📖 Biblical Definition
Leviticus 19:18's command: "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." Christ paired it with Deut 6:5 as the second great commandment (Matt 22:39): "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Paul names it the law's fulfillment (Rom 13:9-10; Gal 5:14). James calls it "the royal law" (Jas 2:8).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Lev 19:18 / Christ's second great commandment / Paul's law-fulfillment.
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Leviticus 19:18's command: "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." Christ paired it with the Shema (Deut 6:5) as the second great commandment in Matthew 22:39 and Mark 12:31. Paul names it the law's fulfillment in Romans 13:9-10 ("if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself") and Galatians 5:14 ("all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"). James 2:8 calls it "the royal law." Christ's parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) addresses the qualifying question "who is my neighbour?" by redefining it: neighbor is whoever I show mercy to.
📖 Key Scripture
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."
Matthew 22:39 — "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Romans 13:9-10 — "And if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Often used to soften love-of-God; Christ insisted both commands together, with love-of-God prior.
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Modern progressive Christianity sometimes elevates love-of-neighbor to the gospel-essential and softens love-of-God. Christ refused: He named love-of-God the FIRST commandment and love-of-neighbor the SECOND. Both are essential; both are commanded; the order matters.
Recover the order: love God FIRST, neighbor SECOND. Not in importance only but in source. Love of neighbor flows from love of God; severed from its source it withers.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew ahav re-akha kamokha.
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['Hebrew', 'H157', 'ahab', 'to love']
['Hebrew', 'H7453', 'rea', 'neighbor, friend']
Usage
"Love thy neighbor as thyself."
"Second great commandment per Christ."
"Law's fulfillment per Paul."