Saadia's Tafsir on Vayikra 19 (Parashat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim)

Vayikra 19:1

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר

Then God spoke to Moses directly.

Vayikra 19:2

דַּבֵּר אֶל-כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם--קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. .

Command the assembly of the sons of Israel, and say to them: Be consecrated, for I am God your Lord, the Holy One.

Vayikra 19:3

אִישׁ אִמּוֹ וְאָבִיו תִּירָאוּ וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. .

Let every person fear his mother and his father; and keep My Sabbaths. I am God your Lord — I shall recompense you with good.

Vayikra 19:4

אַל-תִּפְנוּ אֶל-הָאֱלִילִם וֵאלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. . .

Do not turn toward the idols; and molten objects of worship — do not make for yourselves. I am God your Lord, the One.

Vayikra 19:5

וְכִי תִזְבְּחוּ זֶבַח שְׁלָמִים לַיהוָה--לִרְצֹנְכֶם תִּזְבָּחֻהוּ

.

And when you slaughter a sacrifice of well-being to God, slaughter it in the manner that is acceptable from you.

Vayikra 19:6

בְּיוֹם זִבְחֲכֶם יֵאָכֵל וּמִמָּחֳרָת וְהַנּוֹתָר עַד-יוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בָּאֵשׁ יִשָּׂרֵף

. .

It is to be eaten on the day of your slaughter and on the morrow; and whatever remains until the third day shall be burned in the fire.

Vayikra 19:7

וְאִם הֵאָכֹל יֵאָכֵל בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי--פִּגּוּל הוּא לֹא יֵרָצֶה

.

And if anything of it is eaten on the third day, it is like the repulsive thing — it shall not be accepted.

Vayikra 19:8

וְאֹכְלָיו עֲו‍ֹנוֹ יִשָּׂא כִּי-אֶת-קֹדֶשׁ יְהוָה חִלֵּל וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא מֵעַמֶּיהָ

. .

And he who eats it has borne his burden of guilt, for he has debased what is consecrated to God; and that person shall be cut off from among his people.

Vayikra 19:9

וּבְקֻצְרְכֶם אֶת-קְצִיר אַרְצְכֶם לֹא תְכַלֶּה פְּאַת שָׂדְךָ לִקְצֹר וְלֶקֶט קְצִירְךָ לֹא תְלַקֵּט

. .

And when you harvest the grain of your lands, do not exhaust the edge of your field by harvesting it, and the gleanings of your grain — do not gather them.

Vayikra 19:10

וְכַרְמְךָ לֹא תְעוֹלֵל וּפֶרֶט כַּרְמְךָ לֹא תְלַקֵּט לֶעָנִי וְלַגֵּר תַּעֲזֹב אֹתָם אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. . .

And your vineyard — do not strip it; and the fallen grapes of your vineyard — do not gather them; but leave them for the weak and the stranger. I am God your Lord — I shall recompense you with good.

Vayikra 19:11

לֹא תִּגְנֹבוּ וְלֹא-תְכַחֲשׁוּ וְלֹא-תְשַׁקְּרוּ אִישׁ בַּעֲמִיתוֹ

.

Do not steal; and let no man deny nor break faith with his fellow.

Vayikra 19:12

וְלֹא-תִשָּׁבְעוּ בִשְׁמִי לַשָּׁקֶר וְחִלַּלְתָּ אֶת-שֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲנִי יְהוָה

. .

And do not swear by My name falsely — for you would then have debased the name of your Lord. I am God, the Punisher.

Vayikra 19:13

לֹא-תַעֲשֹׁק אֶת-רֵעֲךָ וְלֹא תִגְזֹל לֹא-תָלִין פְּעֻלַּת שָׂכִיר אִתְּךָ--עַד-בֹּקֶר

. .

Do not defraud your fellow nor rob him; and do not let the wages of a hired hand stay overnight with you until the morning.

Vayikra 19:14

לֹא-תְקַלֵּל חֵרֵשׁ--וְלִפְנֵי עִוֵּר לֹא תִתֵּן מִכְשֹׁל וְיָרֵאתָ מֵּאֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲנִי יְהוָה

. . .

Do not revile the deaf; and before a blind person do not place a stumbling block; and fear your Lord. I am God, the Punisher.

