Leviticus 26:14-24

14 The Lord said, "If you will not obey my commands, you will be punished. 1
15 If you refuse to obey my laws and commands and break the covenant I have made with you,
16 I will punish you. I will bring disaster on you - incurable diseases and fevers that will make you blind and cause your life to waste away. You will plant your crops, but it will do you no good, because your enemies will conquer you and eat what you have grown.
17 I will turn against you, so that you will be defeated, and those who hate you will rule over you; you will be so terrified that you will run when no one is chasing you.
18 "If even after all of this you still do not obey me, I will increase your punishment seven times.
19 I will break your stubborn pride; there will be no rain, and your land will be dry and as hard as iron.
20 All your hard work will do you no good, because your land will not produce crops and the trees will not bear fruit.
21 "If you still continue to resist me and refuse to obey me, I will again increase your punishment seven times.
22 I will send dangerous animals among you, and they will kill your children, destroy your livestock, and leave so few of you that your roads will be deserted.
23 "If after all of this punishment you still do not listen to me, but continue to defy me,
24 then I will turn on you and punish you seven times harder than before.

Leviticus 26:14-24 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 1

  • 1. 26.14-33Deuteronomy 28.15-68.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.