I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.

LEVITICUS 26:13KJV
Know the Bible

Leviticus 26:13 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 26:13 mean?

Leviticus 26:13 says that God is reminding the Israelites He is the one who brought them out of slavery in Egypt, broke their oppression, and set them free to live with dignity. The verse emphasizes that God personally freed them from being slaves and allowed them to walk upright, no longer bowed down by bondage.

In this verse, God is speaking directly to the people of Israel through Moses. The context is a section where God lists blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience. Here, God points back to the Exodus, highlighting His power and care in freeing the Israelites from Egypt. The image of breaking the "bands of your yoke" and making them "go upright" paints a picture of slaves being released from heavy burdens and able to stand tall as free people.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 26:13

  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is God’s personal name, used here to remind Israel of His unique relationship and covenant with them.
  • bondmen (עֶבֶד, ‘eved): This word means slaves or servants. God is stressing that the Israelites are no longer slaves to the Egyptians.
  • broken (שָׁבַר, shavar): This verb means to break or shatter. God is saying He has completely destroyed the restraints that held the Israelites in slavery.
  • bands (מוֹט, mot) and yoke (עֹל, ‘ol): These words refer to the wooden harness and straps used to control animals or enslaved people. Breaking these means removing oppression and forced labor.
  • go upright (קוֹמְמִיּוּת, qomemiyyut): This phrase means to walk with head held high, free and unashamed. It suggests dignity and restored status.

Why Leviticus 26:13 matters

  • Leviticus 26:13 clears up that God’s relationship with Israel is rooted in liberation, not just law-giving—He freed them before giving them commands.
  • The verse emphasizes that God’s deliverance was not just physical escape but a restoration of dignity, allowing the people to stand tall.
  • This reminder connects the blessings and warnings in Leviticus 26 to God’s past actions, showing that obedience is a response to what God has already done for His people.

Where else these words appear

“bands” Hebrew H4133 · used in 10 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 15:15 And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.
  • Jeremiah 27:2 Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,
  • Jeremiah 28:13 Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.

“yoke” Hebrew H5923 · used in 34 verses

  • Genesis 27:40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
  • 2 Chronicles 10:9 And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?
  • Jeremiah 27:11 But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.

“broken” Hebrew H7665 · used in 145 verses

  • Genesis 19:9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.
  • Psalms 37:15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
  • Jeremiah 30:8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: