Leviticus 26 25

Leviticus 26:25 kjv

And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

Leviticus 26:25 nkjv

And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant; when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

Leviticus 26:25 niv

And I will bring the sword on you to avenge the breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be given into enemy hands.

Leviticus 26:25 esv

And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute vengeance for the covenant. And if you gather within your cities, I will send pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

Leviticus 26:25 nlt

I will send armies against you to carry out the curse of the covenant you have broken. When you run to your towns for safety, I will send a plague to destroy you there, and you will be handed over to your enemies.

Leviticus 26 verses

Leviticus 26 25 Meaning

Leviticus 26:25 warns the Israelites of the severe consequences of persistent disobedience to God's covenant. It details a specific sequence of divine judgments: God Himself will initiate warfare ("bring a sword") to punish their covenant violations, and even within their seemingly secure cities, a deadly plague ("pestilence") will spread. Ultimately, they will lose their sovereignty and be completely overtaken ("delivered into the hand of the enemy"), signifying national defeat and subjugation. This verse underscores God's unwavering commitment to uphold His covenant, enforcing its stipulations through acts of righteous judgment against those who forsake Him.

Leviticus 26 25 Context

Leviticus 26 outlines the blessings and curses associated with the Mosaic Covenant. The preceding verses (Lev 26:3-13) detail abundant blessings for obedience, emphasizing prosperity, peace, security, and God's presence. From verse 14 onward, the chapter shifts to an escalating series of warnings and curses for disobedience, infidelity, and rebellion against God's laws and the terms of the covenant. Leviticus 26:25 is part of the third stage of these escalating curses, occurring after initial judgments like terror, disease, and military defeat (Lev 26:16-17), and famine (Lev 26:18-20), indicating a deepening level of divine judgment due to continued unrepentance.

Historically, the Mosaic Covenant established a unique relationship between God and Israel, binding them to a holy standard. The promises and threats within this chapter align with the structure of ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaties, where a greater king (God) would stipulate terms for a vassal state (Israel) and list consequences for non-compliance. The "quarrel of my covenant" implies a legal case God brings against His unfaithful people, treating their actions as a direct breach of this sacred agreement, justifying His righteous retribution.

Leviticus 26 25 Word analysis

• "And": Connects this judgment directly to the preceding curses, indicating a further step in the escalating consequences of continued disobedience.
• "I will bring": Emphasizes God's active, personal, and intentional role in initiating these judgments. This is not arbitrary misfortune but divine intervention.
• "a sword" (חֶרֶב, ḥereḇ): Refers to warfare, military conflict, and the instrument of lethal violence. It signifies external attack and national struggle, a primary means of God's judgment against nations.
• "upon you": Clearly indicates that these judgments are directed specifically at the people of Israel who have violated the covenant.
• "that shall avenge" (נקם, nāqam): Signifies retribution, vengeance, or righteous payback. This is not vindictive malice, but a legal and just response to a grave offense.
• "the quarrel" (נְקָמַת, neqāmāth as "retribution/vengeance for"): While sometimes rendered "quarrel," the term here means "retribution" or "vengeance for" or "punishment of" the covenant. It emphasizes God’s taking judicial action due to the breach of His covenant.
• "of my covenant" (בְּרִיתִי, bərîtî): Refers to the covenant God established with Israel at Mount Sinai, which bound them to obedience and specified the consequences for disobedience. It highlights that the entire basis for God's action is their breach of this sacred, divine agreement.
• "and when ye are gathered together": Suggests a situation where people are confined, possibly seeking refuge in cities during wartime or because of previous scattering, making escape difficult.
• "within your cities": Implies a perceived place of safety, typically fortified, yet paradoxically, it becomes a trap for a different form of judgment.
• "I will send": Another strong indication of God's direct agency and control over the impending disaster.
• "the pestilence" (דֶּבֶר, deḇer): Refers to a plague, epidemic, or devastating disease. It is a form of judgment that spreads internally and silently, indiscriminately affecting a population even when seemingly protected by fortifications.
• "among you": Emphasizes the pervasive, internal nature of the disease, striking from within their confined spaces.
• "and ye shall be delivered": Uses a divine passive, meaning God is the ultimate one delivering them. It implies surrender or being given over without resistance.
• "into the hand of the enemy": Signifies complete defeat, subjugation, and loss of independence. The ultimate consequence of their disobedience is to become subjects or captives of a hostile power.

Words-group analysis

• "I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant": This phrase highlights God as the active agent of judgment and clarifies the reason for the judgment. The "sword" is not random but a direct, punitive tool in God's hand, enacted as retribution for Israel's specific failure to uphold their obligations in His divine covenant. This underscores God's righteousness and commitment to justice, demonstrating that sin has a direct and severe consequence from a holy God.
• "when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you": This shows the inescapable nature of God's judgment. Even if they seek refuge in what they consider fortified, safe urban centers, God will bypass physical defenses and bring a new form of destruction (pestilence) from within. It signifies that there is no safe haven from divine judgment for a disobedient people.
• "and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy": This culmination signifies total defeat and loss of sovereignty. It moves beyond internal strife or localized plagues to complete national subjugation, serving as the ultimate outcome of Israel's unrepentant rebellion, demonstrating that God's protection, once removed, leads to utter vulnerability.

Leviticus 26 25 Bonus section

• The escalating nature of the curses in Leviticus 26 is crucial. Each new curse signifies a deeper level of God's displeasure and a more severe response to Israel's unrepentant heart. Verse 25 adds pestilence to external warfare and culminates in their delivery to the enemy, showing a progression from partial defeat to comprehensive national catastrophe.
• The phrase "the quarrel of my covenant" (often rendered "avenge the breach of my covenant" or "retribution for my covenant") signifies God taking up a legal case. He is the righteous Judge upholding the terms of His own agreement, acting justly against His unfaithful vassal. This implies that His actions are warranted and deserved by Israel's rebellion.
• Prophetic books (Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos) frequently cite "sword, famine, and pestilence" as the tri-fold instruments of divine judgment upon Israel, often referencing these curses of the Mosaic covenant, especially during the period leading up to and during the Babylonian exile. This demonstrates the long-term historical fulfillment of these Levitical warnings.

Leviticus 26 25 Commentary

Leviticus 26:25 details three interlinked, escalating consequences for Israel's unfaithfulness: war, pestilence, and national subjugation. It highlights God's justice, not arbitrary wrath, as He actively "avenges the quarrel of [His] covenant." This signifies God’s judicial action in response to Israel’s breach of the sacred agreement. The sequence illustrates that even when seeking refuge within their fortified cities from external enemies ("sword"), they would find no escape from an internal scourge ("pestilence") also sent by God. Ultimately, all human defenses and strategies would fail, leading to their complete "delivery into the hand of the enemy." This powerful warning underlines God's unwavering commitment to His covenant, demonstrating that His protective blessings are conditional on obedience, and severe judgment awaits persistent rebellion, serving to drive His people to repentance.