Levítico 26:16

16 Yo también haré con vosotros esto: enviaré sobre vosotros terror, extenuación y calentura, que consuman los ojos y atormenten el alma: y sembraréis en balde vuestra simiente, porque vuestros enemigos la comerán:

Levítico 26:16 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 26:16

I also will do this unto you
Henceforward follow threatenings of dreadful evils to the transgressors and despisers of the commandments of God, which thus begin: I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning
ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart;
some, as Aben Ezra observes, take these to design what may affect the seed sown and the increase of it, such as blasting and mildew, because it follows: "ye shall sow in vain"; but no doubt diseases of the body are intended; for what we translate "terror" does not signify terror of mind, but some sudden, hasty, terrible distemper; perhaps the pestilence, as the Targum of Jonathan; some have thought of the falling sickness, as Bishop Patrick, because the word has the signification of haste and precipitance; and the second is a disease well known among us, and so called from its wasting and consuming nature; Jarchi interprets it of a disease which swells the flesh, either fills it with tumours and pustules, the Septuagint calls it the itch; or with wind or water, which has led some to think of the dropsy; and the last of them seems to be rightly rendered a burning ague or fever, though the Septuagint takes it for the jaundice, but that seems not to be so threatening, terrible, and dangerous, as what may be here supposed: now these diseases and all others are by the appointment of God, they come and go by his order, and while they continue have the power over persons, nor can they rid themselves of them at pleasure; and these have such an effect on persons seized by them, as to cause dimness of sight, a hollowness of their eyes, which sink into the head, as well as fill the heart with grief and sorrow; either through present pains and agonies, or in a view of future judgment and wrath to come: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it;
either eat it up for forage before it is ripe, or, if ripe and gathered in the barn, should come and besiege their cities and plunder their granaries.

Levítico 26:16 In-Context

14 Empero si no me oyereis, ni hiciereis todos estos mis mandamientos,
15 Y si abominareis mis decretos, y vuestra alma menospreciare mis derechos, no ejecutando todos mis mandamientos, é invalidando mi pacto;
16 Yo también haré con vosotros esto: enviaré sobre vosotros terror, extenuación y calentura, que consuman los ojos y atormenten el alma: y sembraréis en balde vuestra simiente, porque vuestros enemigos la comerán:
17 Y pondré mi ira sobre vosotros, y seréis heridos delante de vuestros enemigos; y los que os aborrecen se enseñorearán de vosotros, y huiréis sin que haya quien os persiga.
18 Y si aun con estas cosas no me oyereis, yo tornaré á castigaros siete veces más por vuestros pecados.
The Reina-Valera Antigua (1602) is in the public domain.