Leviticus 26 4

Leviticus 26:4 kjv

Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Leviticus 26:4 nkjv

then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Leviticus 26:4 niv

I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.

Leviticus 26:4 esv

then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Leviticus 26:4 nlt

I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit.

Leviticus 26 verses

Leviticus 26 4 Meaning

Leviticus 26:4 establishes a direct covenantal promise from the Sovereign God to His people: if they walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, He will personally ensure timely and adequate rainfall for their land. This divine provision will result in bountiful harvests from the fields and trees, demonstrating God's blessing of physical prosperity and sustenance contingent upon their faithful obedience to His law.

Leviticus 26 4 Context

Leviticus 26 is a pivotal chapter, forming the culmination of the legal section of the book (chapters 17-25) and transitioning into the historical narratives. It presents the covenantal blessings and curses directly flowing from Israel's obedience or disobedience to the laws and commands previously outlined. This verse, Leviticus 26:4, is part of a longer promise of blessings (Lev 26:3-13) that describe agricultural prosperity, peace, divine presence, victory over enemies, and extraordinary population growth—all contingent upon faithful observance of God's statutes. The original audience, primarily an agrarian society, understood deeply their reliance on natural cycles, especially rainfall, for survival. Therefore, the promise of "rain in its season" was not a minor detail but a foundational guarantee of life and livelihood, asserting God's sovereignty over natural phenomena directly against the polytheistic fertility cults prevalent in Canaan, particularly Baal worship, which claimed dominion over rain and crops. This passage emphasizes a monotheistic worldview where Yahweh alone is the source of all blessing.

Leviticus 26 4 Word analysis

• Then (וְנָתַתִּ֖י - wə·nā·ṯat·tî): Signifies a consequential relationship. It means "and I will give," marking a direct result of the condition set in the preceding verses (Lev 26:3 - walking in statutes). It implies God's immediate and direct action in response to Israel's faithfulness.
• I (אֲנִי - ’ă·nî): Emphatic personal pronoun for the first person singular, referring to Yahweh, the God of Israel. It underscores the personal, active, and sovereign involvement of God Himself in providing the blessing, not a naturalistic occurrence or a blessing from any other deity.
• will give (וְנָתַתִּ֖י - wə·nā·ṯat·tî): The same verb natan (to give). Here it is the perfect consecutive form, expressing a future action consequent upon a past (or prior) action. It denotes divine agency and beneficence; God is the active provider.
• you (לָכֶ֣ם - lā·ḵem): Refers directly to the Israelites, the covenant people, specifying the beneficiaries of God's promised blessing.
• rain (גִּשְׁמֵיכֶם - giš·mə·ḵem): Hebrew geshem, general term for rain. In an agricultural society, rain was the most crucial element for crops and livelihood. The absence of rain (drought) was a sign of curse. Its provision is a prime symbol of divine favor and sustenance.
• in its season (בְּעִתּ֑וֹ - bə·‘it·tō): Hebrew b'itto - "in its time." This specifies the timeliness and appropriateness of the rainfall. Not just any rain, but the rain precisely when it is needed for planting, germination, and maturation of crops (early and latter rains in ancient Israel). This highlights divine wisdom, order, and precise control over natural phenomena. This concept stands in stark contrast to chaotic pagan understandings of weather, which could be capricious.
• the land (הָאָ֖רֶץ - hā·’ā·rets): Refers specifically to the Promised Land, Canaan, which was distinct from surrounding lands in its reliance on rain rather than large rivers for irrigation, making divine provision of rain even more vital and apparent.
• shall yield (וְיִתְּנ֥וּ - wə·yit·tə·nū): Hebrew natan (to give, yield). The land itself, empowered by God's rain, is described as actively participating in the abundance by giving its produce. This personification underscores the vitality infused by God.
• its produce (יְבוּלָֽהּ - yə·ḇū·lāh): Refers to the harvested crops, grain, and vegetables. This directly links the rain to the fruit of agricultural labor, promising abundance and sustenance.
• and the trees of the field (וְעֵץ הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה - wə·‘ēṣ haś·śā·ḏeh): A specific category of plant life, fruit trees grown in fields or orchards, distinguishing them from staple crops like grain. This indicates the comprehensiveness of God's blessing, extending to all forms of agricultural yield.
• shall yield (יִתֵּ֥ן - yit·tên): Same verb as for the land, reinforcing the direct cause-and-effect from God's blessing.
• their fruit (פִּרְיֽוֹ - pir·yō): Refers to the edible output from trees, completing the picture of full agricultural prosperity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then I will give you rain in its season": This phrase directly establishes God's initiative and sovereignty. The emphasis on "I" (Yahweh) is crucial, contrasting with pagan deities who were worshipped for rain. The specificity "in its season" highlights God's perfect timing and order, ensuring optimal conditions for growth, demonstrating meticulous divine care beyond simple provision.
• "the land shall yield its produce and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit": This part elaborates on the beneficial outcomes of the timely rain. It depicts a flourishing, fruitful environment, signifying total agricultural prosperity and abundance. The dual mention of "land" and "trees" covers the full spectrum of Israel's agrarian economy, showing that no aspect of their sustenance would be lacking under divine favor. This outcome is presented as a direct, natural response of creation to God's blessing.

Leviticus 26 4 Bonus section

• This verse underscores God's meticulous care and involvement in the everyday lives of His people. His promise is not just for general rain, but for rain "in its season," showing an intricate knowledge and control over natural cycles essential for a successful harvest. This timing was critical; rain at the wrong time (e.g., harvest season) could be destructive, whereas rain precisely when needed demonstrated divine blessing and wisdom.
• The passage implicitly reinforces the theological concept that the land belonged to God (Lev 25:23) and its fruitfulness was entirely dependent on His blessing, not human effort alone or pagan rituals. This kept the people's focus on their relationship with Yahweh as the ultimate sustainer.
• From a New Testament perspective, while believers are not under the Old Covenant's direct material blessings in the same way (our blessings are often spiritual), this verse still points to God's faithfulness to provide for His children when they walk in obedience, whether spiritually or physically (e.g., Phil 4:19). It also can symbolize the spiritual "rain" of God's Spirit, causing believers to bear the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal 5:22-23) in their lives.

Leviticus 26 4 Commentary

Leviticus 26:4 encapsulates a fundamental principle of the Mosaic Covenant: material prosperity, specifically agrarian abundance, as a tangible manifestation of divine blessing contingent upon national obedience to God's law. This promise of "rain in its season" was immensely significant for an ancient Israelite society that relied entirely on rain-fed agriculture. Unlike Egypt, which benefited from the annual flooding of the Nile, Canaan was geographically dependent on direct rainfall. Therefore, God's promise to control the climate directly demonstrated His ultimate sovereignty over nature and life itself, strongly polemicizing against the fertility gods like Baal, worshipped by surrounding peoples, who were believed to control rain and fertility. God's declaration, "I will give you rain," removes any doubt about the true source of sustenance. The resultant yield from both fields and trees painted a picture of comprehensive and consistent abundance, providing food, security, and wealth. This divine provision wasn't merely a natural event but a purposeful act of covenant fidelity from God.