Leviticus 26 20

Leviticus 26:20 kjv

And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.

Leviticus 26:20 nkjv

And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit.

Leviticus 26:20 niv

Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of your land yield their fruit.

Leviticus 26:20 esv

And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit.

Leviticus 26:20 nlt

All your work will be for nothing, for your land will yield no crops, and your trees will bear no fruit.

Leviticus 26 verses

Leviticus 26 20 Meaning

Leviticus 26:20 declares a direct consequence for Israel's sustained disobedience to God's covenant: their physical labor will become futile, and the very land given to them will refuse to yield its intended produce. This futility encompasses both human effort ("your strength shall be spent in vain") and natural fertility ("your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits"), signifying a comprehensive divine judgment that undermines the very foundation of their subsistence and prosperity.

Leviticus 26 20 Context

Leviticus chapter 26 is a pivotal chapter outlining the conditional nature of the Mosaic Covenant, presenting a clear statement of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Verses 3-13 describe the blessings (peace, fertility, safety, abundance, God's dwelling among them) that would accompany Israel's faithful adherence to God's statutes and commandments. Conversely, verses 14-39 detail a series of escalating judgments and curses if the nation chooses to violate the covenant, reject God's laws, and despise His ordinances.

Leviticus 26:20 falls within the first layer of these escalating curses (vv. 14-20). This initial stage includes terror, disease, defeat by enemies, and sowing seed in vain. The futility of strength and barrenness of the land described in verse 20 represent a direct counterpoint to the earlier promises of abundant produce and successful labor. Historically, this promise and threat were made to Israel as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land, a land that literally flowed with "milk and honey." The very success of their agricultural economy and their sustenance depended directly on divine favor, contrasting sharply with pagan Canaanite beliefs that sought fertility from local Baal deities through ritualistic practices. This passage makes a powerful polemic: the God of Israel alone controls the land's fruitfulness.

Leviticus 26 20 Word analysis

• And your strength (וְנָתַתִּי כֹּחֲכֶם - ve’natati khochachem):

  • וְנָתַתִּי (ve’natati): From the root נָתַן (natan), "to give." Here, it signifies God's active involvement in rendering their strength useless. It's not just a passive outcome; God causes this futility.
  • כֹּחֲכֶם (khochachem): From כֹּחַ (koach), meaning "strength, power, ability, wealth, might." In this context, it refers to human physical labor, effort, and resources dedicated to agricultural and economic pursuits. The verse indicates that all human endeavor, regardless of its intensity or skill, will be deprived of any meaningful result.

• shall be spent in vain (לָרִיק - la’rik):

  • לָרִיק (la’rik): A Hebrew adverbial phrase meaning "for emptiness," "for nothing," "to no purpose," or "in vain." This word emphasizes absolute futility and worthlessness of effort, despite the sweat and toil.

• for your land (כִּי אַרְצְכֶם - ki aretzchem):

  • כִּי (ki): "For, because." Introduces the reason or consequence for the previous statement.
  • אַרְצְכֶם (aratzchem): From אֶרֶץ (eretz), meaning "land, earth, ground." This specifically refers to the Promised Land, their inheritance, the source of their sustenance. Its failure to yield signifies God withdrawing His blessing from their very physical foundation.

• shall not yield (לֹא־תִתֵּן - lo titen):

  • לֹא (lo): "Not," a strong negation.
  • תִתֵּן (titen): From נָתַן (natan), "to give, to yield." Here, it's the land's failure to produce.

• her increase (יְבוּלָהּ - yevulah):

  • יְבוּלָהּ (yevulah): From יְבוּל (yevul), meaning "produce, increase, fruit, yield of the land." This refers to the general agricultural bounty, grains, vegetables – anything harvested from the soil.

• neither shall the trees of the land (וְעֵץ הָאָרֶץ - ve’etz ha’aretz):

  • וְעֵץ (ve’etz): "And tree(s)." Broadly encompasses fruit-bearing trees.
  • הָאָרֶץ (ha’aretz): "Of the land." Reaffirms that the entire landscape, not just fields, would be affected.

• yield their fruits (לֹא יִתֵּן פִּרְיוֹ - lo yiten piryo):

  • לֹא יִתֵּן (lo yiten): "Shall not give/yield."
  • פִּרְיוֹ (piryo): From פְּרִי (pəri), meaning "fruit, produce (specifically of trees)." This specifies that even the fruit trees, typically more resistant to mild drought than field crops, would cease production, indicating a severe and widespread barrenness.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "your strength shall be spent in vain": This phrase describes internal futility and demoralization. Despite arduous work, there will be no commensurate reward. It signifies a profound lack of divine blessing on human effort itself, turning toil into meaninglessness. It suggests a spiritual disconnect where one's energies are expended without spiritual or material fruit.
  • "for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits": This expands on the reason for futility by specifying external barrenness. It describes a double curse on agricultural production—on field crops (increase) and tree crops (fruits). This illustrates God's complete control over the natural world and the nation's dependence on His blessing for their very livelihood. It undermines the very promise of the fertile land, turning it into a barren testament to their unfaithfulness. The natural consequence mirrors the spiritual barrenness.

Leviticus 26 20 Bonus section

The progressive nature of the curses in Leviticus 26 is crucial. Verse 20 represents an initial phase, yet it is profound because it undermines the very foundations of their prosperity and hope. It is a 'passive' form of judgment where God withdraws His blessing rather than inflicting immediate, active destruction. This subtly reinforces that God's consistent upholding of His covenant and the natural order is itself an act of grace. When this grace is withdrawn due to persistent rebellion, the world itself turns against them. The spiritual principle is clear: sin brings spiritual barrenness (leading to futility in one's life, despite effort) and material barrenness (resulting in diminished or frustrating outcomes for labor). This divine judgment is always intended not merely as punishment, but as a severe corrective to bring about repentance and return to the covenant relationship (Lev 26:40-42).

Leviticus 26 20 Commentary

Leviticus 26:20 serves as a stark warning within God's covenant with Israel, underscoring that blessings are contingent upon obedience and disobedience carries tangible, severe consequences. This verse specifically highlights two interrelated aspects of divine judgment: the futility of human labor and the barrenness of the Promised Land. The phrase "your strength shall be spent in vain" communicates a deep sense of discouragement and waste; all their effort, their sweat, their investment into cultivation would yield nothing of value. This is not merely a natural disaster; it's a supernaturally imposed emptiness, revealing that true productivity ultimately depends on God's favor, not solely on human ingenuity or hard work. This theme is echoed across scripture, reminding us that without the Lord, our endeavors are inherently empty (Ps 127:1).

The second part, concerning the land and its trees failing to yield produce, is the material manifestation of this divine displeasure. God, who grants rain and fertility (Deut 11:13-14), promises to withhold them. This specific curse directly attacks the very economic and nutritional lifeline of an agrarian society like ancient Israel. It also directly confronts the idolatrous practices of the surrounding Canaanite cultures, who believed that pagan gods like Baal controlled fertility. Leviticus 26:20 decisively states that Yahweh alone determines the land's productivity, thus negating any power attributed to false deities. This is a crucial aspect of their covenant relationship: God does not merely demand spiritual allegiance; He also tangibly demonstrates His sovereignty over their material world. The ultimate message is a call to radical dependence on God, reminding His people that true blessing, even physical abundance, flows from a faithful walk with Him.