Leviticus 26:44
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Even amidst the dire consequences of disobedience, God declares He will not utterly abandon His people or break His covenant with them. This isn't a promise of immediate rescue, but a profound assurance that His foundational commitment to them, rooted in His identity as their God, endures through all their suffering and exile.
Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them, neither will I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them, for I am the LORD their God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage concludes Leviticus 26, which outlines the blessings for obedience and severe curses for disobedience. Even after detailing the dire consequences of breaking the covenant, including exile and suffering in enemy lands, God promises not to completely abandon or utterly destroy His people. He assures them that He will remember His covenant, not for their sake, but because of His own faithfulness as their God.
God’s promises seem to be broken when His people face exile and defeat. But this verse offers a radical message of hope.
Even when Israel's sin leads to the devastating consequences of exile—scattered in enemy lands, their cities ruined, their temples destroyed—God declares He will not utterly destroy them, nor will He break His covenant. This is a profound statement of God’s faithfulness.
A Persistent Hope
The chapter lays out severe punishments for disobedience. Yet, right at the end, God pivots to an enduring commitment. This isn't a conditional promise based on Israel's perfect behavior. Instead, it's rooted in God’s own character: 'for I am the LORD their God.' His identity is tied to His people and His promises.
This means that even in their lowest, most desperate moments, God’s covenantal relationship with them remains the ultimate reality. It's the anchor that prevents total destruction and despair.
Israel’s exile was severe judgment, yet this verse reveals a crucial distinction: judgment, not abandonment. What does that look like?
The exile described in Leviticus 26 was a direct consequence of Israel's sin. God poured out His judgment, bringing destruction and scattering. The commentators note how God fulfilled His threatenings, destroying their cities and temple.
A Remnant Sustained
However, the language here ('will not spurn them,' 'neither will I abhor them') signifies that despite the judgment, a remnant is preserved. God's judgment is fierce, but it is not absolute annihilation. He intentionally holds back from utterly destroying them or tearing up His covenant.
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This preservation is not for Israel's merit, but for God's own faithfulness to His promises, made to their ancestors. It’s a testament to His long-suffering love, ensuring that even in their deepest sin and suffering, they are not completely cut off. They remain a distinct people, a sign that God's purposes are not thwarted by their sin.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The covenant name of God, YHWH, representing His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithful presence with His people. It is the name through which He reveals Himself as the personal, redeeming God of Israel.
Paul directly references this Leviticus passage, explaining that even though Israel was largely rejected for their disbelief, their ultimate salvation is still a promise tied to God's covenant, echoing the assurance in Leviticus 26:44.
Jeremiah 31:35-37This passage speaks of God's enduring covenant faithfulness to Israel, even amidst their scattering and brokenness, mirroring the persistent love promised in Leviticus 26:44 despite judgment.
Ezekiel 11:14-20Ezekiel prophesies God's future restoration of Israel after judgment, emphasizing that He will bring them back to their land and give them a new heart, which aligns with the idea that God's covenant relationship isn't ultimately broken, as stated in Leviticus 26:44.
Deuteronomy 4:30-31This passage describes God's compassion toward Israel even after their sin and exile, affirming that He will not forsake them nor destroy them utterly, echoing the promise of not breaking the covenant in Leviticus 26:44.
ellicottLeviticus 26:44: "And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God."
(44) And yet for all that. —Better, And yet even so, that is, even if it be so that they remain exiles in foreign lands for a long time, this is no proof that God has finally cast them off, has given them over to destruction, and abrogated His covenant with them. He is a…
clarkeLeviticus 26:44: "And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God."
Neither will I abhor them to destroy them utterly - Though God has literally fulfilled all his threatenings upon this people in dispossessing them of their land, destroying their polity, overturning their city, demolishing their temple, and scattering themselves over the…
Even amidst the dire consequences of disobedience, God declares He will not utterly abandon His people or break His covenant with them. This isn't a promise of immediate rescue, but a profound assurance that His foundational commitment to them, rooted in His identity as their God, endures through all their suffering and exile.
This passage concludes Leviticus 26, which outlines the blessings for obedience and severe curses for disobedience. Even after detailing the dire consequences of breaking the covenant, including exile and suffering in enemy lands, God promises not to completely abandon or utterly destroy His people. He assures them that He will remember His covenant, not for their sake, but because of His own faithfulness as their God.
This passage concludes Leviticus 26, which outlines the blessings for obedience and severe curses for disobedience. Even after detailing the dire consequences of breaking the covenant, including exile and suffering in enemy lands, God promises not to completely abandon or utterly destroy His people. He assures them that He will remember His covenant, not for their sake, but because of His own faithfulness as their God.
"Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them, neither will I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them, for I am the LORD their God." — Even amidst the dire consequences of disobedience, God declares He will not utterly abandon His people or break His covenant with them. This isn't a promise of immediate rescue, but a profound assura…
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Last reviewed October 2026
