Leviticus 20:22 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 20:22 mean?

Leviticus 20:22 tells the Israelites to carefully follow all of God's rules and decisions so that the land God is bringing them into will not "spit them out." The verse warns that if they do not obey, the land itself will reject them as its inhabitants.

In this verse, God is speaking to the people of Israel through Moses as they prepare to enter the land of Canaan. The language uses a vivid picture: the land "spitting out" its people if they fail to live by God's commands. This idea connects obedience to God's laws with the privilege of living in the promised land, showing that their continued stay depends on their faithfulness.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 20:22

• "Keep" (שָׁמַר, shamar) means to guard or watch carefully. Here, it emphasizes not just knowing God's statutes but actively protecting and practicing them.
• "Statutes" (חֻקָּה, chuqqah) refers to specific rules or decrees, often with a sense of being set or appointed by God, not just general advice.
• "Judgments" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat) points to God's decisions or ordinances, often involving justice or legal matters.
• "Spue you out" (קִיא, qi) is a strong word for vomiting, painting a picture of the land reacting violently to disobedience, not just passively removing people.

Why Leviticus 20:22 matters

• Leviticus 20:22 clarifies that living in the promised land is not automatic or unconditional; it depends on the people's ongoing obedience to God's commands.
• The verse uses the image of the land itself reacting to sin, which sets up a theme repeated throughout the Old Testament: the land is not just a backdrop but is involved in Israel's relationship with God.
• This warning connects to earlier parts of Leviticus, where similar language is used about the nations before Israel, showing that God's standards apply to all who live in the land.