Leviticus 26 16

Leviticus 26:16 kjv

I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

Leviticus 26:16 nkjv

I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

Leviticus 26:16 niv

then I will do this to you: I will bring on you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and sap your strength. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.

Leviticus 26:16 esv

then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

Leviticus 26:16 nlt

I will punish you. I will bring sudden terrors upon you ? wasting diseases and burning fevers that will cause your eyes to fail and your life to ebb away. You will plant your crops in vain because your enemies will eat them.

Leviticus 26 verses

Leviticus 26 16 Meaning

Leviticus 26:16 declares a solemn judgment from God upon those who disobey His covenant. It states that God Himself will actively intervene to bring severe consequences, specifically manifesting as terror, debilitating diseases (consumption and fever) that waste physical vitality and induce deep emotional anguish. Furthermore, it details an economic curse where agricultural efforts become futile, as the produce of their labor will be consumed by their enemies, signifying loss of sustenance, land, and sovereignty. This verse highlights the direct, personal involvement of God in enacting covenant curses for infidelity.

Leviticus 26 16 Context

Leviticus 26 falls at the culmination of the Levitical code, serving as a powerful covenant peroration. It outlines the blessings promised for obedience to God’s laws (Lev 26:3-13) and the curses threatened for disobedience and persistent rebellion (Lev 26:14-45). Verse 16 specifically introduces the initial wave of curses, detailing immediate, painful consequences. This chapter reinforces the conditional nature of Israel's dwelling in the promised land and their enjoyment of God's blessings, emphasizing that faithfulness to the covenant, not merely presence in the land, was paramount. Historically, this chapter prepared Israel for life in Canaan, where they would be surrounded by idolatrous nations whose agricultural and spiritual practices stood in stark contrast to Yahweh's commands. The curses here serve as a polemic against reliance on the Canaanite gods (Baal, Asherah) for agricultural fertility or national security, demonstrating that Yahweh alone controls such domains.

Leviticus 26 16 Word analysis

• I also will do this to you: Implies divine initiative and direct agency. God is not merely allowing things to happen, but actively ordaining them as part of the covenant consequences. It reflects His holy justice and sovereignty over all aspects of life and creation.
• appoint (Heb. אָצִית֙, atsith, H6031 from יָצַת, yatsath): More than just "appoint," it implies kindling, setting a fire, igniting, or setting in place with determination. It suggests an active, intense, and even destructive divine act, like kindling a fire, highlighting the severity and intentionality of the judgment.
• terror (Heb. בֶּהָלָ֗ה, behalah, H928): This term signifies sudden panic, fright, alarm, and utter dismay. It implies a deep psychological impact, a pervasive sense of dread and insecurity, indicating a breakdown of social order and personal peace.
• consumption (Heb. שַׁחֶ֣פֶת, shachephet, H7829): A wasting disease, often associated with chronic illness like tuberculosis, which causes a gradual emaciation of the body and weakens strength over time. It represents a lingering and debilitating physical curse.
• fever (Heb. קַדַּ֤חַת, qaddachat, H6920): From a root meaning "to burn," it refers to a burning fever or inflammation. It signifies acute and intense suffering, rapid onset of illness, contrasting with the more drawn-out consumption.
• that waste the eyes (Heb. כָּל֤וֹת עֵינַ֙יִם֙, kalot einayim): Literally "exhaustion of the eyes" or "failing of the eyes." This phrase describes eyes becoming dim, sinking, or wasting away, not necessarily blindness but profound physical deterioration and sorrow visible in the eyes, reflective of chronic suffering and hopelessness.
• and cause sorrow of heart (Heb. מְדִיבֹ֣ת נֶ֔פֶשׁ, medivoth nephesh): Literally "pining of the soul" or "causing the soul to pine away." Nephesh encompasses the whole being, not just emotion. This indicates profound grief, anguish, and a crushing despondency that affects one's spirit and will to live. It is an internal, spiritual affliction that accompanies the physical ailments.
• and you shall sow your seed in vain (Heb. וּזְרַעְתֶּ֤ם לָרִיק֙ זַרְעֲכֶ֔ם, u'zratem lariq zar'akhem): Lariq means "for emptiness," "for nothing," or "to no purpose." This signifies complete futility in agricultural labor. Despite effort and investment, there will be no harvest for themselves. It symbolizes the curse impacting their primary source of sustenance and economic well-being.
• for your enemies shall eat it: This completes the agricultural curse. The fruit of their land and labor will be taken and consumed by foreign adversaries, indicating conquest, oppression, and loss of national autonomy. It speaks of humiliation and deep deprivation at the hand of those hostile to them. This detail also removes the hope that someone else might benefit; it specifies enemies, thus adding to the severity and personal sting of the curse.

Words-Group analysis:

• "I also will do this to you: I will appoint over you terror, consumption, and fever": This segment emphasizes God's active role ("I also will do this... I will appoint") in bringing specific and debilitating judgments—psychological, chronic, and acute illnesses. It reveals divine justice directly applied.
• "that waste the eyes and cause sorrow of heart": This phrase highlights the interconnectedness of physical suffering and deep emotional/spiritual anguish. The curses are not merely external, but penetrate to the very core of one's being, depleting both physical vitality and inner joy, leading to profound despair.
• "and you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it": This forms a complete picture of economic ruin and foreign subjugation. It underscores that disobedience directly impacts prosperity and security, leading to a loss of the very benefits promised in the land, all for the benefit of their adversaries. This directly counteracts the promised blessing of enjoying the fruit of their labor in peace.

Leviticus 26 16 Bonus section

The concept of "waste the eyes" and "sorrow of heart" points to a holistic affliction, affecting both the physical body and the inner spirit. This is a common biblical understanding of human suffering where distress is not compartmentalized but impacts the whole person. The curses here, especially disease and agricultural failure leading to consumption by enemies, serve as powerful anti-type illustrations. They portray what life would be like without God's covenant blessings—a mirror image of the prosperity and peace promised for obedience (Lev 26:3-13). This chapter, particularly verse 16, served as foundational theological underpinning for later prophetic laments and historical explanations for national calamities in Israel, solidifying the idea that their circumstances were a direct result of their covenant relationship with God. The imagery of "appointing" these calamities indicates God's purposeful and administrative role in judging His people when they persist in sin, not as an arbitrary act, but as a just consequence within the covenant framework.

Leviticus 26 16 Commentary

Leviticus 26:16 lays out the initial layer of divine judgment for covenant disobedience, beginning a series of escalating consequences in the chapter. It serves as a stern warning that breaking the covenant has immediate and severe repercussions affecting every aspect of life. God’s pronouncements are not passive threats but declarations of active, sovereign intervention. The listed curses—terror, debilitating illness, and agricultural failure—target essential elements of well-being: psychological peace, physical health, and economic stability. The emphasis on enemies consuming their labor's fruit is particularly humiliating and damaging, representing a complete reversal of the promised land of abundance and security. This verse underscores God's absolute control over natural phenomena and the fate of nations, demonstrating His holiness and justice by visiting promised discipline upon His covenant people when they stray.For instance, throughout the history of Israel, from the periods of the Judges to the exiles, these very patterns of invasion, disease, and societal breakdown were observed as a consequence of their unfaithfulness, serving as living proof of the fulfillment of these warnings.