Leviticus 26 9

Leviticus 26:9 kjv

For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.

Leviticus 26:9 nkjv

'For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you.

Leviticus 26:9 niv

"?'I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.

Leviticus 26:9 esv

I will turn to you and make you fruitful and multiply you and will confirm my covenant with you.

Leviticus 26:9 nlt

"I will look favorably upon you, making you fertile and multiplying your people. And I will fulfill my covenant with you.

Leviticus 26 verses

Leviticus 26 9 Meaning

Leviticus 26:9 details a promise from God to His obedient people, Israel. It states that God will show them favorable attention and active care ("have respect unto you"), which will result in abundant population growth and procreation ("make you fruitful, and multiply you"). Crucially, these blessings are intrinsically linked to His steadfast commitment to His existing covenant with them ("establish my covenant with you"), thereby reaffirming His faithfulness and the lasting nature of their relationship.

Leviticus 26 9 Context

Leviticus 26 falls within a section of the book dedicated to God's covenant with Israel, particularly focusing on blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. It immediately follows the Holiness Code (Leviticus 17-25), which outlines laws pertaining to their conduct and worship. Chapter 26, known as the "blessing and curse" chapter, is essentially an exposition of the implications of Israel's covenant relationship with YHWH.

Verse 9 is situated firmly within the blessings section (Lev 26:3-13). If the Israelites diligently observe God's statutes and commandments, God promises a reciprocal relationship where He actively intervenes for their well-being. This verse directly links God's favorable regard to the tangible outcomes of agricultural abundance, peace, and national prosperity outlined in the preceding verses. Historically and culturally, a growing population and successful progeny were primary indicators of divine blessing and a flourishing society in the ancient Near East, contrasting sharply with the precariousness of life and fertility in other contemporary cultures often dependent on pagan deities for such provisions. Implicitly, it asserts YHWH, not the Canaanite fertility god Baal, as the true source of fruitfulness and life.

Leviticus 26 9 Word analysis

• For I will have respect unto you (וּפָנִיתִי אֲלֵיכֶם, uphaniytîy 'alêkhem):
  • uphaniytîy: From the root פנה (panah), meaning "to turn, to face, to turn towards." In the Hiphil stem, it signifies causative action: God "causing His face to turn toward" Israel.
  • Significance: This is not merely passive observation but denotes active, favorable attention and direct engagement. It conveys divine approval, personal regard, and a turning of His face toward them for blessing. It is the opposite of hiding His face, which signals displeasure. This phrase underscores God's deep, personal investment in their well-being, indicating His intention to act on their behalf.
• and make you fruitful (וְהִפְרֵיתִי אֶתְכֶם, w'hiphrêtiy 'etkhem):
  • w'hiphrêtiy: From the root פרה (parah), "to be fruitful, to bear fruit, to be productive." The Hiphil conjugation indicates "cause to be fruitful."
  • Significance: This speaks directly to fertility and offspring, ensuring the growth of families and clans. It reiterates the primordial blessing given at creation (Gen 1:28) and the core promise to the patriarchs, particularly Abraham, emphasizing God's direct agency in their reproductive success and the flourishing of their lineage.
• and multiply you (וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶתְכֶם, w'hirbeytiy 'etkhem):
  • w'hirbeytiy: From the root רבה (rabah), "to become numerous, great, to increase." The Hiphil again indicates "cause to multiply, make numerous."
  • Significance: This complements "fruitful," emphasizing exponential growth and a swelling in national population. Together, "fruitful" and "multiply" guarantee not only continued births but also overall demographic expansion, essential for fulfilling the promise of a vast nation inheriting the land.
• and establish my covenant with you (וַהֲקִימֹתִי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי אִתְּכֶם, wahaqiymoti 'et-berîtîy 'itkhem):
  • wahaqiymoti: From the root קום (qum), "to rise, to stand, to stand up." The Hiphil implies "to establish, confirm, uphold, cause to stand firm, bring to fulfillment."
  • berîtîy: "My covenant." This refers to the sacred agreement YHWH initiated with Israel, stemming from the Abrahamic covenant and ratified at Sinai. It is the bedrock of their identity and relationship with God.
  • Significance: This is the foundational promise underpinning all others in the verse. It implies that God will not abandon His commitments but will actively ensure the continuance, permanence, and full realization of His covenant promises to them. All other blessings mentioned (favor, fruitfulness, multiplication) flow directly from and are secured by God's faithfulness to this established agreement.

• "I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you": This grouping shows a progression from God's personal, favorable disposition to the concrete demographic results of that favor. It's a divine pledge of direct involvement, leading to their thriving as a nation. It ties divine favor directly to the very expansion of Israel.
• "and establish my covenant with you": This phrase functions as the anchor. The prior blessings are not isolated acts of grace but are intrinsically tied to God's enduring and reliable covenant. This underscores God's steadfast loyalty and assurance that He will indeed fulfill every promise contained within the covenant if Israel walks in His ways. It transforms blessings into covenantal guarantees.

Leviticus 26 9 Bonus section

• The pairing of "fruitful" (פָרָה, parah) and "multiply" (רָבָה, rabah) is a highly significant motif in biblical theology, appearing first at creation and repeatedly throughout the patriarchal narratives. Its presence here in Leviticus underscores that the Abrahamic promises are contingent on Israel's continued obedience under the Mosaic Covenant, providing both physical growth and a perpetual national identity rooted in God's promises.
• The Hebrew word for "establish" (קוּם, qum) in its Hiphil form (haqiymoti) denotes active upholding and bringing to completion. It implies divine power and certainty; God doesn't just promise a covenant, He ensures it stands firm and fulfills its purpose, regardless of obstacles, provided His people uphold their end.
• This verse subtly highlights a polemic against the surrounding Canaanite fertility cults, which promised fruitfulness from deities like Baal and Asherah. Leviticus 26:9 asserts that it is YHWH alone, the covenant God of Israel, who guarantees true fruitfulness, multiplication, and the secure future of His people, thereby demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over life and prosperity.
• For New Testament believers, while physical multiplication is still a blessing, the concepts of "fruitfulness" (e.g., fruit of the Spirit, spiritual children, good works) and the "establishing" of a New Covenant in Christ take on deeper, spiritual significance (Gal 5:22-23; John 15:5; Heb 8:6-13). God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant is central to His ongoing work in believers today.

Leviticus 26 9 Commentary

Leviticus 26:9 is a concise yet profound expression of God's covenant blessings for an obedient Israel. It commences with God's active, personal attention—His "face turned toward" His people—which is the prerequisite for all subsequent favor. From this divine regard flows the tangible, vital blessings of fruitfulness and multiplication, ensuring the continued growth and numerical strength of the nation, directly fulfilling His ancient promises to Abraham. The pivotal element, however, is the "establishment" of His covenant. This highlights God's unyielding faithfulness; the blessings are not random acts but guaranteed outcomes rooted in His sworn, eternal commitment to His people. It reassures Israel that His covenant promises are unbreakable, dependable, and would stand firm through the generations as long as they remained loyal. This verse serves as a reminder that God's prosperity for His people is deeply connected to their relationship with Him and His sovereign, unchanging word.