Vayikra 19:15

לֹא-תַעֲשׂוּ עָוֶל בַּמִּשְׁפָּט--לֹא-תִשָּׂא פְנֵי-דָל וְלֹא תֶהְדַּר פְּנֵי גָדוֹל בְּצֶדֶק תִּשְׁפֹּט עֲמִיתֶךָ

. . .

Do not commit injustice in judgment; do not favor the poor, and do not defer to the great — but judge among your people with equity.

Vayikra 19:16

לֹא-תֵלֵךְ רָכִיל בְּעַמֶּיךָ לֹא תַעֲמֹד עַל-דַּם רֵעֶךָ אֲנִי יְהוָה

. .

Do not go about in leisurely prying among your people; and do not stand against the blood of your fellow. I am God, the Punisher.

Vayikra 19:17

לֹא-תִשְׂנָא אֶת-אָחִיךָ בִּלְבָבֶךָ הוֹכֵחַ תּוֹכִיחַ אֶת-עֲמִיתֶךָ וְלֹא-תִשָּׂא עָלָיו חֵטְא

. [[ .

Do not hate your brother in your heart; but admonish him with admonition — and do not bear on his account a burden of guilt.

Vayikra 19:18

לֹא-תִקֹּם וְלֹא-תִטֹּר אֶת-בְּנֵי עַמֶּךָ וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ אֲנִי יְהוָה

. .

Do not take revenge and do not bear a grudge against your people; and love for your fellow what you love for yourself. I am God — I shall recompense you with good.

Vayikra 19:19

אֶת-חֻקֹּתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ--בְּהֶמְתְּךָ לֹא-תַרְבִּיעַ כִּלְאַיִם שָׂדְךָ לֹא-תִזְרַע כִּלְאָיִם וּבֶגֶד כִּלְאַיִם שַׁעַטְנֵז לֹא יַעֲלֶה עָלֶיךָ

[[ . . . .

My statutes — keep them. Your beasts — do not mate them from two kinds; and your fields — do not sow them from two kinds; and a garment of two kinds intertwined — let it not come upon you.

Vayikra 19:20

וְאִישׁ כִּי-יִשְׁכַּב אֶת-אִשָּׁה שִׁכְבַת-זֶרַע וְהִוא שִׁפְחָה נֶחֱרֶפֶת לְאִישׁ וְהָפְדֵּה לֹא נִפְדָּתָה אוֹ חֻפְשָׁה לֹא נִתַּן-לָהּ--בִּקֹּרֶת תִּהְיֶה לֹא יוּמְתוּ כִּי-לֹא חֻפָּשָׁה

. . . . .

And any man who lies with a woman in the manner of procreation, and she is a maidservant betrothed to any man, and a ransom has not been paid for her and her freedom has not been given to her — then she shall be subject to punishment, and they shall not be put to death, since she has not been freed.

Vayikra 19:21

וְהֵבִיא אֶת-אֲשָׁמוֹ לַיהוָה אֶל-פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד--אֵיל אָשָׁם

. .

And he shall bring his offering to God, to the entrance of the tent of the assembly — a ram as a guilt offering.

Vayikra 19:22

וְכִפֶּר עָלָיו הַכֹּהֵן בְּאֵיל הָאָשָׁם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה עַל-חַטָּאתוֹ אֲשֶׁר חָטָא וְנִסְלַח לוֹ מֵחַטָּאתוֹ אֲשֶׁר חָטָא

. .

And the imām shall seek forgiveness for him before God for his sin which he has sinned; and it shall be forgiven him.

Vayikra 19:23

וְכִי-תָבֹאוּ אֶל-הָאָרֶץ וּנְטַעְתֶּם כָּל-עֵץ מַאֲכָל--וַעֲרַלְתֶּם עָרְלָתוֹ אֶת-פִּרְיוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים יִהְיֶה לָכֶם עֲרֵלִים--לֹא יֵאָכֵל

. . . .

And from the time you enter the land and plant any food-bearing tree, you shall declare its fruit forbidden with a full prohibition — three years it shall be forbidden to you, not to be eaten.

Vayikra 19:24

וּבַשָּׁנָה הָרְבִיעִת יִהְיֶה כָּל-פִּרְיוֹ--קֹדֶשׁ הִלּוּלִים לַיהוָה

. .

