And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.

LEVITICUS 26:30KJV
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Leviticus 26:30 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 26:30 mean?

Leviticus 26:30 describes God’s severe response to Israel’s continued disobedience. God says he will ruin the places and objects used for worship and reject the people, leaving their bodies among the ruined idols. The scene brings together the destruction of what they trusted and the loss of their own lives.

God is speaking to the Israelites. The picture of human bodies piled on the remains of idols is deliberately stark: the objects of worship lie broken alongside the people who used them. The phrase “my soul shall abhor you” expresses God’s strong rejection of the people.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 26:30

  • “high places” — בָּמָה (bamah): This word refers to a height or raised place, often used as a place of worship. Here, the high places are among the worship sites God says he will destroy.
  • “images” — חַמָּן (ḥamman): This word is often understood to refer to an incense altar or a similar object used in worship. The KJV’s “images” leaves the kind of object less specific.
  • “idols” — גִּלּוּלִים (gillulim): This is a disparaging word for idols. Its contemptuous tone adds force to the picture of their broken remains.

Why Leviticus 26:30 matters

  • The warning concerns more than a loss in battle. God also names the “high places,” “images,” and “idols,” showing that the people’s worship is part of the matter.
  • The verse belongs to a sequence of warnings about continuing disobedience. After the increasingly severe troubles described earlier in the chapter, verse 30 presents a scene of worship sites and people brought down together.
  • “Carcases” is used for both people and idols in the KJV. The repeated word makes the ruined idols sound like lifeless bodies, sharpening the bleak picture.

Where else these words appear

“images” Hebrew H2553 · used in 8 verses

  • 2 Chronicles 14:5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
  • 2 Chronicles 34:7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
  • Isaiah 27:9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.

“abhor” Hebrew H1602 · used in 9 verses

  • Leviticus 26:11 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
  • Leviticus 26:43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.
  • Job 21:10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

“carcases” Hebrew H6297 · used in 21 verses

  • Genesis 15:11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.
  • 2 Chronicles 20:24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
  • Jeremiah 33:5 They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.

“idols” Hebrew H1544 · used in 45 verses

  • Deuteronomy 29:17 And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)
  • Ezekiel 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
  • Ezekiel 20:39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.