Leviticus 26:16-22

16 then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with 1wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And 2you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
17 I will 3set my face against you, and 4you shall be struck down before your enemies. 5Those who hate you shall rule over you, and 6you shall flee when none pursues you.
18 And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again 7sevenfold for your sins,
19 and I will break 8the pride of your power, and I 9will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze.
20 And 10your strength shall be spent in vain, for 11your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit.
21 12"Then if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins.
22 And 13I will let loose the wild beasts against you, which shall bereave you of your children and destroy your livestock and make you few in number, so that 14your roads shall be deserted.

Leviticus 26:16-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 26

In this chapter, after a repetition of some laws against idolatry, and concerning keeping sabbaths, and reverencing the sanctuary of God, Le 26:1,2; in order to encourage the Israelites to keep the various statutes and commandments in this book, and in the preceding, many promises are made of plenty, and peace, and safety from enemies, and of the presence of God with them, Le 26:3-13; and on the contrary, to such as should despise and break his commandments, the most grievous things are threatened, as diseases of body, destruction by their enemies, barrenness and unfruitfulness of land, the sore judgments of wild beasts, famine, sword, and pestilence, Le 26:14-39; and yet after all, when they should confess their sins, and were humbled for them, the Lord promises to remember the covenant he made with their ancestors, and would deal kindly with them, and not cast them away, and utterly destroy them, Le 26:40-46.

Cross References 14

  • 1. Deuteronomy 28:21
  • 2. Deuteronomy 28:33, 51; Job 31:8; Jeremiah 5:17; Micah 6:15
  • 3. See Leviticus 17:10
  • 4. Deuteronomy 28:25; Judges 2:14; Jeremiah 19:7
  • 5. Psalms 106:41
  • 6. Proverbs 28:1; [ver. 36; Psalms 53:5]
  • 7. ver. 21, 24, 28; 1 Samuel 2:5; Psalms 119:164; Proverbs 24:16
  • 8. Ezekiel 30:6; [Jeremiah 13:9]
  • 9. Deuteronomy 28:23
  • 10. [Psalms 127:1; Isaiah 49:4]
  • 11. [Haggai 1:10]; See ver. 4
  • 12. ver. 27
  • 13. Deuteronomy 32:24; See ver. 6
  • 14. Judges 5:6; Isaiah 33:8; Lamentations 1:4; Zechariah 7:14
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.