live,and you must not follow the practicesof the landof Canaan,into whichIam bringing you.You mustnotwalkin their customs.4You are to practice My judgments and keep My statutes by walking in them. I am the LORD your God.…
Cross References Exodus 23:24You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces.
Deuteronomy 12:30-31be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, “How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.” / You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.
Ezekiel 20:7-8And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’ / But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.
Jeremiah 10:2This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by the signs in the heavens, though the nations themselves are terrified by them.
2 Kings 17:15They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.
Psalm 106:35but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.
Deuteronomy 18:9When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? / What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” ...
Romans 12:2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Ephesians 4:17-20So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. / They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. / Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more. ...
1 Peter 1:14-16As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance. / But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, / for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
1 John 2:15-17Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
Colossians 3:5-7Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. / Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. / When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways.
Galatians 5:19-21The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. / And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Treasury of Scripture After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein you dwelled, shall you not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, where I bring you, shall you not do: neither shall you walk in their ordinances. the doings Psalm 106:35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. Ezekiel 20:7,8 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: Iam the LORD your God… Ezekiel 23:8 Neither left she her whoredomsbrought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her. and after Leviticus 20:23 And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. Exodus 23:24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images. Deuteronomy 12:4 Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God. Jump to Previous BehaviourCanaanCustomsDoingsDweltEgyptFollowGuidedLiveOrdinancesPracticesRulesStatutesUsedWalkWhereinWhitherJump to Next BehaviourCanaanCustomsDoingsDweltEgyptFollowGuidedLiveOrdinancesPracticesRulesStatutesUsedWalkWhereinWhitherLeviticus 18 1.Unlawful marriages and unlawful lustsYou must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to liveThis phrase refers to the Israelites' past in Egypt, where they were enslaved for over 400 years. During this time, they were exposed to Egyptian culture, religion, and practices, which were often contrary to the worship of Yahweh. Egypt was known for its polytheistic beliefs, idolatry, and practices that included rituals and customs that were abominable to God. The Israelites are being reminded to leave behind these influences as they transition into a new identity as God's chosen people. This command underscores the importance of spiritual separation and purity, a theme that is echoed in the New Testament, such as in 2 Corinthians 6:17, where believers are called to be separate from worldly influences. and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you
The land of Canaan, the Promised Land, was inhabited by various tribes known for their morally corrupt practices, including idolatry, child sacrifice, and sexual immorality. The Canaanites' religious practices were deeply intertwined with their daily lives, and God warned the Israelites not to adopt these customs. This command highlights the need for the Israelites to maintain their distinctiveness and holiness as a people set apart for God. The warning against adopting Canaanite practices is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, as seen in passages likeDeuteronomy 12:29-31, where God explicitly instructs the Israelites to destroy the Canaanite altars and not to inquire about their gods. You must not walk in their customs
The term "walk" in biblical language often refers to one's way of life or conduct. Here, it emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the command: the Israelites are to avoid not just specific practices but the entire lifestyle and worldview of the Egyptians and Canaanites. This call to holiness is foundational to the covenant relationship between God and His people, as seen inLeviticus 20:26, where God declares, "You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy." This principle is carried into the New Testament, where believers are called to live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh (Galatians 5:16-25). The call to reject the customs of surrounding nations serves as a type of Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the law and lived a life wholly pleasing to God, setting an example for believers to follow. Persons / Places / Events 1. EgyptThe land where the Israelites were enslaved for 400 years. It represents a place of bondage and idolatry. 2. CanaanThe Promised Land, which was inhabited by various pagan nations with practices contrary to God's commands. 3. IsraelitesGod's chosen people, who are being instructed to live according to His statutes and not adopt the customs of surrounding nations. 4. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, through whom God delivered these laws and instructions. 5. God's CovenantThe divine agreement between God and the Israelites, emphasizing holiness and separation from pagan practices. Teaching Points Holiness and SeparationGod calls His people to be distinct and separate from the world. This involves rejecting practices and customs that are contrary to His commands. Cultural InfluenceBelievers must be vigilant about the influence of surrounding cultures and ensure that their values and practices align with God's Word rather than societal norms. Obedience to GodTrue obedience involves not only following God's commands but also actively rejecting practices that lead us away from Him. Identity in GodOur identity as God's people should shape our actions and decisions, distinguishing us from those who do not follow Him. Continuous VigilanceJust as the Israelites were warned about the practices of Egypt and Canaan, Christians today must remain vigilant against adopting secular or ungodly practices. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Leviticus 18:3?
2.How does Leviticus 18:3 warn against adopting pagan practices and customs?
3.What cultural influences today parallel those described in Leviticus 18:3?
4.How can Christians resist conforming to worldly behaviors as instructed in Leviticus 18:3?
5.How does Romans 12:2 relate to the message in Leviticus 18:3?
6.What steps can you take to uphold God's standards in your daily life?
7.What does Leviticus 18:3 reveal about God's expectations for cultural separation from surrounding nations?
