Leviticus 26:16 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 26:16 mean?

Leviticus 26:16 describes what God says he will bring upon the Israelites if they reject his commands. The warning reaches both their health and their livelihood: they will suffer illness and distress, and the food they work to grow will be taken by enemies.

God is speaking directly to the people through Moses. After the rejection described in verse 15, the words “I also” mark God’s response. The picture of sowing seed only for enemies to eat the crop shows the loss of both labor and food.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 26:16

• “consumption” — שַׁחֶפֶת (shachefet): The word is often understood as a wasting illness. The KJV’s “consumption” uses an older English name for a disease that gradually weakens the body.
• “ague” — קַדַּחַת (qaddachat): The word refers to fever or a feverish illness. The phrase “burning ague” describes a condition associated with intense heat.
• “heart” — נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh): The word can refer to a person’s life or inner self. Here, “sorrow of heart” expresses distress felt deep within a person.

Why Leviticus 26:16 matters

• The warning begins with a specific response to disobedience, not a general explanation for every illness. Verses 14–15 describe the people refusing to listen and rejecting God’s commands.
• The suffering described is both inward and visible. “Consume the eyes” pictures failing sight or vitality, while “sorrow of heart” points to inner anguish.
• The threat from enemies reaches into ordinary work. The people will still “sow” their seed, but others will eat what grows.