And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.

LEVITICUS 26:17KJV
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Leviticus 26:17 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 26:17 mean?

Leviticus 26:17 describes a warning from God to the Israelites that, if they turn away from Him, He will actively oppose them, allowing their enemies to defeat and rule over them, and causing them to live in fear even when no one is chasing them. This verse highlights the consequences of breaking the covenant with God, focusing on defeat, oppression, and anxiety.

In this passage, God is speaking through Moses to the people of Israel as part of a larger section outlining blessings for obedience and punishments for disobedience. The verse uses vivid language to show that God’s opposition will be direct and personal (“set my face against you”), and that the resulting fear and defeat will be so severe that the people will run away even when there is no real threat.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 26:17

  • "Set" (נָתַן, natan): This word often means "to give" or "to set," but here it carries the sense of God purposefully turning His attention against the people, emphasizing intentional opposition.
  • "Face" (פָּנִים, panim): In Hebrew, "face" can mean presence or attention. Saying God will "set His face against" them means He is directly, personally opposing them, not just allowing bad things to happen passively.
  • "Flee" (נוּס, nus): This word means to run away or escape. The verse says the people will flee even when no one is pursuing them, highlighting a deep, irrational fear as a result of their broken relationship with God.

Why Leviticus 26:17 matters

  • Leviticus 26:17 clarifies that the consequences for disobedience are not just natural results, but are described as God’s active response, showing the seriousness of the covenant relationship.
  • The verse emphasizes the psychological impact of disobedience—fear and insecurity—even when there is no immediate danger, which goes beyond just physical defeat.
  • This warning fits into the broader context of Leviticus 26, where blessings and curses are laid out to show Israel the importance of faithfulness to God’s commands.

Where else these words appear

“reign” Hebrew H7287 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
  • 1 Kings 4:24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.
  • Psalms 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

“slain” Hebrew H5062 · used in 46 verses

  • Exodus 8:2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
  • 1 Samuel 4:2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
  • 2 Chronicles 6:24 And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;

“pursueth” Hebrew H7291 · used in 135 verses

  • Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
  • Judges 8:5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
  • Psalms 69:26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.

“hate” Hebrew H8130 · used in 139 verses

  • Genesis 24:60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
  • Esther 9:5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.
  • Proverbs 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: