Leviticus 26:19

19 And I will break down the haughtiness of your pride; and I will make your heaven iron, and your earth as it were brass.

Leviticus 26:19 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 26:19

And I will break the pride of your power
Which the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi interpret of the sanctuary, which they were proud of, trusted in, and boasted of; but was broke or destroyed, first by Nebuchadnezzar, then by the Romans: but it may rather signify their country, the glory of all lands for its fruitfulness, which for their sins should become barren, as follows; or the multitude of their forces, and the strength of their mighty men of war, in which they put their confidence; it may take in everything, civil and ecclesiastical, they prided themselves with, and had their dependence on, thinking themselves safe on account of them, but should be broken to shivers, and be of no service to them: and I will make your heaven as iron;
so that neither dew nor rain shall descend from thence to make the earth fruitful; but, on the contrary, an heat should be reflected, which would parch it, and make it barren: and your earth as brass;
that the seed could not be cast into it, nor anything spring out of it, for the service of man and beast, so that a famine must unavoidably follow.

Leviticus 26:19 In-Context

17 And I will set my face against you, and ye shall fall before your enemies, and they that hate you shall pursue you; and ye shall flee, no one pursuing you.
18 And if ye still refuse to hearken to me, then will I chasten you yet more even seven times for your sins.
19 And I will break down the haughtiness of your pride; and I will make your heaven iron, and your earth as it were brass.
20 And your strength shall be in vain; and your land shall not yield its seed, and the tree of your field shall not yield its fruit.
21 And if after this ye should walk perversely, and not be willing to obey me, I will further bring upon you seven plagues according to your sins.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.