Leviticus 26:14-15
“But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse presents a stark conditional: "But if you will not listen... and will not do..." This isn't just a simple instruction; it's the hinge upon which all future blessings or curses swing. It highlights that God's commands aren't optional suggestions but the very framework for a thriving relationship and life.
After outlining the incredible blessings that await them if they obey, God shifts gears to address the consequences of disobedience. This passage marks the beginning of a stark warning about the curses that will fall upon Israel if they refuse to listen to His commands and break their covenant with Him. The severity escalates, starting with immediate afflictions and moving towards national ruin and exile.
The Bible isn't shy about consequences. This verse kicks off a serious discussion about what happens when God's people choose not to listen. It starts with a simple, yet profound, refusal.
A Choice with Weight
The verse opens with a stark conditional statement: 'But if you will not listen to me...' (Leviticus 26:14). This isn't just about hearing words; the Hebrew word for 'listen' here (shama') implies deep, attentive obedience. It's about internalizing God's instruction and letting it guide your actions.
God’s promises in Leviticus 26 are incredible, but they came with a serious warning. This verse reveals the flip side of the divine agreement.
When Blessings Turn to Blight
Leviticus 26 is structured around a covenant – a sacred agreement between God and His people. The first half paints a beautiful picture of what life looks like when Israel walks in obedience to God's commands. But this verse, and what follows, lays out the consequences of breaking that covenant.
Understand the original words
berit · Hebrew Noun
A solemn, binding agreement or treaty between God and His people, characterized by mutual obligations, divine blessings for obedience, and curses for disobedience.
mitsvah · Hebrew Noun
Authoritative instructions or revealed laws from God that define the expected conduct and life of His people, reflecting His holiness.
chuqqah · Hebrew Noun
Formal, prescribed regulations or ordinances established by God to govern the moral and religious life of His people.
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
Judicial decisions or formal rulings given by God that clarify right behavior; they carry the weight of divine authority and justice.
This passage parallels Leviticus 26 by detailing the curses that will befall Israel if they disobey God's commands, mirroring the consequences of not hearkening.
Jeremiah 7:23-26The prophet Jeremiah echoes this theme, rebuking Israel for not listening to God's voice and for not doing His commandments, which led to their destruction and exile.
Romans 2:8-9The Apostle Paul speaks of a similar division of response to God, where disobedience brings wrath and anger, while obedience leads to glory, honor, and peace.
Galatians 3:10This verse directly quotes Deuteronomy 27:26, which is intrinsically linked to the curses in Leviticus 26, highlighting that all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse for not doing everything it requires.
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…
The verse presents a stark conditional: "But if you will not listen... and will not do..." This isn't just a simple instruction; it's the hinge upon which all future blessings or curses swing. It highlights that God's commands aren't optional suggestions but the very framework for a thriving relationship and life.
After outlining the incredible blessings that await them if they obey, God shifts gears to address the consequences of disobedience. This passage marks the beginning of a stark warning about the curses that will fall upon Israel if they refuse to listen to His commands and break their covenant with Him. The severity escalates, starting with immediate afflictions and moving towards national ruin and exile.
After outlining the incredible blessings that await them if they obey, God shifts gears to address the consequences of disobedience. This passage marks the beginning of a stark warning about the curses that will fall upon Israel if they refuse to listen to His commands and break their covenant with Him. The severity escalates, starting with immediate afflictions and moving towards national ruin and exile.
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ma'as · Hebrew Verb
To reject, despise, or treat with contempt; often used in the context of rejecting God's authority or His revealed will.
"“But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant," — The verse presents a stark conditional: "But if you will not listen... and will not do..." This isn't just a simple instruction; it's the hinge upon which all future blessings or curses swing. It hig…
