Leviticus 26 45

Leviticus 26:45 kjv

But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 26:45 nkjv

But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.' "

Leviticus 26:45 niv

But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the LORD.'?"

Leviticus 26:45 esv

But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD."

Leviticus 26:45 nlt

For their sakes I will remember my ancient covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of all the nations, that I might be their God. I am the LORD."

Leviticus 26 verses

Leviticus 26 45 Meaning

Leviticus 26:45 proclaims God's unfailing commitment to His covenant people, Israel. Even when they experience the severe consequences of their disobedience, leading to exile and dispersion, God promises He will not utterly abandon or destroy them. His forbearance and eventual restoration are guaranteed not by their merits or future obedience, but by His immutable covenant sworn to their ancestors—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and demonstrated definitively by their liberation from Egypt, an act observed by all nations, proving His ultimate purpose to be their God. The divine declaration "I am the LORD" underscores His absolute sovereignty and fidelity to His own character and word.

Leviticus 26 45 Context

Leviticus chapter 26 is a pivotal section within the book, serving as a comprehensive summary of the blessings for covenant obedience and the severe curses for disobedience. It is a climactic part of the "Holiness Code" (Lev 17-27), reinforcing the foundational principles of the covenant made at Sinai. The chapter begins with God's blessings—bountiful harvest, peace, multiplication, and His presence (v. 3-13). It then meticulously outlines escalating curses for disobedience, including sickness, defeat by enemies, famine, wild beasts, desolation of the land, and ultimate exile to foreign lands (v. 14-39). The land would lie desolate and enjoy its Sabbath years, a consequence of Israel's neglect (v. 34-35). However, immediately after this dire prediction of dispersion and despair, the tone shifts in verses 40-45. These verses introduce a ray of hope: if the people confess their iniquity and humble themselves, God promises He will remember His covenant with their ancestors and will not utterly destroy them. Leviticus 26:45 encapsulates this divine promise of unwavering covenant loyalty despite Israel's conditional failures, highlighting God's faithfulness to an earlier, unconditional promise. Historically, this chapter prepared Israel, standing on the cusp of entering Canaan, for the grave realities of covenant life with Yahweh, foreseeing their future failures and God's eventual redemptive response.

Leviticus 26 45 Word analysis

• But I will (וְזָכַרְתִּי – vəzakharti, lit. "And I will remember"): The "But I" (anī) places emphasis on God Himself as the active agent. "Will remember" is the Hebrew verb zakhar, which is far more than passive recollection. In a covenantal context, zakhar means to actively call to mind with the intent to fulfill a promise, to act decisively on a past agreement. It signifies God's divine intervention motivated by His commitment.
• for their sakes (לָהֶם – lahem): This prepositional phrase indicates the beneficiaries of God's action. Despite their sin and rejection of the Mosaic covenant's stipulations, God acts mercifully for their sakes, pointing to His steadfast love rather than their merit.
• remember the covenant (זָכַרְתִּי אֶת־בְּרִית – zakharti et-berît): Berît refers to a solemn, binding agreement or treaty, often sworn with an oath and accompanied by promises, responsibilities, and consequences. Here, the emphasis is on God's fidelity to His sworn commitment.
• of their ancestors (רִאשֹׁנִים – riʾshōnīm, lit. "first ones/formers"): This points directly to the patriarchal covenants made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Unlike the Mosaic Covenant which was conditional on Israel's obedience, the Abrahamic Covenant was largely unconditional, a promise based on God's initiative and grace (Gen 12, 15, 17, 26, 28). This signifies that God's ultimate fidelity rests on this earlier, unconditional pledge, which underlies the hope for future restoration even in discipline.
• whom I brought out of the land of Egypt (אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם – asher hôṣēʾtî ʾôtām mēʾereṣ Miṣrayim): The Exodus is the foundational redemptive act of Israel's history. It is God's powerful demonstration of His covenant keeping, proving His ability and willingness to deliver and sustain His people. It served as the basis of their national identity and relationship with Him.
• in the sight of the nations (לְעֵינֵי הַגּוֹיִם – ləʿēynê hagoyim, lit. "to the eyes of the nations"): This highlights the public and demonstrable nature of the Exodus. God's mighty acts were not secret; they were performed so that other nations would witness His power, His justice, and His faithfulness to His chosen people. It implies that God's honor and reputation are tied to His keeping His covenant promises, not just for Israel, but for a broader, global witness.
• to be their God (לִהְיוֹת לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים – lihyōt lāhem lēʾlōhīm): This phrase succinctly expresses the core purpose of God's covenantal actions: to establish an exclusive, personal, and reciprocal relationship with Israel. He liberated them and formed a covenant with them for the express purpose of being their God, and for them to be His people.
• I am the LORD (אֲנִי יְהוָה – ʾanî YHWH): This is a powerful, recurring divine self-attestation in Leviticus and throughout the Pentateuch. YHWH (Yahweh) is God's personal covenant name, revealing His unchanging, self-existent, and faithful nature. It functions as a solemn guarantee, underscoring God's absolute authority, unwavering integrity, and the certainty of His spoken word. It signifies that He who established the covenant is able and faithful to fulfill it.

