Leviticus 26 17

Leviticus 26:17 kjv

And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.

Leviticus 26:17 nkjv

I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you.

Leviticus 26:17 niv

I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.

Leviticus 26:17 esv

I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you.

Leviticus 26:17 nlt

I will turn against you, and you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will run even when no one is chasing you!

Leviticus 26 verses

Leviticus 26 17 Meaning

Leviticus 26:17 proclaims God's determined opposition against a disobedient Israel, resulting in military defeat and humiliation before their adversaries. Furthermore, their enemies would exercise dominion over them, and a deep, paralyzing fear would cause them to flee even when no threat was present, illustrating profound demoralization and a complete loss of divine protection.

Leviticus 26 17 Context

Leviticus 26 constitutes a crucial conclusion to the laws presented in the book, outlining a comprehensive system of covenant blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. This chapter serves as a profound sermon to ancient Israel, laying out the consequences of their relationship with the covenant God. Verse 17 is an integral part of the escalating curses (Lev 26:14-39), portraying an early stage of divine judgment—specifically, a significant defeat and loss of sovereignty—following initial warnings of pestilence and drought. The warnings served as a foundational promise for the nation's well-being in the Promised Land, emphasizing that their prosperity and security were entirely dependent on their faithful adherence to God's commands. Historically, this served as a guide for Israel before their entry into Canaan, preparing them for the reality that their God was not like the capricious deities of their neighbors but righteous and just, consistently upholding His covenant.

Leviticus 26 17 Word analysis

• And I will set my face against you (וְנָתַתִּי פָנַי בָּכֶם – v'natati panay bakhem):
  • וְנָתַתִּי (v'natati): "And I will put/set." Derived from the Hebrew verb natan (to give, to put, to place). This active, first-person singular verb signifies God's direct, personal, and decisive involvement in bringing judgment. It is not passive allowance, but deliberate action.
  • פָנַי (panay): "My face." The Hebrew word panim (face) when referring to God, represents His direct presence, attention, favor, or, in this context, resolute opposition and displeasure. To "set His face against" is an idiom denoting intense, unyielding determination to confront and punish. It speaks of divine resolve.
  • בָכֶם (bakhem): "against you." The preposition bet (in, with) is here used in an adversarial sense, "against." This combination emphasizes that God Himself is the active agent of judgment, specifically directed at Israel for their rebellion.
• and you shall be struck down before your enemies (וְנִגַּפְתֶּם לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיכֶם – v'niggaptem lifnei oyveikhem):
  • וְנִגַּפְתֶּם (v'niggaptem): "and you shall be struck down/defeated." This verb is in the Niphal (passive) stem, suggesting that the defeat comes not merely from external forces but through divine causality. The root nagaf often relates to striking, smiting, or causing a stumble, frequently implying a plague or defeat inflicted by God. It signifies a decisive, humiliating loss in battle.
  • לִפְנֵי (lifnei): "before." Literally "to the face of," meaning "in the presence of," indicating the public and humiliating nature of their defeat.
  • אֹיְבֵיכֶם (oyveikhem): "your enemies." This highlights the specific humiliation of being defeated by those they despised or were meant to conquer.
• those who hate you shall rule over you (וְרָדוּ בָכֶם שֹׂנְאֵיכֶם – v'radu bakhem sone'eikhem):
  • וְרָדוּ (v'radu): "and they shall rule/dominate." From the verb radah (to rule, have dominion, tread down). It describes harsh and oppressive control, signaling the loss of self-governance and severe subjugation.
  • בָכֶם (bakhem): "over you." Again, the preposition "against" or "over," indicating oppressive rule.
  • שֹׂנְאֵיכֶם (sone'eikhem): "those who hate you/your haters." The inclusion of "hate" (sane) deepens the sense of injustice and malice in the enemies' dominion, emphasizing that Israel's subjugation would not be benevolent but spiteful.
• and you shall flee when no one pursues you (וְנַסְתֶּם וְאֵין רֹדֵף אֶתְכֶם – v'nastem v'ein rodeph et'khem):
  • וְנַסְתֶּם (v'nastem): "and you shall flee." From the verb nus (to flee, escape, take flight). This indicates panic, disarray, and a complete collapse of courage and resolve.
  • וְאֵין (v'ein): "and there is no." A strong negative existential, emphasizing the absence of an actual physical pursuer.
  • רֹדֵף (rodeph): "pursuer/one who pursues." From the verb radaph (to pursue, chase).
  • Entire phrase: "and you shall flee when no one pursues you": This particular phrase denotes profound psychological terror and demoralization. It suggests that their internal spiritual state, devoid of divine presence and courage, would lead to irrational fear, causing them to abandon positions and possessions without any tangible threat. This is arguably the most debilitating consequence, indicating an utter breakdown of will and the protective hand of God being completely withdrawn. It transforms an external threat into an internal, all-consuming dread.

Leviticus 26 17 Bonus section

The progressive nature of the curses in Leviticus 26 is crucial. Verse 17 appears relatively early in the sequence, signifying that severe consequences would begin even with moderate disobedience, laying the groundwork for more intense judgments like famine, pestilence, and exile if the people did not repent. The ultimate outcome of such deep internal demoralization and the constant fear of the unseen can often be a loss of faith and spiritual despair, a state far worse than any physical suffering for those who knew God's previous protective hand. The principle expressed here resonates beyond national punishment to individual spiritual lives, where turning from God can lead to inner turmoil, anxiety, and a feeling of being pursued by burdens even when outwardly secure.

Leviticus 26 17 Commentary

Leviticus 26:17 presents a chilling forecast of God's judicial response to Israel's covenant disloyalty. The opening phrase, "I will set My face against you," vividly portrays divine resolve and active judgment, indicating God Himself is their adversary, not merely a distant observer. This leads directly to their "struck down before your enemies," signifying not just defeat, but a humiliating rout publicly displayed. The subsequent "those who hate you shall rule over you" describes complete subjugation to malicious foreign powers, an unbearable reality for a nation meant to be supreme. The climax of the verse, "you shall flee when no one pursues you," reveals a terrifying psychological consequence: the complete collapse of national courage, replaced by groundless panic and chronic anxiety. This terror is perhaps the most acute curse, demonstrating that God's absence leaves His people vulnerable not only to external threats but also to the crushing weight of their own inner turmoil and spiritual weakness, stripping them of peace and security at their deepest level.