and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Leviticus 18:25
What does Leviticus 18:25 mean?
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Leviticus 18:25
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This verse uses powerful personification, portraying the land itself as disgusted by sin, like a stomach violently rejecting something toxic. It’s a stark reminder that God sees sin not just as a violation of His laws, but as a defilement that corrupts everything it touches, even the very ground we inhabit.
and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage follows a detailed list of forbidden sexual practices and idolatry that were common among the surrounding nations. God is explaining that the land of Canaan itself is becoming defiled by these sins. As a consequence, He will punish the inhabitants for their corrupt actions, causing the land to reject them as if they were a disease.
Have you ever felt like the very ground beneath your feet was groaning under the weight of human sin? Leviticus paints a startling picture of this.
In this verse, God uses powerful imagery to show the consequence of the Canaanites' rampant sin. The land, which God had given them, became "defiled" by their wicked actions. This wasn't just a passive state; the land itself is described as "vomiting out" its inhabitants.
This is a profound personification, showing that creation itself bears witness to God's holiness and His judgment against sin. Just as a body rejects what is poisonous, the land, under God's direction, rejects those who have corrupted it. Their sin was so severe that it made them unfit to inhabit the very place God had prepared.
The word 'vomited' is incredibly strong. What does this visceral language tell us about God's feelings towards sin?
The imagery of the land 'vomiting out' its inhabitants is not merely a literary device; it's meant to convey the intense revulsion and judgment of God against sin. This wasn't a mild disapproval; it was a complete rejection.
This purging was a necessary act of punishment for the "iniquity" that had become so entrenched. God's holiness cannot tolerate sin, and when people persistently engage in wickedness, they reach a point where they are utterly rejected by Him and, in this case, by the very land that sustained them. It underscores that sin has tangible, devastating consequences.
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avon · Hebrew Noun
A word referring to moral crookedness, guilt, or the consequences of willful wrongdoing. It signifies a deviation from the standard of God's law and often implies an inherent depravity that demands judgment.
This passage echoes the judgment on the land, stating that in Babylon 'the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on earth is found,' directly linking the land's defilement to the shedding of innocent blood, much like the inhabitants of the land in Leviticus are vomited out due to their sins.
Jeremiah 9:19This verse uses a similar image of the land being destroyed or 'vomited out' because of the people's sin and corruption, highlighting that the land itself suffers and reacts to the moral decay of its inhabitants.
Genesis 3:17After Adam and Eve's sin, the ground itself was cursed and became resistant to human effort, showing a precedent where the land is affected and 'punished' due to human iniquity.
Deuteronomy 11:17This passage warns that if Israel disobeys God, He will withhold the rain, causing the land to become barren and 'perish quickly,' illustrating how the fertility and well-being of the land are directly tied to the obedience of its people.
gillLeviticus 18:25: "And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants."
And the land is defiled,.... The inhabitants of it, with the immoralities and idolatries before mentioned: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it; or punish the inhabitants that are on it for their sins: and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants; as a stomach loaded with corrupt and bad food it has taken in, nauseates it, and cannot b…
pooleLeviticus 18:25: "And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants."
I do visit; I am now visiting, or about to visit, i. e. to punish. See Isaiah 26:21 . The land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants, as no less burdens to the earth than corrupted food is to the stomach. See Jeremiah 9:19 Micah 2:10 .
This verse uses powerful personification, portraying the land itself as disgusted by sin, like a stomach violently rejecting something toxic. It’s a stark reminder that God sees sin not just as a violation of His laws, but as a defilement that corrupts everything it touches, even the very ground we inhabit.
This passage follows a detailed list of forbidden sexual practices and idolatry that were common among the surrounding nations. God is explaining that the land of Canaan itself is becoming defiled by these sins. As a consequence, He will punish the inhabitants for their corrupt actions, causing the land to reject them as if they were a disease.
This passage follows a detailed list of forbidden sexual practices and idolatry that were common among the surrounding nations. God is explaining that the land of Canaan itself is becoming defiled by these sins. As a consequence, He will punish the inhabitants for their corrupt actions, causing the land to reject them as if they were a disease.
"and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants." — This verse uses powerful personification, portraying the land itself as disgusted by sin, like a stomach violently rejecting something toxic. It’s a stark reminder that God sees sin not just as a vio…
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Last reviewed October 2026