King James Version

What Does Leviticus 26:36 Mean?

Leviticus 26:36 in the King James Version says “And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and th...” — study this verse from Leviticus chapter 26 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth. shaken: Heb. driven”

Leviticus 26:36 · KJV

Context

34

Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.

35

As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.

36

And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth. shaken: Heb. driven

37

And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.

38

And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.

Read Leviticus 26 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.

This verse falls within the section on Blessings and Curses. Covenant blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, establishing consequences of Israel's covenant relationship.


What Leviticus portrayed through types and shadows, Christ fulfilled in reality through His incarnation, perfect life, atoning death, and resurrection.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Covenant blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, establishing consequences of Israel's covenant relationship. Chapters 17-27, often called the 'Holiness Code,' expand covenant obligations beyond ritual to encompass all of life—sexuality, economics, justice, and relationships. The repeated refrain 'I am the LORD' grounds these laws in God's character and covenant relationship with Israel. Israel received these laws while encamped at Sinai, before entering Canaan. The laws prepared them for life in the promised land, distinguishing them from Canaanite practices and establishing their identity as God's holy nation. The portable tabernacle, central to Levitical worship, accompanied them through wilderness wanderings and eventually found permanent form in Solomon's temple. Archaeological discoveries at sites like Ugarit reveal Canaanite religious practices Israel's laws explicitly rejected, confirming the Bible's historical reliability and the distinctiveness of Israelite worship.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse help you understand both God's justice and His mercy in salvation?
  2. What does this verse teach about the seriousness of sin, the cost of redemption, or the beauty of holiness?
  3. In what ways does this verse challenge contemporary cultural values or your personal attitudes?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים1 of 18

“And upon them that are left”

H7604

properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant

בָּכֶ֔ם2 of 18
H0
וְהֵבֵ֤אתִי3 of 18

“alive of you I will send”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

מֹ֙רֶךְ֙4 of 18

“a faintness”

H4816

softness, i.e., (figuratively) fear

בִּלְבָבָ֔ם5 of 18

“into their hearts”

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

בְּאַרְצֹ֖ת6 of 18

“in the lands”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֑ם7 of 18

“of their enemies”

H341

hating; an adversary

רֹדֵֽף׃8 of 18

“shall chase”

H7291

to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)

אֹתָ֗ם9 of 18
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

ק֚וֹל10 of 18

“and the sound”

H6963

a voice or sound

עָלֶ֣ה11 of 18

“leaf”

H5929

a leaf (as coming up on a tree); collectively, foliage

נִדָּ֔ף12 of 18

“of a shaken”

H5086

to shove asunder, i.e., disperse

וְנָס֧וּ13 of 18

“them and they shall flee”

H5127

to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)

מְנֻֽסַת14 of 18

“as fleeing”

H4499

retreat

חֶ֛רֶב15 of 18

“from a sword”

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

וְנָֽפְל֖וּ16 of 18

“and they shall fall”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

וְאֵ֥ין17 of 18
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

רֹדֵֽף׃18 of 18

“shall chase”

H7291

to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Leviticus. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Leviticus 26:36 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Leviticus 26:36 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 21:7Isaiah 30:17Leviticus 26:17Ezekiel 21:15Proverbs 28:12 Chronicles 14:14

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