Leviticus 26 42

Leviticus 26:42 kjv

Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.

Leviticus 26:42 nkjv

then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember; I will remember the land.

Leviticus 26:42 niv

I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

Leviticus 26:42 esv

then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

Leviticus 26:42 nlt

Then I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

Leviticus 26 verses

Leviticus 26 42 Meaning

God declares His immutable faithfulness, promising that even after judging His people for their unfaithfulness and allowing them to be exiled, He will remember and actively fulfill His unconditional covenants made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, leading to the ultimate restoration of His people to their promised land. This divine remembrance is not passive recall but an active commitment to uphold His promises based on His unchanging character and word.

Leviticus 26 42 Context

Leviticus 26 outlines the blessings for obedience and severe curses for disobedience under the Sinai Covenant. It details what will befall Israel if they disregard God’s laws, including pestilence, famine, defeat by enemies, and ultimately, exile from the land and desolation of their sanctuaries. Verses 40-45 pivot to God’s merciful promise of restoration, but contingent upon Israel’s humility, confession of sin, and acceptance of their punishment. Within this framework, verse 42 is the pivotal declaration of God's steadfast, unyielding commitment to the foundational, unconditional covenants made with the patriarchs. Even after Israel has utterly failed under the conditional Mosaic Covenant and suffered its full consequences, God's earlier, enduring promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (and specifically regarding the land) remain inviolable and will be brought to fruition. This provides a deep layer of hope that God's plan for Israel is ultimately secure, rooted not in their perfect performance, but in His character.

Leviticus 26 42 Word analysis

• Then (אָז - az): This adverb establishes a chronological and conditional link. It refers to the preceding verses (Lev 26:40-41), which describe Israel's repentance, humiliation, and confession of sin while in exile. It signifies that God's active "remembering" will occur subsequent to their genuine turning back to Him.
• I will remember (וְזָכַרְתִּי - v'zakarti, from זָכַר - zakhar): This is more than a passive intellectual recollection. In the biblical sense, for God to "remember" means He actively brings His attention and power to bear on a matter to fulfill a previous commitment or to intervene on behalf of someone. It implies active engagement, intervention, and taking concrete action. For instance, God remembered Noah and delivered him (Gen 8:1), and He remembered Rachel and opened her womb (Gen 30:22). Here, it signifies God's powerful commitment to act upon His covenant promises despite Israel's unworthiness.
• My covenant (בְּרִיתִי - b'rîtî, from בְּרִית - b'rith): A formal, binding agreement established by God. Unlike typical human covenants, these patriarchal covenants (Abrahamic, Isaaconian, Jacobic) were primarily unilateral or unconditional, initiated by God based on His promise and oath. This means God binds Himself, regardless of human merit, to fulfill His word. This divine self-obligation forms the bedrock of Israel's hope, transcending their failure under the conditional Mosaic covenant described in the chapter.
• with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham: The inverted order of the patriarchs (Jacob-Isaac-Abraham) is significant. Typically, Abraham is named first as the father of faith. This unique ordering might emphasize the immediate connection to the current generation (descendants of Jacob), drawing them back through the lineage to the ultimate, foundational promise given to Abraham. It powerfully underscores the unbroken, successive reaffirmation of one continuous covenant across generations. It asserts that the covenant applies personally and truly to each generation, rooting their future hope in ancient, immutable promises. This repetition of "My covenant with" for each patriarch highlights the direct and personal nature of God's commitment to each of them individually and collectively through their lineage.
• and I will remember the land (וְהָאָרֶץ אֶזְכֹּר - v'ha'aretz ezkor): The land of Canaan is a central, tangible element of the patriarchal covenant promises (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18, 17:8). God remembering "the land" signifies His active intent to fulfill this territorial aspect of the covenant. After describing the desolate state of the land due to Israel's exile (Lev 26:32-35), this promise of remembering the land means an active restoration of His people to their inherited dwelling, reversing the curse of exile and desolation. The land is not merely geography but a place of God's blessing, presence, and where His people are to serve Him.

Word-group analysis

• "Then I will remember... and I will remember": The repetition of God's declaration "I will remember" acts as a strong literary device, amplifying the certainty and immutability of God's promise. It functions as a divine double assurance. Firstly, He will remember His people through their foundational covenant relationship with the patriarchs. Secondly, He will remember the physical inheritance, the land, signifying the completeness of their restoration—not just spiritual but territorial. This parallelism underscores God's holistic commitment to His people and their place.
• "My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham": This phrase group meticulously emphasizes the unbroken continuity and singularity of the patriarchal covenant. Despite being affirmed to three distinct individuals across generations, it remains one singular divine oath and commitment. This demonstrates God's long-term, steadfast purpose that spans centuries, affirming that His character is trustworthy and His plans will prevail despite human frailty and failure. This commitment forms the unbreakable backbone of Israel's enduring existence and ultimate hope.

Leviticus 26 42 Bonus section

Theologically, this verse establishes a critical distinction between the conditional Mosaic Covenant (under which Israel experienced the curses) and the unconditional patriarchal covenants (which God "remembers" as the basis for restoration). While Israel's suffering is due to breaking the Mosaic Covenant, their ultimate hope rests on God's inviolable promises made to the fathers. This foreshadows the concept of God's gifts and calling being irrevocable (Rom 11:29). This verse also lays a crucial theological groundwork for all subsequent prophecies of Israel's national restoration from exile found in later prophetic books like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. Their return is not primarily based on their righteousness, but on God's own character and fidelity to His ancient word. This divine initiative underscores that salvation and restoration ultimately flow from God's gracious will, rather than human merit.

Leviticus 26 42 Commentary

Leviticus 26:42 is a profound assurance within a chapter dominated by conditional curses. After detailing the devastating consequences of Israel's potential disobedience, including exile and desolation, God presents a path to redemption centered on His unchanging character. His promise to "remember" is a robust theological statement; it means God will actively intervene and faithfully perform the unbreakable covenant He swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The backward ordering of the patriarchs (Jacob, Isaac, Abraham) powerfully anchors the contemporary generation to these ancient, unilateral promises, demonstrating that God's commitment transcends time and human performance. God's "remembrance" of the "land" confirms that His restoration plans are concrete and includes re-establishment in their divinely promised inheritance, reversing the desolation described earlier in the chapter. This verse encapsulates the balance of God’s justice and His enduring mercy, showing that even amidst profound judgment, His foundational, gracious promises provide an unwavering hope for future restoration, contingent upon humility and confession. This truth can be applied in various contexts: for those experiencing spiritual barrenness, it is an assurance that God's grace endures beyond their failings; for communities struggling with their faith journey, it emphasizes that God remains faithful even when they falter, provided there is a turning back to Him; and it grounds the future hope of Israel's physical return and spiritual renewal.