And in the fourth year, all its fruit shall be consecrated, dedicated to God.

Vayikra 19:25

וּבַשָּׁנָה הַחֲמִישִׁת תֹּאכְלוּ אֶת-פִּרְיוֹ לְהוֹסִיף לָכֶם תְּבוּאָתוֹ אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. .

And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit — for I am God your Lord, I shall increase for you its yield.

Vayikra 19:26

לֹא תֹאכְלוּ עַל-הַדָּם לֹא תְנַחֲשׁוּ וְלֹא תְעוֹנֵנוּ

.

Do not eat over the blood; do not take omens and do not seek auguries.

Vayikra 19:27

לֹא תַקִּפוּ פְּאַת רֹאשְׁכֶם וְלֹא תַשְׁחִית אֵת פְּאַת זְקָנֶךָ

.

And do not shave the corners of your heads, and do not uproot the corners of your beard.

Vayikra 19:28

וְשֶׂרֶט לָנֶפֶשׁ לֹא תִתְּנוּ בִּבְשַׂרְכֶם וּכְתֹבֶת קַעֲקַע לֹא תִתְּנוּ בָּכֶם אֲנִי יְהוָה

. . . .

And a scratch for the dead — do not place on your bodies; and tattooed writing — do not place on yourselves. I am God, the Punisher.

Vayikra 19:29

אַל-תְּחַלֵּל אֶת-בִּתְּךָ לְהַזְנוֹתָהּ וְלֹא-תִזְנֶה הָאָרֶץ וּמָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ זִמָּה

. .

And do not give over your daughter to debauchery, lest the people of the land fall into debauchery and it fill with lewdness.

Vayikra 19:30

אֶת-שַׁבְּתֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ וּמִקְדָּשִׁי תִּירָאוּ אֲנִי יְהוָה

[[ . .

My Sabbaths — keep them; and My sanctuary — hold it in awe. I am God who has honoured them.

Vayikra 19:31

אַל-תִּפְנוּ אֶל-הָאֹבֹת וְאֶל-הַיִּדְּעֹנִים אַל-תְּבַקְשׁוּ לְטָמְאָה בָהֶם אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. .

Do not turn toward the conjurers and the diviners; and do not seek to disobey Me by means of them. I am God your Lord, the Knower of what is hidden.

Vayikra 19:32

מִפְּנֵי שֵׂיבָה תָּקוּם וְהָדַרְתָּ פְּנֵי זָקֵן וְיָרֵאתָ מֵּאֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲנִי יְהוָה

.

Before one possessed of grey hair — rise; and show gladness toward the face of the elder; and fear your Lord. I am God.

Vayikra 19:33

וְכִי-יָגוּר אִתְּךָ גֵּר בְּאַרְצְכֶם--לֹא תוֹנוּ אֹתוֹ

.

And when a stranger settles among you in your land, do not oppress him.

Vayikra 19:34

כְּאֶזְרָח מִכֶּם יִהְיֶה לָכֶם הַגֵּר הַגָּר אִתְּכֶם וְאָהַבְתָּ לוֹ כָּמוֹךָ--כִּי-גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. . . .

The stranger who has come to dwell among you shall be to you as a native among you; and love for him as for yourself — for you were long strangers in the land of Egypt. I am God your Lord of all of you.

Vayikra 19:35

לֹא-תַעֲשׂוּ עָוֶל בַּמִּשְׁפָּט בַּמִּדָּה בַּמִּשְׁקָל וּבַמְּשׂוּרָה

.

Do not commit fraud in judgment, nor in measurement, nor in weight, nor in measure.

Vayikra 19:36

מֹאזְנֵי צֶדֶק אַבְנֵי-צֶדֶק אֵיפַת צֶדֶק וְהִין צֶדֶק--יִהְיֶה לָכֶם אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר-הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם

. . . .

But just scales and just weights and just dry measures and just liquid measures shall be yours. I am God your Lord, the Just — who brought you out from the land of Egypt.

Vayikra 19:37

וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת-כָּל-חֻקֹּתַי וְאֶת-כָּל-מִשְׁפָּטַי וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם אֲנִי יְהוָה

. .

And keep all My statutes and all My ordinances, and act according to them. I am God — I shall recompense you with good.