Leviticus 26 5

Leviticus 26:5 kjv

And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

Leviticus 26:5 nkjv

Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

Leviticus 26:5 niv

Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.

Leviticus 26:5 esv

Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely.

Leviticus 26:5 nlt

Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain. You will eat your fill and live securely in your own land.

Leviticus 26 verses

Leviticus 26 5 Meaning

Leviticus 26:5 describes the promised abundance and security that flow from faithful obedience to God's covenant. It portrays a scene of continuous, overflowing agricultural prosperity where one harvest activity overlaps with the next, indicating no shortage or gap in God's provision. This super-abundance of food leads to complete satisfaction and enables the people to dwell in their land free from fear and insecurity. It underscores God's ability to bless comprehensively, encompassing both material sustenance and peace.

Leviticus 26 5 Context

Leviticus chapter 26 is a pivotal section within the book, forming part of the concluding summary of the Sinaitic covenant. It explicitly details the blessings that Israel will experience for obedience to God's statutes and judgments (verses 3-13), contrasting them sharply with the severe curses for disobedience and rebellion (verses 14-45). This chapter serves as a profound statement of the covenant's implications: a direct, cause-and-effect relationship between Israel's faithfulness to Yahweh and their prosperity and security in the promised land.

Verse 5 is embedded within this blessings section. The "threshing," "vintage," and "sowing time" refer to critical stages of the agricultural year, which was the backbone of ancient Israel's economy and survival. The promises here directly address the most fundamental needs of an agrarian society: food and security. Historically and culturally, fertility of the land and bountiful harvests were often attributed to pagan deities like Baal in surrounding Canaanite cultures. This verse, and the entire chapter, directly refutes such beliefs, powerfully proclaiming Yahweh as the sole source of rain, agricultural abundance, and national safety. The language emphasizes a blessing that surpasses normal agricultural yields, painting a picture of divine hyper-provision.

Leviticus 26 5 Word analysis

• And your threshing (וְהִשִּׂיג לָכֶם דָּשׁ – w'hissîg lākem dāsh)
  • וְהִשִּׂיג (w'hissîg): From the root נשׂג (nasag), meaning "to overtake," "to reach," "to attain." Here in the Hifil form, it means "to cause to reach" or "to enable to overtake." It conveys the idea of one activity extending so far as to begin to impinge upon the next.
  • לָכֶם (lākem): "for you," emphasizing the direct benefit to the people.
  • דָּשׁ (dāsh): "threshing," the process of separating grain from husks after harvest. This usually occurred in late spring or early summer.
  • Significance: Threshing was a laborious, essential activity. This word highlights the agricultural context of the blessing.
• shall reach unto the vintage (וּבָצִיר יַשִּׂיג אֶת-בְּצִירֶיהָ – ûbātsîr yassîg 'et-b’tsireyha)
  • וּבָצִיר (ûbātsîr): "vintage," the grape harvest, which typically takes place in late summer or early autumn.
  • יַשִּׂיג (yassig): The same root as above, meaning "shall overtake" or "shall reach unto."
  • Significance: This phrase describes the threshing season being so extensive due to abundant grain that it stretches right up until the time for grape harvesting. It paints a picture of non-stop, overlapping productivity.
• and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time (וּבָצִיר יַשִּׂיג אֶת-זֶרַע – ûbātsîr yassîg 'et-zera)
  • זֶרַע (zera): "sowing," "seedtime," referring to the planting of winter crops, typically in late autumn.
  • Significance: This completes the cycle of overwhelming abundance, where even the extensive grape harvest carries on until the next major agricultural activity begins. The period for these tasks is lengthened due to the sheer quantity of the harvest, indicating continuous productivity rather than idleness between seasons. This forms a continuous chain of productivity due to an exceptionally large harvest. It is a form of hyperbole, emphasizing the unprecedented fruitfulness.
• and ye shall eat your bread to the full (וַאֲכַלְתֶּם לַחְמְכֶם לָשֹׂבַע – va'akaltem lachmechem lāsōva')
  • וַאֲכַלְתֶּם (
  va'akaltem): "and you shall eat."
• לַחְמְכֶם (lachmechem): "your bread," often used in Hebrew to refer to food in general, not just baked bread.
• לָשֹׂבַע (lāsōva'): "to satisfaction," "to the full," "abundantly." From the root שׂבע (saba'), meaning to be satisfied, have enough, be full.
• Significance: This assures not merely sustenance, but complete satisfaction. It promises an end to hunger, a common anxiety in the ancient world, and signifies prosperity that brings comfort and well-being.

Words-Group Analysis

• "your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time": This is an agricultural hyperbole, a figure of speech emphasizing the extraordinary nature of the blessing. It paints a picture of overwhelming bounty where harvests are so immense that the completion of one harvest operation leads directly into the start of the next, leaving no idle time. This implies that there is a continuous cycle of abundance, preventing periods of scarcity. It refutes the idea of cycles of barrenness and need often associated with pagan agricultural deities and highlights God's continuous, unfailing provision. This also implies consistent, fruitful labor and prosperity, as the produce is too great for swift collection.
• "ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely": This phrase combines physical provision with holistic well-being. "Eating to the full" means complete nutritional satisfaction, negating hunger and food insecurity, which was a constant concern in antiquity. "Dwell safely" moves beyond mere physical security to psychological and communal peace. It signifies stable nationhood, divine protection from enemies, and internal tranquility. The absence of hunger contributes significantly to internal stability and reduces social unrest, creating an environment where true security can flourish. This complete blessing highlights God’s holistic care for His people.

Leviticus 26 5 Bonus section

• The Implicit Work Ethic: While promising abundant harvests, the verse implies continued labor. The crops are so vast that there's no lull between threshing, vintage, and sowing. This suggests that divine blessing doesn't negate human effort but rather amplifies the fruitfulness of that effort, making it highly productive and ceaseless in a good way.
• A Fulfillment of Covenant: This verse represents a tangible aspect of God fulfilling His promise to Abraham, of providing a land and making His descendants numerous and prosperous (Gen 12:7, 13:14-17). The security of dwelling safely is foundational to the inheritance of the land.
• Holistic Blessing: The blessing outlined here is comprehensive, covering basic needs (food), comfort (eating to the full), and overall well-being (dwelling safely). It illustrates that God’s covenant blessings extend to every aspect of human life.
• Polemic Against Idolatry: This passage serves as a direct theological counter-narrative to the Canaanite beliefs in Baal, the storm and fertility god. Unlike unreliable pagan deities whose favor had to be appeased through various rituals, Yahweh, the one true God, promised stable and super-abundant provision as a direct consequence of obedience to His revealed will, emphasizing His sovereignty and benevolence.

Leviticus 26 5 Commentary

Leviticus 26:5 succinctly portrays the comprehensive blessing of God upon an obedient people. The imagery of threshing reaching vintage, and vintage reaching sowing time, speaks volumes about a land bursting with produce—not merely enough, but so much that agricultural seasons overlap. This continuous, overflowing abundance eliminates scarcity and ensures food security, leading directly to the ability "to eat your bread to the full." Such satisfaction in turn fosters peace and stability, allowing the people to "dwell in your land safely." This verse is a testament to God's generous character, His power over nature, and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. It implicitly challenges reliance on other gods for fertility and prosperity, asserting Yahweh as the sole and supreme provider of true, lasting well-being, both materially and relationally. It’s not just about a full stomach, but a full life—a life of abundance and peace established on a foundation of trust and obedience to God. This principle can be practically applied: valuing divine commands as pathways to a blessed and secure life, understanding that true abundance and safety come from God's hand, not solely from human effort or external circumstances.