And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.

LEVITICUS 26:31KJV
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Leviticus 26:31 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 26:31 mean?

Leviticus 26:31 describes God warning the Israelites that if they turn away from Him, He will allow their cities to become ruins, their holy places to be destroyed, and He will no longer accept their offerings as pleasing. This verse shows the seriousness of breaking the covenant with God, highlighting the loss of both security and relationship.

In this verse, God is speaking to the people of Israel through Moses, laying out the consequences for disobedience to His commands. The context is a list of blessings for obedience and punishments for rebellion. The verse emphasizes that not only will physical places like cities and sanctuaries be devastated, but even the rituals meant to honor God will be rejected if the relationship is broken.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 26:31

  • "make" (נָתַן, natan): This word means "to give" or "to set," and here it carries the sense of God actively allowing or causing the cities to become waste, not just passively letting it happen.
  • "waste" (חָרְבָּה, chorbah): This word means "ruin" or "desolation," emphasizing total devastation rather than just damage.
  • "sanctuaries" (מִקְדָּשׁ, miqdash): This refers to holy places, not just the main tabernacle or temple, but any place set apart for worship, showing the widespread effect of the judgment.
  • "smell" (רֵיחַ, reyach): The phrase "I will not smell the savour" uses this word for "smell," which often means to accept or take pleasure in an offering. Here, it means God will no longer accept their worship.

Why Leviticus 26:31 matters

  • Leviticus 26:31 clarifies that ritual acts alone are not enough; a broken relationship with God means even sincere offerings are rejected.
  • The verse highlights that God's judgment affects both public life (cities) and spiritual life (sanctuaries), showing the deep consequences of turning away from Him.
  • This warning fits into the larger pattern of covenant blessings and curses in Leviticus 26, helping readers see the seriousness of Israel's covenant responsibilities.

Where else these words appear

“smell” Hebrew H7306 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
  • Deuteronomy 4:28 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
  • Job 39:25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

“waste” Hebrew H2723 · used in 42 verses

  • Leviticus 26:33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
  • Isaiah 61:4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
  • Ezekiel 25:13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.

“odours” Hebrew H5207 · used in 43 verses

  • Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
  • Leviticus 6:21 In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baken, thou shalt bring it in: and the baken pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
  • Numbers 28:6 It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.

“savour” Hebrew H7381 · used in 55 verses

  • Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
  • Leviticus 8:28 And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savour: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
  • Numbers 29:6 Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.