Leviticus 18: Five Pesukim, Five Lessons

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Jan 27, 2026 · 3m

Most of chapter 18 deals with the list of the forbidden relationships. The first few verses also provide a wealth of information. Verses 2-6 all end with “I am HaShem your God.”

Verse two is almost a direct copy of the first of the Ten Commandments.

“Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: I am HaShem your God”

דַּבֵּר אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃ and “I Hashem am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2).

אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים׃ The first of the Ten…