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What the Bible Says About Neighbor

Overview

The Bible addresses neighbor across 70 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Luke and Isaiah. Closely related themes include Afflicted, Beneficence, Hospitality and Works. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus and David.

Key Bible verses about neighbor

Old Testament

Leviticus

Leviticus 6:2

If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; in fellowship: or, in dealing fellowship: Heb. putting of the hand

Leviticus 6:3

Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:

Leviticus 6:4

Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,

Leviticus 6:5

Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. in the day: or, in the day of his being found guilty: Heb. in the day of his trespass

Leviticus 19:13

Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

Leviticus 19:16

Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:17

Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. and: or, that thou bear not sin for him

Leviticus 19:18

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Isaiah

Isaiah 58:6

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? the heavy: Heb. the bundles of the yoke oppressed: Heb. broken

Isaiah 58:7

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? cast: or, afflicted

Isaiah 58:8

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. be: Heb. gather thee up

Isaiah 58:9

Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

Isaiah 58:10

And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

Isaiah 58:11

And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. drought: Heb. droughts fail: Heb. lie, or, deceive

Isaiah 58:12

And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

Isaiah 58:13

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

Isaiah 58:14

Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

New Testament

Matthew

Matthew 7:12

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Matthew 19:19

Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 22:39

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 25:34

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Matthew 25:35

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Matthew 25:36

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Matthew 25:37

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Matthew 25:38

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Matthew 25:39

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

Matthew 25:40

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:41

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Matthew 25:42

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

Matthew 25:43

I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Matthew 25:44

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Matthew 25:45

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

Matthew 25:46

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Luke

Luke 10:25

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Luke 10:26

He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

Luke 10:27

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

Luke 10:28

And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Luke 10:29

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

Luke 10:30

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

Luke 10:31

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

Luke 10:32

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

Luke 10:33

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

Luke 10:34

And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

Luke 10:35

And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Luke 10:36

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

Luke 10:37

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

People in the Bible and neighbor

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying neighbor for yourself

  • Begin with Exodus 20:16, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Matthew, Luke and Isaiah each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Jesus and David and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Afflicted, Beneficence, Hospitality and Works.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about neighbor?

The Bible addresses neighbor across 70 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Luke and Isaiah. Closely related themes include Afflicted, Beneficence, Hospitality and Works. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus and David.

How many Bible verses are about neighbor?

The Bible references neighbor in 70 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention neighbor?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Exodus 20:16: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with neighbor?

Jesus and David.

Preach & teach

Outline a sermon or build a study series on neighbor.

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