Topical Bible: Neighbor's

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of "neighbor" in the Bible is deeply rooted in the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing the importance of love, respect, and moral responsibility towards others. The term "neighbor" extends beyond mere geographical proximity, encompassing a broader sense of community and humanity.

Old Testament Understanding

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for neighbor, "rea," is often used to describe fellow Israelites or those living in close proximity. The Mosaic Law provides specific commandments regarding the treatment of neighbors, underscoring the importance of justice and kindness. Leviticus 19:18 commands, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." This verse is foundational, establishing the principle of loving one's neighbor as a central tenet of the law.

The Ten Commandments also address the treatment of neighbors, particularly in the context of property and relationships. Exodus 20:17 states, "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." This commandment highlights the respect for others' possessions and relationships, promoting contentment and integrity.

New Testament Expansion

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ expands the definition of "neighbor" beyond ethnic and religious boundaries. The Parable of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke 10:25-37, illustrates this broader understanding. When asked, "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29), Jesus responds with a account that challenges societal norms, portraying a Samaritan—a group despised by Jews—as the true neighbor for his acts of compassion and mercy.

Jesus reiterates the command to love one's neighbor as oneself in Matthew 22:39 , stating, "And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" This commandment is paired with the greatest commandment to love God, forming the foundation of Christian ethical teaching.

Apostolic Teachings

The apostles continue to emphasize the importance of loving one's neighbor in their epistles. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 13:9 , writes, "The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not covet,' and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Paul underscores that love fulfills the law, highlighting the relational aspect of Christian ethics.

James, the brother of Jesus, also stresses the importance of this commandment in James 2:8 : "If you really keep the royal law stated in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well." This "royal law" is presented as a guiding principle for Christian conduct, emphasizing impartiality and mercy.

Practical Implications

The biblical teaching on neighbors calls for active love and service, transcending cultural, social, and religious barriers. It challenges believers to embody Christ-like compassion, seeking the welfare of others and promoting peace and justice. The call to love one's neighbor is a call to reflect God's love in everyday interactions, fostering a community marked by grace and truth.

Strong's Hebrew

5997. amith -- an associate, fellow, relation
... amith. 5998 . an associate, fellow, relation. Transliteration: amith Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-meeth') Short Definition: neighbor. ... another, fellow, neighbor. ...
/hebrew/5997.htm - 6k

7453. rea -- friend, companion, fellow
rea or rea. 7452, 7453. rea or rea. 7454 . friend, companion, fellow.
Transliteration: rea or rea Phonetic Spelling: (ray'-ah) Short Definition: neighbor. ...
/hebrew/7453.htm - 6k

Library

Thou Shalt not Covet Thy Neighbor's House. Thou Shalt not Covet ...
... Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's
wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/thou shalt not covet thy.htm

Whether a Man Ought to Love his Neighbor More than his Own Body?
... OF THE ORDER OF CHARITY (THIRTEEN ARTICLES) Whether a man ought to love his neighbor
more than his own body? ... For his neighbor includes his neighbor's body. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a man ought to 3.htm

The Ten Commandments
... What does this mean? We must fear and love God, so that we will neither harm nor
hurt our neighbor's body, but help him and care for him when he is ill. ...
/.../luther/the small catechism of martin luther/i the ten commandments.htm

Whether Envy is a Capital vice?
... xxxi, 45), who says that from envy arise "hatred, tale-bearing, detraction, joy
at our neighbor's misfortunes, and grief for his prosperity." For joy at our ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether envy is a capital.htm

Tenth Commandment
... Tenth Commandment. "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet
thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/tenth commandment.htm

Thou Shalt not Bear False Witness against Thy Neighbor.
... Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. This Commandment
seems small, and yet is so great, that he who would rightly ...
/.../luther/a treatise on good works/thou shalt not bear false.htm

Whether Hatred Arises from Envy?
... Now love of our neighbor is referred to our love of God, as stated above
([2625]Q[25], A[1];[2626] Q[26], A[2]). Therefore hatred of our neighbor is referred ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether hatred arises from envy.htm

Whether Discord is a Sin?
... But this does not seem to be a sin, because God's will alone, and not our neighbor's,
is the rule of our own will. Therefore discord is not a sin. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether discord is a sin.htm

Whether Envy is a Mortal Sin?
... Jn.3:14: "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren."
Now the object both of charity and of envy is our neighbor's good, but ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether envy is a mortal.htm

Whether Clemency and Meekness are the Greatest virtues?
... it mitigates punishment, it would seem to approach nearest to charity, the greatest
of the virtues, since thereby we do good towards our neighbor, and hinder ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether clemency and meekness are 2.htm

Thesaurus

Neighbor's (31 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Neighbor's (31 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no
one seek his own, but each one his neighbor's good. (WEB ASV). ...
/n/neighbor's.htm - 16k

