Leviticus 26:8 kjv
And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
Leviticus 26:8 nkjv
Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.
Leviticus 26:8 niv
Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
Leviticus 26:8 esv
Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
Leviticus 26:8 nlt
Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath your sword.
Leviticus 26 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 32:30 | How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight...except their Rock had sold them... | Parallel numeric promise, explicitly stating divine source of victory. |
| Josh 23:10 | One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you... | More extreme ratio of divine empowerment in battle, confirms God fights for His people. |
| Judg 7:7 | With the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand. | Gideon's victory by divine strategy, despite a tiny army, emphasizing God's role. |
| 1 Sam 14:6 | There is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. | Jonathan's conviction affirming God's power irrespective of human numbers. |
| 1 Sam 17:45-47 | David said...the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands. | David and Goliath, highlighting God's victory over overwhelming odds, not human strength. |
| 2 Chr 14:11 | LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power... | King Asa's prayer for divine help against a million-man army, acknowledging God's ability. |
| Psa 3:6 | I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about. | Trust in God for protection against numerically superior enemies. |
| Psa 44:5-6 | Through thee will we push down our enemies...For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. | Victory explicitly attributed to God, not human strength or weaponry. |
| Psa 18:29 | For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. | Divine empowerment for martial feats and overcoming obstacles. |
| Exod 14:14 | The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. | Fundamental principle of God's direct intervention in battle for His people. |
| Exod 23:27 | I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people... | God sending terror and panic among enemies, enabling Israel's victory. |
| Deut 28:7 | The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face... | General blessing of military success as a reward for covenant obedience. |
| Lev 26:7 | And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. | Immediate preceding verse, establishing the general promise before this verse intensifies it numerically. |
| Rom 8:31 | If God be for us, who can be against us? | New Testament affirmation of divine backing rendering all opposition futile. |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. | Principle of divine empowerment, applicable to all aspects including spiritual challenges. |
| Eph 6:10-18 | ...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might... | Instruction for spiritual battle, emphasizing reliance on God's strength against spiritual foes. |
| Rev 19:11-21 | And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse... | Prophetic vision of Christ's ultimate and decisive victory over all enemies at His return. |
| Zech 12:8 | In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them...shall be as David. | Future divine protection and empowerment of even the weakest among God's people. |
| Isa 30:17 | One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee... | (Contrast) Illustrates the same scale of exponential defeat, showing God's judgment on disobedient Israel. |
| Isa 41:11-12 | Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed... they that contended with thee shall be as nothing. | Divine promise to shame and bring to nothing those who oppose His people. |
| 2 Chr 20:15 | ...for the battle is not yours, but God's. | Explicit declaration of divine ownership and agency in battles, emphasizing reliance on God. |
| Psa 91:7 | A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. | God's protective promise where enemies fall in large numbers around the faithful. |
Leviticus 26 verses
Leviticus 26 8 Meaning
Leviticus 26:8 conveys a divine promise of supernatural military success for the Israelites, far exceeding their numerical strength. It states that a small group of five faithful Israelites will be able to pursue and overcome one hundred enemies, and a larger group of one hundred will be able to route ten thousand, causing their adversaries to fall decisively in battle. This promise is not based on human might but on God's active presence and empowerment as a reward for their obedience to His covenant.
Leviticus 26 8 Context
Leviticus 26 falls within the section of the book known as the Holiness Code (chapters 17-27), emphasizing Israel's calling to be a holy people set apart by God. Chapter 26 specifically outlines the blessings promised for obedience to God's covenant and the curses for disobedience. This verse is part of a list of blessings (Lev 26:3-13), which includes provision, peace, security, and divine presence. The immediate context of Leviticus 26:8 follows general promises of victory in Lev 26:7 and precedes the promise of divine indwelling (Lev 26:11-12). Historically and culturally, ancient Near Eastern treaties between a suzerain (a dominant ruler) and a vassal (a subordinate ruler) commonly included detailed stipulations for blessings and curses. This chapter functions similarly, with YHWH as the divine suzerain, promising extraordinary victory as part of His covenant blessings for obedient Israel. This implicitly stands in polemic opposition to pagan beliefs where success in war depended on placating many gods, employing numerous soldiers, or relying solely on human strength. Instead, YHWH demonstrates that divine power alone, independent of human military might, ensures disproportionate victory.
