Leviticus 19:2

With the Hebrew beneath

Leviticus 19:2, word by word

“Speakדַּבֵּרdaber

speak

To speak, say something; above all God to his people.

Where else “daber” appears

the communityעֲדַתadat

community

Israel gathered as one people; or a band of people.

Where else “adat” appears

of the sonsבְּנֵיbene

descendant

A descendant or member of a people: "sons of Israel".

Where else “bene” appears

of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael

Israel

Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.

Where else “yisrael” appears

and sayאָמַרְתָּamarta

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “amarta” appears

You shall beתִּהְיוּtihyu

be

To be: "I will be their Elohim".

Where else “tihyu” appears

holyקְדֹשִׁיםkedoshim

holy

Set apart for God, distinct from the common.

Where else “kedoshim” appears

YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

your Elohimאֱלֹהֵיelohe

Elohim

The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.

Where else “elohe” appears

Translation note

“Be holy because I am holy” is repeated in Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:26. Peter quotes it for believers (1 Peter 1:15-16).

The context