Leviticus 26 33

Leviticus 26:33 kjv

And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

Leviticus 26:33 nkjv

I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you; your land shall be desolate and your cities waste.

Leviticus 26:33 niv

I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out my sword and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste, and your cities will lie in ruins.

Leviticus 26:33 esv

And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.

Leviticus 26:33 nlt

I will scatter you among the nations and bring out my sword against you. Your land will become desolate, and your cities will lie in ruins.

Leviticus 26 verses

Leviticus 26 33 Meaning

Leviticus 26:33 warns the Israelites of the severe consequences of disobedience to God's covenant. It details four specific divine judgments: dispersion among foreign nations, active pursuit by war, and the utter desolation of their land and cities. This verse portrays God's solemn promise to punish persistent rebellion with exile and destruction, ensuring their homeland becomes uninhabitable.

Leviticus 26 33 Context

Leviticus chapter 26 is a pivotal passage within the Law of Moses, concluding a significant section (chapters 17-26) detailing holiness requirements. It presents the covenant between Yahweh and Israel in the classic ancient Near Eastern treaty format: outlining blessings for obedience (Lev 26:3-13) and increasingly severe curses for disobedience (Lev 26:14-39), culminating in a promise of ultimate restoration (Lev 26:40-45) upon repentance. Verse 33 falls within the fourth and most severe series of covenant curses. Spoken by Moses to the generation poised to enter the Promised Land, it serves as a prophetic warning that if they reject God and defile the land through their sin, God Himself will actively intervene to enforce the covenant, leading to national disaster and exile. The historical context is pre-monarchy, pre-temple, but the curses powerfully foreshadow events like the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, and the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

Leviticus 26 33 Word analysis

• And I will scatter you: Hebrew v'ezârâh (וְאֶזְרֶה), from the root zârâh (זָרָה), meaning "to scatter," "to fan," "to disperse." This denotes an intentional and active dispersion by God. It implies forced relocation and loss of national unity, contrasting with the promise of dwelling securely in their land.
• among the nations: Hebrew bagôyim (בַגּוֹיִם). Goyim refers to the "Gentile nations" or "peoples" distinct from Israel. Being scattered among them signifies losing their unique identity, being absorbed by foreign cultures, and being subject to the power of other peoples.
• and will draw out: Hebrew v'harikôtiy (וַהֲרִיקוֹתִי), from the root riq (רִיק), meaning "to draw out," "to empty," "to unsheathe (a sword)." This indicates a deliberate, decisive action. The sword is depicted as actively unsheathed and pursuing.
• a sword: Hebrew cherev (חֶרֶב). The primary weapon of war, symbolizing conflict, violence, death, and divine judgment. Here, it is explicitly drawn by God Himself or wielded under His direction against Israel.
• after you: Hebrew 'ăchărēykem (אַחֲרֵיכֶם). This signifies persistent pursuit, indicating that the threat of war and its devastating consequences will follow them even into their dispersion, not offering any respite or security. It implies divine wrath chasing them down.
• and your land: Hebrew v'artsechem (וְאַרְצְכֶם). The focus shifts from the people to their promised inheritance, the land of Canaan, which God consecrated to Himself and entrusted to Israel. Its desolation is a direct affront to God's holiness and covenant.
• shall be a desolation: Hebrew shmamâh (שְׁמָמָה). This noun signifies "desolation," "wasteland," "horror." It describes the physical ruin of the land, rendering it empty of people, cultivation, and order. It is an act of divine judgment.
• and your cities: Hebrew v'areykem (וְעָרֵיכֶם). Refers to the urban centers where life and culture thrived. Their destruction represents a complete breakdown of civilization and community.
• shall be a waste: Hebrew charbâh (חָרְבָּה). This noun also means "ruin," "desolation," "dry place," "wasteland." It reiterates and intensifies shmamâh, emphasizing the complete and utter destruction and emptiness of what were once bustling centers of life. The combined terms paint a grim picture of total destruction.

Words-group analysis:

• "I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you": This phrase combines external displacement (exile) with active hostile pursuit. It's a dire warning that they would not only lose their land and sovereignty but would face continued violence and insecurity even in their dispersed state, highlighting the relentless nature of divine judgment.
• "and your land shall be a desolation and your cities shall be a waste": The double declaration of "desolation" (shmamâh) for the land and "waste" (charbâh) for the cities emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the destruction. It underlines that the very places of their habitation and livelihood would become uninhabited and utterly ruined, directly reversing the blessings of dwelling securely in the land. This serves as a testament to God's covenant fidelity in judgment, showing that He is true to His threats as well as His promises.

Leviticus 26 33 Bonus section

The fulfillment of this verse highlights God's active involvement in history, both in blessing and in judgment. The dispersion among nations (the Diaspora) and the subsequent desolation of the land and cities, especially culminating in AD 70 with the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, serve as irrefutable historical evidence of these specific covenant curses coming to pass. However, these severe judgments were not without purpose. While terrifying, they were also intended to be a form of discipline, designed to humble Israel, to bring them to repentance (Lev 26:40-42), and ultimately to prepare them for future restoration. The very nations they were scattered among were often tools in God's hands to accomplish His purposes, illustrating that even foreign powers serve as instruments of His divine will.

Leviticus 26 33 Commentary

Leviticus 26:33 is a solemn and vivid portrayal of God's justice in response to covenant disobedience. It is a terrifying depiction of a nation utterly dispossessed and devastated, precisely because of their persistent rebellion against their holy God. The passage lays out the physical manifestations of God's wrath: a loss of national home and identity through widespread dispersion; the ever-present threat of conflict, famine, and plague even in exile, demonstrating that there is no escape from divine pursuit; and the visible ruin of their land and cities, serving as a stark monument to their sin and God's holiness. This verse underscores the foundational Old Testament theological truth that the Israelites' continued possession and prosperity in the land were conditional upon their obedience to God's law. Its historical fulfillment is clearly seen in the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, where Israel and Judah were indeed scattered, faced the sword, and saw their land become a desolate wasteland. Ultimately, this judgment highlights God's sovereignty over nations and His unwavering commitment to upholding His covenant, whether through blessings or curses.