Leviticus 26 45 Bonus section

• The enduring nature of God's covenant with Abraham provides a foundational theological truth: while the Mosaic Covenant (Law) contained conditional blessings and curses tied to Israel's obedience, the Abrahamic Covenant was ultimately unconditional and irreversible, guaranteeing their perpetual existence as a people and their future restoration to the land. Leviticus 26:45 confirms that the Abrahamic promise underlies even the conditional Mosaic Covenant.
• This verse anticipates future prophecies of restoration and new covenants found in prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Ezekiel 16:60, for example, directly echoes the idea of God remembering "the covenant of your youth" despite Israel's harlotry, promising an everlasting covenant. Jeremiah 31:31-34 also promises a "new covenant" not like the broken one, but where God would write His law on their hearts, fulfilling the deeper purpose of "to be their God."
• In Christian theology, the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ is often seen as the ultimate fulfillment of these ancient promises, embodying the perfect obedience that Israel could not maintain and securing the spiritual restoration promised. All who are in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, become recipients of the blessings of Abraham.
• The phrase "in the sight of the nations" underscores God's missional purpose from the beginning. Israel's discipline and eventual restoration would again demonstrate God's power and faithfulness to the surrounding world (Eze 36:23).
• God's remembrance of the covenant is a profound theological concept—it is not merely about recollection, but about an active, faithful intention to perform. It signifies His ongoing and decisive intervention in the affairs of His people according to His timeless plan.

Leviticus 26 45 Commentary

Leviticus 26:45 stands as a profound testament to God's enduring grace and covenant faithfulness, especially within the context of divine judgment. Following an exhaustive list of curses for disobedience, this verse offers a remarkable pivot, promising that even in their lowest state of exile and degradation, God will not completely abandon His people. This promise is not contingent on Israel's future repentance or renewed merit, but rooted entirely in God's remembrance of an older, unconditional covenant made with their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The word "remember" (zakhar) in this context denotes an active, decisive movement towards fulfilling His pledged word, rather than mere recollection.

The Exodus, described as occurring "in the sight of the nations," is highlighted as the supreme historical demonstration of God's power and His commitment "to be their God." This act set a precedent for God's redemptive intervention, establishing His reputation not only among Israel but also among the Gentiles. Thus, God's faithfulness to Israel becomes a public declaration of His divine character to the world. The closing declaration, "I am the LORD" (Ani YHWH), functions as the ultimate seal of assurance, invoking the very nature of God—His immutable sovereignty, His covenantal fidelity, and His self-sustaining existence—as the guarantee that His promises will be fulfilled. This verse provides an anchor of hope for Israel, assuring them that despite severe discipline, God's ultimate plan for them—their redemption and restoration—will prevail because His commitment transcends their failures and is grounded in His unchanging nature and unconditional promises to their forefathers. It teaches that divine judgment, however severe, is ultimately purgative and redemptive, driven by a faithful God who remembers His oath.