Focused Passage

Leviticus 26:36-39

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

36 As for those of you who survive, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, so that even the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. And they will flee as one flees the sword, and fall when no one pursues them.

37 They will stumble over one another as before the sword, though no one is behind them. So you will not be able to stand against your enemies.

38 You will perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies will consume you.

39 Those of you who survive in the lands of your enemies will waste away in their iniquity and will decay in the sins of their fathers.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 36

Cross-references

Proverbs 28:1 Classic cross-references Psalms 53:5 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 21:7 Classic cross-references Job 15:21 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 28:65 Classic cross-references

Original words

As for those of you who survive וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים H7604 Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural . . . בָּכֶ֔ם Preposition | second person masculine plural I will send וְהֵבֵ֤אתִי H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular a faintness מֹ֙רֶךְ֙ H4816 Noun - masculine singular into their hearts בִּלְבָבָ֔ם H3824 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural in the lands בְּאַרְצֹ֖ת H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct of their enemies אֹיְבֵיהֶ֑ם H341 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural so that even the sound ק֚וֹל H6963 Noun - masculine singular construct of a windblown נִדָּ֔ף H5086 Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular leaf עָלֶ֣ה H5929 Noun - masculine singular will put them to flight וְרָדַ֣ף H7291 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֹתָ֗ם H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural And they will flee וְנָס֧וּ H5127 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural as one flees מְנֻֽסַת־ H4499 Noun - feminine singular construct the sword חֶ֛רֶב H2719 Noun - feminine singular and fall וְנָפְל֖וּ H5307 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural when no one וְאֵ֥ין H369 Conjunctive waw | Adverb pursues them רֹדֵֽף׃ H7291 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular

Verse 37

Cross-references

Judges 2:14 Classic cross-references Revelation 22:18 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 24:24 Classic cross-references Joshua 7:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

They will stumble וְכָשְׁל֧וּ H3782 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural over one אִישׁ־ H376 Noun - masculine singular another בְּאָחִ֛יו H251 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular as before כְּמִפְּנֵי־ H6440 Preposition-k, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct the sword חֶ֖רֶב H2719 Noun - feminine singular though no one אָ֑יִן H369 Adverb is behind them וְרֹדֵ֣ף H7291 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular So וְלֹא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle you will not לָכֶם֙ Preposition | second person masculine plural be תִֽהְיֶ֤ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular able to stand תְּקוּמָ֔ה H8617 Noun - feminine singular against לִפְנֵ֖י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct your enemies אֹֽיְבֵיכֶֽם׃ H341 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural

Verse 38

Cross-references

2 Kings 17:6 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 28:20 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 32:26 Classic cross-references

Original words

You will perish וַאֲבַדְתֶּ֖ם H6 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural among the nations בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם H1471 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural and the land אֶ֖רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct of your enemies אֹיְבֵיכֶֽם׃ H341 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural will consume וְאָכְלָ֣ה H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular you אֶתְכֶ֔ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural

Verse 39

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 4:29 Classic cross-references Exodus 20:5 Classic cross-references Nehemiah 1:9 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 4:17 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 8:33 Classic cross-references

Original words

Those of you who survive וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים H7604 Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural . . . בָּכֶ֗ם Preposition | second person masculine plural in the lands בְּאַרְצֹ֖ת H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct of your enemies אֹיְבֵיכֶ֑ם H341 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural will waste away יִמַּ֙קּוּ֙ H4743 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural in their iniquity בַּֽעֲוֺנָ֔ם H5771 Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural and וְאַ֛ף H637 Conjunction will decay יִמָּֽקּוּ׃ H4743 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural in the sins בַּעֲוֺנֹ֥ת H5771 Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct of their fathers אֲבֹתָ֖ם H1 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural . . . אִתָּ֥ם H854 Preposition | third person masculine plural

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