Leviticus 26:31-33

Listen to Leviticus 26:31-33
31 And I will 1lay your cities waste and will 2make your sanctuaries desolate, and 3I will not smell your pleasing aromas.
32 And 4I myself will devastate the land, so that your enemies who settle in it shall be 5appalled at it.
33 And 6I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.

Leviticus 26:31-33 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.

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Cross References 6

  • 1. 26:31 Neh. 2:3; Jer. 4:7; See 2 Kgs. 25:4-10
  • 2. 26:31 Ps. 74:7; Lam. 1:10; Ezek. 9:6; 21:2
  • 3. 26:31 Jer. 6:20; See Isa. 1:11-15; Amos 5:21-23
  • 4. 26:32 Jer. 9:11; 25:11, 18
  • 5. 26:32 Deut. 28:37; 1 Kgs. 9:8; Jer. 18:16; 19:8; Ezek. 5:15
  • 6. 26:33 Deut. 4:27; 28:64; Neh. 1:8; Ps. 44:11; Jer. 9:16; Ezek. 12:15; 20:23; 22:15; Zech. 7:14; [Luke 21:24]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025