Leviticus 19:2

“Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, etc.] They could not be all spoke to together, but tribe after tribe, or family after family; or rather the heads of the tribes, and at most the heads of families were convened, and the following instructions were given, to be communicated to their respective tribes and families. Jarchi says this section was spoken in the congregation, because the greater part of the body of the law, or the more substantial parts of it, depend upon it; and indeed all the ten commandments are included in it, with various other laws, both judicial and ceremonial. Aben Ezra remarks, that all the congregation are spoken to, to include the proselytes,…”

“Ye shall be holy ... - These words express the keynote to the whole book of Leviticus, being addressed to the whole nation. There does not appear to be any systematic arrangement in the laws which follow. They were intended as guards to the sanctity of the elect people, enforcing common duties by immediate appeal to the highest authority. Compare Leviticus 18:24-30 note. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Be ye holy - Separated from all the forementioned defilements, and entirely consecrated to God and obedient to all his laws. I am holy - Both in my essence, and in all my laws, which are holy and just and good. Leviticus 19:3”

“19:2 be holy: See study note on 11:44-45.”

“Ye shall: Lev 11:44, Lev 11:45, Lev 20:7, Lev 20:26, Lev 21:8; Exo 19:6; Isa 6:3, Isa 6:4; Amo 3:3; Mat 5:48; Co2 6:14-16, Co2 7:1; Pe1 1:15, Pe1 1:16 Leviticus 19:3”

“The commandment in Lev 19:2, "to be holy as God is holy," expresses on the one hand the principle upon which all the different commandments that follow were based, and on the other hand the goal which the Israelites were to keep before them as the nation of Jehovah. Lev 19:3 The first thing required is reverence towards parents and the observance of the Lord's Sabbaths-the two leading pillars of the moral government, and of social well-being. To fear father and mother answers to the honour commanded in the decalogue to be paid to parents; and in the observance of the Sabbaths the labour connected with a social calling is sanctified to the Lord God. Lev 19:4 Lev 19:4 embraces the first two…”