| This page is current as of September 2026. For recommendations on other books and an introduction to this series, visit Best Commentaries on Each Book of the Bible. |
I had more difficulty sorting through the options for Leviticus than I had with any of the previous books. The top recommendation was very clear, but after that it was quite a bit more cloudy. In the end I chose commentaries that were recommended by multiple experts and that were both conservative and Evangelical in flavor.
For years Sklar’s little Tyndale volume was the best first stop on Leviticus; now he has given us his full-length treatment, and the experts have received it about as warmly as they ever receive anything. Richard Averbeck calls it “a magnificent achievement,” and one preaching pastor found it “the single most helpful volume” he consulted. Wenham remains the beloved classic, but I expect Sklar is now the volume most preachers should buy first.
The clear leader in the field for four decades, recommended by every commentator on the commentaries. Note that Wenham’s work on Genesis is also the most-recommended volume for that book.
The Preaching the Word series is sermon-based and suitable to any kind of reader — a natural companion for anyone teaching or preaching through the book.
Not as widely reviewed as the others, but I love Currid’s work because I consider him especially conservative and trustworthy. Derek Thomas: “Clearly and cogently presents Leviticus as a series of directories for public worship… Especially helpful on the Holiness Code.”
The Tyndale series is concise and very readable — at just 254 pages this may be the best choice for someone who wants only one commentary, written with a general audience in mind. (Jay Sklar’s 2013 volume has since replaced Harrison’s in the series and serves the same purpose admirably.)
It is hardly possible to find a review of any WBC volume that does not mention the series’ unfortunate layout. Nevertheless, Hartley comes recommended by several of the experts (who tell you to work around it) — and this is the one volume John Piper recommends for Leviticus.
Because it is quite old it falls outside the top five, but it is considered an exceptional volume and very much worthy of a place in your collection. C.H. Spurgeon was apparently especially fond of it.
The recently completed first volume of the ESV Expository Commentary includes a solid treatment of Leviticus, in a volume edited by Iain Duguid, James Hamilton, and Jay Sklar — a good option for those who prefer a single volume covering the Pentateuch’s early books.
Which one is for you?
| Preaching a series | Sklar (ZECOT); Mathews (Preaching the Word) |
| Serious study | Sklar (ZECOT); Wenham (NICOT) |
| First time in Leviticus | Sklar (Tyndale) or Harrison (Tyndale) |
| Devotional reading | Bonar (Banner of Truth) |
Let me close with a question: What are your preferred commentaries on Leviticus? Are there some you’ve found particularly helpful or are there some we would do well to avoid?