Leviticus 26 8 Word analysis
- And five (חֲמִשָּׁה, ḥamishshah) of you: Signifies an exceedingly small number. The emphasis is on the meager human force, setting up the incredible disproportion of the victory to follow.
- shall chase (יִרְדְּפוּ, yird'phu): From the root radaph, meaning to pursue, chase, or persecute. Here it indicates an active, aggressive pursuit, suggesting not just routing but also following up to secure a decisive victory.
- an hundred (מֵאָה, me'ah): A significantly larger number compared to five, highlighting the effectiveness of the small Israelite force due to divine backing.
- and an hundred (מֵאָה, me'ah) of you: This shows an increased, though still comparatively small, group of Israelites, illustrating the scalable nature of God's blessing.
- shall put ten thousand (רְבָבָה, rᵉvabah) to flight: Rᵉvabah refers to ten thousand, a massive, almost overwhelming number. The phrase 'put to flight' (from the Hebrew root naphal, here in a causative sense, to make fall) suggests causing them to flee in disarray, stumble, and fall, resulting in massive defeat.
- and your enemies (אֹיְבֵיכֶם, 'oyveikhem): Refers to any hostile force threatening Israel, signifying those who stand in opposition to God’s people and His purposes.
- shall fall (יִפְּלוּ, yip’pelu): From the root naphal, meaning to fall, lie prostrate, or perish. Here it strongly implies falling in battle, being defeated, or dying, thus signifying a comprehensive rout.
- before you: Indicates their direct confrontation and the decisive, open nature of the defeat in the presence of the Israelites.
- by the sword (חֶרֶב, ḥerev): Specifies the instrument of warfare, indicating physical, military combat and direct destruction of the enemy, not merely dispersal.
- "five of you shall chase an hundred": This initial ratio (1:20) dramatically introduces the divine amplification of Israel's military might, emphasizing that their victory comes from God, not superior numbers. It establishes an initial "small against many" scenario, demonstrating supernatural effectiveness.
- "and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight": This further escalation of the ratio (1:100) presents an even more staggering level of victory. It demonstrates exponential empowerment; as the faithful number of Israelites increases slightly, their power against the enemy scales up exponentially, showing the immense effectiveness God grants. This numerical progression is understood not as human military prowess but as a divine, supernatural endowment for covenant obedience, causing overwhelming enemy forces to collapse and flee in panic and defeat.
- "and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword": This phrase functions as a definitive statement of the outcome. It concludes the promise of victory, confirming total defeat for the adversaries through physical, military means, directly at the hands of empowered Israelites. It reinforces the idea of decisive and absolute conquest over all who oppose God’s chosen people when they walk in obedience.
Leviticus 26 8 Bonus section
This verse offers a powerful theological concept applicable beyond literal military conquest. For believers, it underscores that God can accomplish immense tasks through humble means. When we are obedient to His word, He amplifies our efforts far beyond our natural capabilities. This principle can apply to spiritual battles against temptation, cultural strongholds, or evangelistic endeavors where a small, faithful witness can have disproportionate impact. The exponential ratios illustrate God's boundless power to magnify the obedience of His people, transforming weakness into unstoppable might for His glory. It also reminds us that opposition, however vast, pales in comparison to the omnipotence of God fighting on behalf of His covenant partners, offering comfort and courage to those facing overwhelming challenges in faithfulness.
Leviticus 26 8 Commentary
Leviticus 26:8 is a profound covenantal promise, assuring Israel of supernatural military triumph as a direct consequence of their faithful obedience to God. The astounding numerical disproportion, where a handful routs hundreds and hundreds defeat tens of thousands, serves as powerful hyperbole emphasizing that the victories would not be attributable to Israel's strength or military might, but entirely to YHWH's miraculous intervention. It reinforces the core theological principle that "the battle is the Lord's" (1 Sam 17:47), fostering complete reliance on divine power rather than human capability. This verse provides assurance that when Israel lived in right relationship with God, their defense was supernaturally guaranteed, and their adversaries would be overwhelmed by divine terror and ultimately defeated by the physical instrument of the sword. It speaks to the comprehensive nature of God's blessings—not just prosperity in land, but also protection from all enemies.