Neighbour's (30 Occurrences)
... Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor ...
/n/neighbour's.htm - 15k

Manservant (14 Occurrences)
... Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ...
/m/manservant.htm - 12k

Man-servant (18 Occurrences)
... Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor ...
/m/man-servant.htm - 12k

Covet (14 Occurrences)
... You shall not covet," and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed
up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (WEB KJV ...
/c/covet.htm - 12k

Maid-servant (49 Occurrences)
... Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor ...
/m/maid-servant.htm - 22k

Maidservant (73 Occurrences)
... Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ...
/m/maidservant.htm - 28k

Donkey (84 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS NIV). Exodus 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. ... He whom
God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor. (WEB NAS NIV). ...
/d/donkey.htm - 31k

Neighbour (139 Occurrences)
... Exodus 3:22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, and of her that sojourneth
in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall ...
/n/neighbour.htm - 34k

Female (95 Occurrences)
... Exodus 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not
covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his ...
/f/female.htm - 38k

Resources

What does the Bible say about covetousness? | GotQuestions.org

What are the Catholic Ten Commandments? | GotQuestions.org

Why is "You shall not covet" in the Ten Commandments? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Neighbor's (31 Occurrences)

1 Corinthians 10:24
Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor's good.
(WEB ASV)

Exodus 20:17
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 22:7
If a man deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, he shall pay double.
(See NIV)

Exodus 22:8
If the thief isn't found, then the master of the house shall come near to God, to find out if he hasn't put his hand to his neighbor's goods.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Exodus 22:11
the oath of Yahweh shall be between them both, whether he hasn't put his hand to his neighbor's goods; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Exodus 22:14
"If a man borrows anything of his neighbor's, and it is injured, or dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution.
(WEB)

Exodus 22:26
If you take your neighbor's garment as collateral, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down,
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 18:20
"'You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, and defile yourself with her.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 19:16
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people; neither shalt thou stand idly by the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.
(See NIV)

Leviticus 20:10
"'The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Leviticus 25:14
And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbor, or buyest ought of thy neighbor's hand, ye shall not oppress one another:
(KJV ASV WBS)

Deuteronomy 5:21
"Neither shall you covet your neighbor's wife; neither shall you desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 19:14
You shall not remove your neighbor's landmark, which they of old time have set, in your inheritance which you shall inherit, in the land that Yahweh your God gives you to possess it.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 22:24
then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones; the lady, because she didn't cry, being in the city; and the man, because he has humbled his neighbor's wife: so you shall put away the evil from the midst of you.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 23:24
When you come into your neighbor's vineyard, then you may eat of grapes your fill at your own pleasure; but you shall not put any in your vessel.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 23:25
When you come into your neighbor's standing grain, then you may pluck the ears with your hand; but you shall not move a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 27:17
'Cursed is he who removes his neighbor's landmark.' All the people shall say,'Amen.'
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Job 31:9
"If my heart has been enticed to a woman, and I have laid wait at my neighbor's door,
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 6:3
Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbour; go, humble thyself, and urge thy neighbour.
(See RSV NIV)

Proverbs 6:29
So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Proverbs 25:17
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 9:20
On the right a man was cutting off bits and was still in need; on the left a man took a meal but had not enough; no man had pity on his brother; every man was making a meal of the flesh of his neighbour.
(See RSV)

Jeremiah 5:8
They were as fed horses roaming at large; everyone neighed after his neighbor's wife.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 22:13
Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; who uses his neighbor's service without wages, and doesn't give him his hire;
(WEB ASV WBS NAS)

Jeremiah 29:23
Because they have committed villainy in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbor's wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 18:6
and has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither has defiled his neighbor's wife, neither has come near to a woman in her impurity,
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 18:11
and who does not any of those duties, but even has eaten on the mountains, and defiled his neighbor's wife,
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 18:15
who has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, has not defiled his neighbor's wife,
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 22:11
One has committed abomination with his neighbor's wife; and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law; and another in you has humbled his sister, his father's daughter.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 33:26
You stand on your sword, you work abomination, and every one of you defiles his neighbor's wife: and shall you possess the land?
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 11:6
For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land," says Yahweh; "but, behold, I will deliver the men everyone into his neighbor's hand, and into the hand of his king. They will strike the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them."
(WEB ASV WBS)

Subtopics

Neighbor's

Related Terms

Neighbour's (30 Occurrences)

Neighbor's (31 Occurrences)

Neighbors (40 Occurrences)

Utensils (72 Occurrences)

Jewelry (18 Occurrences)

Woman-servant (12 Occurrences)

Man-slayer (20 Occurrences)

Attacks (45 Occurrences)

Thyself (352 Occurrences)