Focused Passage

Leviticus 26:27-31

Covenant Blessings, Covenant Discipline, Exile, Confession, and Remembered Mercy

The chapter begins by prohibiting idols and commanding Sabbath observance and sanctuary reverence. It then promises covenant blessings for obedience: rain, harvest, peace, victory, fruitfulness, God's dwelling presence, and covenant fellowship. The chapter then turns to escalating covenant discipline if Israel refuses to listen: terror, disease, defeat, drought, wild beasts, sword, plague, famine, siege, cannibalism, sanctuary desolation, land desolation, scattering among nations, and exile. Yet the chapter concludes with hope: if Israel confesses sin and humbles their uncircumcised hearts, the LORD will remember His covenant with Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, and the land. Even in exile He will not reject or destroy them completely, because He remains the LORD their God.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

27But if in spite of all this you do not obey Me, but continue to walk in hostility toward Me,

28then I will walk in fury against you, and I, even I, will punish you sevenfold for your sins.

29You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters.

30I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and heap your lifeless bodies on the lifeless remains of your idols; and My soul will despise you.

31I will reduce your cities to rubble and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will refuse to smell the pleasing aroma of your sacrifices.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 27

Original words

But ifוְאִ֨ם־H518Conjunctionin spite of all thisבְּזֹ֔אתH2063Preposition-b | Pronoun - feminine singularyou do notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleobeyתִשְׁמְע֖וּH8085Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralMeלִ֑יPreposition | first person common singularbut continue to walkוַהֲלַכְתֶּ֥םH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralin hostilityבְּקֶֽרִי׃H7147Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singulartoward Meעִמִּ֖יH5973Preposition | first person common singular
Verse 28

Original words

then I will walkוְהָלַכְתִּ֥יH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularin furyבַּחֲמַת־H2534Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructagainstקֶ֑רִיH7147Noun - masculine singularyouעִמָּכֶ֖םH5973Preposition | second person masculine pluraland Iאָ֔נִיH589Pronoun - first person common singulareven Iאַף־H637Conjunctionwill punishוְיִסַּרְתִּ֤יH3256Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularyouאֶתְכֶם֙H853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralsevenfoldשֶׁ֖בַעH7651Number - feminine singularforעַל־H5921Prepositionyour sinsחַטֹּאתֵיכֶם׃H2403Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 29

Original words

You will eatוַאֲכַלְתֶּ֖םH398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralthe fleshבְּשַׂ֣רH1320Noun - masculine singular constructof your own sonsבְּנֵיכֶ֑םH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural-תֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃H398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural[and]וּבְשַׂ֥רH1320Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructdaughtersבְּנֹתֵיכֶ֖םH1323Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 30

Original words

I will destroyוְהִשְׁמַדְתִּ֞יH8045Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeryour high placesבָּמֹֽתֵיכֶ֗םH1116Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine pluralcut downוְהִכְרַתִּי֙H3772Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeryour incense altarsחַמָּ֣נֵיכֶ֔םH2553Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluraland heapוְנָֽתַתִּי֙H5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeryour lifeless bodiesפִּגְרֵיכֶ֔םH6297Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe lifeless remainsפִּגְרֵ֖יH6297Noun - masculine plural constructof your idolsגִּלּוּלֵיכֶ֑םH1544Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluraland My soulנַפְשִׁ֖יH5315Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularwill despiseוְגָעֲלָ֥הH1602Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularyouאֶתְכֶֽם׃H853Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Verse 31

Original words

I will reduceוְנָתַתִּ֤יH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeryour citiesעָֽרֵיכֶם֙H5892Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine pluralto rubbleחָרְבָּ֔הH2723Noun - feminine singularand lay wasteוַהֲשִׁמּוֹתִ֖יH8074Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeryour sanctuariesמִקְדְּשֵׁיכֶ֑םH4720Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluraland I will refuseוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleto smellאָרִ֔יחַH7306Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularthe pleasingנִיחֹֽחֲכֶֽם׃H5207Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine pluralaroma of your sacrificesבְּרֵ֖יחַH7381Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.