Leviticus 26:23-24
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The phrase "walk contrary to me" here isn't just about disobedience, but a deliberate turning away from God's way, akin to marching in the opposite direction. It highlights that even after experiencing discipline, a willful choice to reject God's path leads to an escalating conflict with Him.
“And if by this discipline you are not turned to me but walk contrary to me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I myself will strike you sevenfold for your sins.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God has laid out a series of blessings for obedience and increasingly severe curses for disobedience. This verse marks a point where, despite the punishments already outlined (like disease and wild animals), the people still refuse to turn back to God. Instead, they stubbornly continue on a path that opposes His will, leading God to respond in kind.
God's corrections often feel harsh, but they carry a divine intent. What is that purpose, and how does it shape our understanding of His love?
The verse says, 'if by this discipline you are not turned to me.' This highlights that God's discipline isn't meant to simply punish but to reform. It's a redemptive tool, a loving, though often painful, intervention to bring us back into relationship with Him. Think of it like a parent guiding a child – the correction is for the child's well-being, not just to vent frustration. The goal is to redirect us from paths that lead to destruction back to the path of life that God has for us.
The verse speaks of walking 'contrary' to God. What does it truly mean to move in opposition to the Almighty, and what are the implications of such a stance?
To 'walk contrary' to God is a profound act of rebellion. It's not merely a passive state but an active choice to move in the opposite direction of God's will and guidance. Imagine setting your compass for true north, but then deliberately choosing to walk south. This is what it means to walk contrary to God. It's a rejection of His authority, His wisdom, and His love, choosing instead a path of self-will that ultimately leads away from life and into destruction. This opposition isn't a minor disagreement; it's a fundamental choice about who is in control of your life.
Understand the original words
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musar · Hebrew Noun
Corrective punishment or training intended to produce repentance and holiness. It is not merely punitive but remedial, seeking to restore the relationship between God and His people.
This verse speaks of God's 'steadfast love' and forgiveness, highlighting the contrast with Leviticus 26 where persistent disobedience leads to judgment instead of turning back to Him.
Hosea 11:7-9This passage shows God's internal struggle between His justice and His compassion when His people stray, mirroring the tension in Leviticus 26 between discipline and the desire for them to return.
Proverbs 29:1This proverb directly addresses the consequence of hardening one's heart after repeated correction, much like the warnings in Leviticus 26 about further judgment if discipline is ignored.
Hebrews 12:5-6This New Testament passage echoes the Old Testament concept of God disciplining His children, affirming that His chastening is an act of love to prevent spiritual ruin, as seen in Leviticus 26.
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…
pooleLeviticus 26:23: "And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;"
No text from Poole on this verse.
The phrase "walk contrary to me" here isn't just about disobedience, but a deliberate turning away from God's way, akin to marching in the opposite direction. It highlights that even after experiencing discipline, a willful choice to reject God's path leads to an escalating conflict with Him.
God has laid out a series of blessings for obedience and increasingly severe curses for disobedience. This verse marks a point where, despite the punishments already outlined (like disease and wild animals), the people still refuse to turn back to God. Instead, they stubbornly continue on a path that opposes His will, leading God to respond in kind.
God has laid out a series of blessings for obedience and increasingly severe curses for disobedience. This verse marks a point where, despite the punishments already outlined (like disease and wild animals), the people still refuse to turn back to God. Instead, they stubbornly continue on a path that opposes His will, leading God to respond in kind.
"“And if by this discipline you are not turned to me but walk contrary to me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I myself will strike you sevenfold for your sins." — The phrase "walk contrary to me" here isn't just about disobedience, but a deliberate turning away from God's way, akin to marching in the opposite direction. It highlights that even after experienci…
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Last reviewed October 2026