8.How does Leviticus 18:3 inform our understanding of holiness in daily life?
9.Why does Leviticus 18:3 emphasize not imitating Egyptian and Canaanite practices?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 18?
11.Leviticus 18:3 warns against Egyptian and Canaanite customs; does limited archaeological data challenge the accuracy of these references?
12.If modern society no longer enforces many of Leviticus 18’s prohibitions, does that undermine claims of the Bible’s timeless authority?
13.What distinguishes secular from sacred?
14.Leviticus 18:22 condemns same-sex relations; how can this be reconciled with the New Testament emphasis on love (John 13:34–35)?What Does Leviticus 18:3 Mean You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live- God reminds Israel of His past deliverance to underscore why Egyptian ways must be abandoned (Exodus 20:2: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery”). - Egypt symbolized bondage and idolatry; copying its culture would drag the people back into the very sins they had been rescued from (Joshua 24:14;Deuteronomy 6:12). - The call is personal and immediate: God speaks to “you,” not just leaders, insisting on individual responsibility to reject former patterns (Leviticus 11:45). - Practical takeaway: freedom in the LORD is preserved by decisive separation from old allegiances.
and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you- Canaanite society was steeped in moral corruption; God had already declared that “the sin of the Amorites is not yet complete” (Genesis 15:16), warning that judgment was coming. - Israel’s future is tied to holiness; imitating Canaan would forfeit blessing and invite the same judgment: “The land has become defiled…so the land will vomit out its inhabitants” (Leviticus 18:24-25). - By mentioning “into which I am bringing you,” the LORD emphasizes grace—He is giving them a land—yet grace never nullifies the demand for obedience (Deuteronomy 9:5). - Practical takeaway: new opportunities from God always include new responsibilities to live set-apart lives.
You must not walk in their customs- “Walk” points to daily lifestyle, not occasional lapses; God calls for sustained nonconformity (Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed”). - Customs shape identity; adopting pagan norms would blur the distinction between God’s people and the nations (Leviticus 20:23). - Separation is not withdrawal from the world but refusal to absorb its ungodly values (2 Corinthians 6:17;1 Peter 1:14-16). - Practical takeaway: holiness is cultivated by continual discernment of cultural influences and intentional choice of God’s ways.
summaryLeviticus 18:3 sets a clear boundary: God’s redeemed people must not revisit the sins of their past (Egypt) or assimilate the sins of their future surroundings (Canaan). Instead, they are to chart a distinct course shaped by God’s commandments. Deliverance, inheritance, and daily conduct all hinge on wholehearted separation from worldly patterns and wholehearted devotion to the LORD. (3) After the doings of the land of Egypt.--During their sojourn in Egypt the Israelites became familiar with the practices which obtained in the land of their bondage, and as they adopted some of them (see Leviticus 17:7), they are here solemnly warned to eschew those which are especially proscribed in the sequel. And after the doings of the land of Canaan.The danger of imitating the customs which they had for centuries witnessed in the land they quitted, was greatly increased by the fact that these licentious practices obtained in worse forms in the land which they were to inherit. It is therefore against the past and the future that they are here warned. Neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.As some of "the doings" referred to may have been simple custom, not based upon the law of the country where they obtained, the Lawgiver here emphatically condemns the acts which were legalised, declaring them to have no authority whatever. (SeeLeviticus 18:30.)
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew You shall not followתַעֲשׂ֑וּ(ṯa·‘ă·śū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6213:To do, makethe practicesכְּמַעֲשֵׂ֧ה(kə·ma·‘ă·śêh)Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4639:An action, a transaction, activity, a product, propertyof the landאֶֽרֶץ־(’e·reṣ-)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776:Earth, landof Egypt,מִצְרַ֛יִם(miṣ·ra·yim)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714:Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africawhereאֲשֶׁ֥ר(’ă·šer)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thatyou used to live,יְשַׁבְתֶּם־(yə·šaḇ·tem-)Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3427:To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry[or]תַעֲשׂ֔וּ(ṯa·‘ă·śū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6213:To do, makethe practicesוּכְמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה(ū·ḵə·ma·‘ă·śêh)Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4639:An action, a transaction, activity, a product, propertyof the landאֶֽרֶץ־(’e·reṣ-)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776:Earth, landof Canaan,כְּנַ֡עַן(kə·na·‘an)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3667:Canaan -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their land West of the Jordanwhereאֲשֶׁ֣ר(’ă·šer)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thatIאֲנִי֩(’ă·nî)Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589:Iam bringing you.מֵבִ֨יא(mê·ḇî)Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 935:To come in, come, go in, goYou must notלֹ֣א(lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nowalkתֵלֵֽכוּ׃(ṯê·lê·ḵū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 1980:To go, come, walkin their customs.וּבְחֻקֹּתֵיהֶ֖ם(ū·ḇə·ḥuq·qō·ṯê·hem)Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2708:Something prescribed, an enactment, statute
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OT Law: Leviticus 18:3 You shall not do as they do (Le Lv Lev.) |
