Leviticus 23 29

Leviticus 23:29 kjv

For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

Leviticus 23:29 nkjv

For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people.

Leviticus 23:29 niv

Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people.

Leviticus 23:29 esv

For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people.

Leviticus 23:29 nlt

All who do not deny themselves that day will be cut off from God's people.

Leviticus 23 verses

Leviticus 23 29 Meaning

Leviticus 23:29 declares that any Israelite who does not humble themselves (afflict their soul) on the Day of Atonement will be expelled or "cut off" from the community. This verse underscores the supreme importance and mandatory observance of Yom Kippur, signifying that neglecting this critical day of national and individual repentance carried severe divine judgment and resulted in excommunication from the covenant people.

Leviticus 23 29 Context

Leviticus chapter 23 meticulously details the sacred feasts, or "appointed times" (mo'adim), that Yahweh commanded for the Israelites. These festivals served as a divinely ordered rhythm of worship and remembrance, punctuating the Israelite year and teaching vital theological truths. Verse 29 specifically focuses on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which is the most solemn and significant day in the Israelite liturgical calendar. It was the one day a year when national sins were atoned for, requiring the highest level of humility and piety from every individual within the community. The preceding verses (Lev 23:26-28) introduce Yom Kippur, highlighting its seriousness, sacred assembly, complete rest, and the offerings. Against this backdrop, verse 29 serves as a potent warning, establishing the grave consequences of neglecting this pivotal command. Historically and culturally, the collective well-being and covenant standing of Israel depended on individual faithfulness to these divine statutes, particularly one so critical to communal purity and reconciliation with God. Any willful disregard for such a holy ordinance would be seen as a direct challenge to God's authority and a defilement of the covenant community itself.

Leviticus 23 29 Word analysis

• For whatever soul (וְכָל־נֶפֶשׁ - v’chol-nefesh): The Hebrew word nefesh (נֶפֶשׁ) literally means "soul" or "life," but it encompasses the entire person—their essence, being, mind, and will. It signifies that every individual, personally and without exception, bears responsibility. It is not merely a physical presence but the whole inner being that is accountable.
• it is that shall not be afflicted (אֲשֶׁר לֹא־תְעֻנֶּה - asher lo-te'unneh):
  • `lo` (לֹא): The standard Hebrew negative particle, meaning "not."
  • `te'unneh` (תְעֻנֶּה): This is from the root `anah` (עָנָה), which means "to humble oneself," "to bring low," "to afflict," "to answer," or "to submit." In the context of Yom Kippur, it specifically refers to a rigorous spiritual and physical discipline. While it traditionally involved fasting (abstaining from food and drink), its primary sense is inward self-abasement, genuine sorrow for sin, repentance, and seeking God's mercy. It's an internal posture of contrition expressed through outward self-denial.
• in that same day (בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה - b’etzem hayom hazzeh): This phrase emphasizes the precise and specific nature of the command. "That same day" points unequivocally to the Day of Atonement (the tenth day of the seventh month), a unique and unrepeatable annual event. It underscores that there is no other day or substitute for this specific observance.
• he shall be cut off (וְנִכְרְתָה - venikh’reta): This is a very strong and severe consequence. The Hebrew root is `karath` (כָּרַת), meaning "to cut off," "to sever," "to abolish," "to destroy." It signifies the termination of connection or existence. In a covenantal context, "to be cut off" from the people of Israel is an act of divine judgment and excommunication. It meant being disowned, losing one's heritage, forfeiture of covenant blessings, and exclusion from the social and spiritual life of the community. In some cases, it could imply premature physical death directly from God. It highlights a complete break from the collective identity and protective relationship with Yahweh.
• from among his people (מִקְּרַב עַמָּיו - mik’erev ammav): This phrase explicitly clarifies the nature of being "cut off." It means removal from the collective body of Israel, the covenant community. This isolation had profound social, spiritual, and potentially physical implications, separating the individual from the inheritance, privileges, and blessings of God's chosen people. It signifies the loss of identity within God's special nation.

• Words-group Analysis: The phrase "whatever soul... shall not be afflicted in that same day" clearly establishes the individual accountability (`whatever soul`) for a specific, non-negotiable spiritual practice (`afflicted`) on a set divine appointment (`that same day`). This lack of `affliction` is deemed a serious act of defiance or negligence. The consequence, "he shall be cut off from among his people," directly links this personal failing to the severe corporate punishment of expulsion. This highlights that individual obedience, particularly on such a critical day, was indispensable for maintaining both personal standing with God and inclusion within the divinely appointed community of Israel. Neglecting this central act of repentance and humility on the Day of Atonement essentially severed one's participation in the covenant, indicating a profound spiritual breach.

Leviticus 23 29 Bonus section

The concept of "cutting off" (Hebrew karath) is multi-faceted in the Bible, often indicating not merely social exclusion but divine judgment resulting in spiritual death or, in certain severe cases, physical death initiated by God Himself. It signified a removal from the life, lineage, and future of the covenant people, demonstrating the gravity of rejecting or failing to adhere to essential covenant stipulations. In a New Testament context, while the Old Covenant rituals found their fulfillment in Christ, the underlying principle of self-humbling and repentance before God for sin remains foundational for followers of Jesus. The call to "afflict" one's soul can be paralleled with the Christian command to "deny self" (Matt 16:24), take up one's cross, and walk in humility (Phil 2:3). Moreover, the New Covenant warns against spiritual "cutting off" for those who willfully turn away from Christ (Heb 10:26-29, John 15:6), reinforcing the timeless principle that contempt for God's means of atonement has dire consequences. This verse, therefore, highlights God's demand for genuine heart-level participation in spiritual discipline, especially concerning sin and atonement, and the absolute necessity of aligning oneself with His divine order for communal and individual purity.

Leviticus 23 29 Commentary

Leviticus 23:29 articulates the indispensable nature of observing the Day of Atonement with a sincere heart. The command to "afflict the soul" went beyond mere external rituals, calling for deep, heartfelt repentance, humility, and a turning away from sin. This inward disposition was symbolized and often accompanied by outward fasting and self-denial, recognizing one's dependence on God's mercy for forgiveness. The consequence of failing to participate in this national act of spiritual purification—being "cut off from among his people"—was the most severe penalty within the Israelite legal and religious system, underscoring the absolute seriousness with which God regarded this day. It meant the forfeiture of one's identity as a covenant member, exclusion from community benefits, and an explicit mark of divine disapproval, signifying that deliberate spiritual rebellion or apathy could lead to being alienated from the very people with whom God had established His covenant. The verse therefore serves as a potent reminder of the importance of active participation in God's prescribed means of dealing with sin, emphasizing that complacency regarding sin and atonement threatened one's relationship with both God and His people.