Leviticus 26:16

16 also I shall do these things to you; I shall visit you swiftly in neediness, and in burning, which shall torment your eyes, and waste your lives; in vain ye shall sow seed, that shall be devoured of enemies; (then I shall do these things to you; I shall swiftly visit you with want, or with need, and with burning, which shall torment your eyes, and shall waste your lives; ye shall sow your seed in vain, for it shall be devoured by your enemies;)

Leviticus 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.

Leviticus 26:16 In-Context

14 That if ye hear not me, neither do all my behests, (But if ye will not listen to me, nor do all my commands,)
15 and if ye forsake my laws, and despise my dooms, that ye do not those things that be ordained of me, and that ye bring follily my covenant to nought, (and if ye forsake my laws, and despise my judgements, so that ye do not do those things that be ordained by me, but ye foolishly break my covenant,)
16 also I shall do these things to you; I shall visit you swiftly in neediness, and in burning, which shall torment your eyes, and waste your lives; in vain ye shall sow seed, that shall be devoured of enemies; (then I shall do these things to you; I shall swiftly visit you with want, or with need, and with burning, which shall torment your eyes, and shall waste your lives; ye shall sow your seed in vain, for it shall be devoured by your enemies;)
17 I shall set my face against you, and ye shall fall before your enemies, and ye shall be subjects to them that hate you (and ye shall be made subject to them who hate you); (and) ye shall flee, while no man pursueth you.
18 But if neither so ye obey to me (And if ye shall still not obey me), I shall increase your chastising sevenfold for your sins;
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.