I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
LEVITICUS 26:16KJVWhat does Leviticus 26:16 mean?
Leviticus 26:16 describes God warning the Israelites that if they disobey His commands, He will bring severe troubles upon them, including fear, wasting diseases, and fevers that weaken both body and spirit, and their hard work in planting crops will be wasted because enemies will take the harvest. This verse is part of a list of consequences for not following God’s covenant.
In this passage, God is speaking through Moses to the people of Israel, laying out the serious results of breaking their agreement with Him. The verse uses vivid language to show both physical suffering (“terror, consumption, and the burning ague”) and emotional pain (“consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart”), as well as the frustration of seeing their efforts come to nothing when enemies take what they have grown.
The Hebrew behind Leviticus 26:16
- Terror (בֶּהָלָה, behalah): This word means sudden fear or panic. It highlights that the troubles God warns of are not just physical but will also deeply unsettle the people emotionally.
- Consumption (שַׁחֶפֶת, shachefet): This refers to a wasting disease, often understood as something like tuberculosis or a chronic illness that slowly destroys the body.
- Burning ague (קַדַּחַת, qaddachat): This word points to a fever or burning sickness, emphasizing intense physical suffering.
- Vain (רִיק, riq): The word for “vain” means empty or useless, stressing that their labor in sowing seed will have no benefit, as enemies will eat the harvest.
Why Leviticus 26:16 matters
- Leviticus 26:16 clarifies that the consequences for disobedience are not only spiritual but also very practical, affecting health, emotions, and daily life.
- This verse connects to the larger section where God outlines both blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, showing the seriousness of the covenant relationship.
- The verse helps explain why later parts of Israel’s history, such as times of invasion or famine, are seen as connected to their faithfulness or unfaithfulness to God.