[[File:Mosesspeaks to the children of Israel.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The prophet [[Moses]] authored the book of Leviticus. ]]
'''Leviticus''' [Hebrew: '''ויקרא''', ''Vayikra,'' "And he [God] called," named after the first word in the Hebrew text] is the third book of the [[Old Testament]], part of the [[Pentateuch]], the most important part of the [[Bible]] in [[Judaism]]. The book is [[chiastic]]ally structured.
Many Christian and Jewish conservatives believe that [[Moses]] is the sole author of the Pentateuch and that he was inspired directly by God to write text to write the Pentateuch in the space of a month, that month being the first of the second year after the [[Hebrew]] exodus from [[Egypt]].
Most of Leviticus is filled with [[Mosaic Law|laws and codes]], many of which are ritualistically followed by [[Orthodox Judaism]]. Much of [[Christianity]], but not all, sees the law structure as being superceded superseded by the sacrifice of [[Jesus Christ]]. Pauline teaching is that we were first under grace for salvation and the law, such as it is in Leviticus and recorded in other Old Testament books, is to show us the standard that we would have to uphold if there was no grace - a standard from which we would fall short.
There are two main sections in Leviticus:
* 18:16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.
* 18:17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.
* 18:18 Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life timelifetime.
* 18:19 Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
* 18:20 Moreover , thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.
* 18:21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
* 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
* 24:20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
* 24:21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.
{{Old Testament Books}}
== See also ==
*[[Jewish philosophy]]
*[[Leviticus (Translated)]]
{{Old Testament Books}}
[[Category:Old Testament Books| 3]]