“But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Leviticus 26:14
What does Leviticus 26:14 mean?
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Leviticus 26:14
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While the verse lists commandments, the key is that God introduces punishments not just for breaking a single rule, but for a profound lack of "listening" to Him and a failure to embrace all His instructions. This isn't about an accidental slip-up; it's about a deep-seated refusal to truly hear and follow God's way.
“But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments,
English Standard Version (ESV)
After God laid out abundant blessings for obedience, this passage shifts dramatically to outline the severe consequences of disobedience. It begins by warning that if the Israelites refuse to listen and follow His commands, they will face a series of devastating punishments, starting with terror and disease, followed by military defeat and hardship. This sets the stage for a cascade of escalating judgments that will ultimately lead to their scattering among the nations if they persist in turning away from Him.
After God paints a beautiful picture of blessing for obedience, He pivots to what happens when His people say 'no.' This isn't a suggestion; it's a conditional covenant.
In Leviticus 26, God lays out the terms of His covenant with Israel. The first half (verses 1-13) is filled with incredible promises of blessing for faithfulness. But then, the tone shifts dramatically in verse 14. This 'but if' signals a critical turning point. God isn't just hoping for obedience; He's established a clear covenant with built-in consequences.
This isn't about God being moody or capricious. It's about the profound reality that His relationship with His people is built on faithfulness. When Israel chose not to 'hearken' (listen and obey) and not to 'do all these commandments,' they weren't just breaking a rule; they were actively dismantling the very foundation of the blessings God had promised.
The commentaries highlight that this 'if' isn't a small thing. It's the hinge on which their entire future swings. Disobedience isn't just a mistake; it's a rejection of the covenant itself, and God's response is direct and proportionate.
What does it truly mean to refuse to 'hearken' and 'do' God's commands? The consequences are far more than just punishment; they are the unraveling of everything God established.
The phrase 'will not hearken' and 'will not do' is powerful. It signifies a deliberate turning away from God's voice and His ways. The commentaries stress that this isn't merely about forgetting or accidentally stumbling; it's a conscious rejection.
When Israel refused to 'hearken,' they essentially said 'no' to God's wisdom and leadership. When they refused to 'do all these commandments,' they rejected the very structure God provided for their flourishing and for their witness to the world.
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The results, as detailed in the verses that follow, are the systematic dismantling of the blessings promised earlier. Their enemies will devour their crops, they will be defeated, and terror will become their constant companion. It's the reversal of everything God intended for them – a direct consequence of their refusal to align with His will.
Understand the original words
mitsvah · Hebrew Noun
Authoritative instructions or revealed laws from God that define the expected conduct and life of His people, reflecting His holiness.
This passage parallels Leviticus 26 by detailing the curses that will follow disobedience, directly outlining the consequences of not listening to God's commands.
Jeremiah 7:23-26The prophet Jeremiah recounts Israel's history of disobedience, showing how they refused to listen to God's commands, leading to the severe judgments God warned of in Leviticus.
Galatians 3:10Paul quotes from Deuteronomy to emphasize that the law brings a curse on all who do not continue to obey everything written in it, underscoring the seriousness of not doing all God's commandments as stated in Leviticus 26:14.
1 Samuel 15:22This verse highlights that obedience is more valuable to God than sacrifice, echoing the principle in Leviticus 26:14 that true devotion is found in hearkening to God's commands, not just in outward acts.
gillLeviticus 26:14: "But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;"
But if ye will not hearken unto me,.... To his commandments, as the rule of their duty, and to his promises, as an encouragement to it, or to his prophets and ministers, explaining and enforcing his law, and exhorting to a cheerful obedience to it; so the Targum of Jonathan,"if ye will not hearken to the doctrine of them that teach my laws;''which was the sin of the Jews in later times, for which capt…
calvinLeviticus 26:14-45: "But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;"
I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain; for your enemies shall eat it.
Etiam ego faciam hoc vobis: constituam super vos terrorem, tabem, et febrem, consumentia oculos, et dolore afficientia animam, seretisque frustra semen vestrum: nam co…
While the verse lists commandments, the key is that God introduces punishments not just for breaking a single rule, but for a profound lack of "listening" to Him and a failure to embrace all His instructions. This isn't about an accidental slip-up; it's about a deep-seated refusal to truly hear and follow God's way.
After God laid out abundant blessings for obedience, this passage shifts dramatically to outline the severe consequences of disobedience. It begins by warning that if the Israelites refuse to listen and follow His commands, they will face a series of devastating punishments, starting with terror and disease, followed by military defeat and hardship. This sets the stage for a cascade of escalating judgments that will ultimately lead to their scattering among the nations if they persist in turning away from Him.
After God laid out abundant blessings for obedience, this passage shifts dramatically to outline the severe consequences of disobedience. It begins by warning that if the Israelites refuse to listen and follow His commands, they will face a series of devastating punishments, starting with terror and disease, followed by military defeat and hardship. This sets the stage for a cascade of escalating judgments that will ultimately lead to their scattering among the nations if they persist in turning away from Him.
"“But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments," — While the verse lists commandments, the key is that God introduces punishments not just for breaking a single rule, but for a profound lack of "listening" to Him and a failure to embrace all His in…
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Last reviewed October 2026