Leviticus 26:26

KJV

[And] when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver [you] your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

KJV (with Strong's)

And when I have broken {H7665} the staff {H4294} of your bread {H3899}, ten {H6235} women {H802} shall bake {H644} your bread {H3899} in one {H259} oven {H8574}, and they shall deliver {H7725} you your bread {H3899} again {H7725} by weight {H4948}: and ye shall eat {H398}, and not be satisfied {H7646}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I will cut off your supply of bread, so that ten women will bake your bread in one oven and dole out your bread by weight, and you will eat but not be satisfied.

Berean Standard Bible

When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will bake your bread in a single oven and dole out your bread by weight, so that you will eat but not be satisfied.

American Standard Version

When I break your staff of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 26:26 presents a severe covenantal curse, detailing a devastating famine as a consequence of Israel's persistent disobedience. This prophetic judgment describes a scenario of extreme scarcity where the very "staff of bread" is broken, leading to desperate measures such as communal baking and meticulous rationing. Despite the arduous efforts to secure and consume food, the ultimate outcome is a profound lack of physical and spiritual satisfaction, underscoring God's sovereign control over sustenance and the futility of human effort apart from His divine blessing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within [Leviticus 26](/leviticus/26 "Leviticus 26 - Blessings and Curses for Obedience and Disobedience"), a pivotal chapter that serves as the climactic conclusion to the legal and ceremonial instructions given throughout the book. Following the detailed exposition of the Mosaic Law, chapter 26 functions as a covenantal summary, outlining the blessings that will accompany obedience to Yahweh's commands ([Leviticus 26:3-13](/leviticus/26-3-13 "Leviticus 26:3-13 - Blessings for Obedience")) and the escalating curses that will befall Israel for disobedience ([Leviticus 26:14-39](/leviticus/26-14-39 "Leviticus 26:14-39 - Curses for Disobedience")). Leviticus 26:26 specifically describes the third wave of these progressive judgments, following initial warnings of terror, disease, and military defeat ([Leviticus 26:16-17](/leviticus/26-16-17 "Leviticus 26:16-17 - First Wave of Curses")) and further judgments of increased opposition and barren land ([Leviticus 26:18-20](/leviticus/26-18-20 "Leviticus 26:18-20 - Second Wave of Curses")). This particular curse focuses on the disruption of the food supply, indicating a deepening severity of divine discipline aimed at bringing the people to repentance and demonstrating God's absolute control over their well-being.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, bread was not merely a food item but the quintessential staple, often referred to as the "staff of life" due to its foundational role in daily sustenance. The economy was primarily agrarian, with grain cultivation and bread making being central to household and communal life. Families typically possessed their own ovens or shared one within a small, localized community, baking bread daily or every few days. Famine, therefore, was a catastrophic event, directly impacting survival and universally understood as a direct consequence of divine displeasure or a sign of covenant breach. The imagery of "ten women shall bake your bread in one oven" vividly portrays a society pushed to its absolute limits, where fuel (wood, dung) and flour are so scarce that multiple households must pool their meager resources to produce an insufficient quantity of food. Furthermore, the practice of "delivering bread by weight" highlights extreme rationing, a stark contrast to times of abundance when bread was freely available. This meticulous measurement underscores the preciousness and scarcity of every crumb, reflecting a desperate struggle for survival common during periods of severe drought or siege, as also depicted in prophetic warnings like [Ezekiel 4:16](/ezekiel/4-16 "Ezekiel 4:16 - God Breaking the Staff of Bread").
* **Key Themes:** Leviticus 26:26 contributes significantly to several major theological and narrative themes within the book of Leviticus and the broader Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **Covenant Faithfulness and Consequences**, where God directly links obedience to blessing and disobedience to judgment, emphasizing His justice and holiness. The verse highlights God's **Sovereignty over Creation and Provision**, demonstrating that sustenance is not a given but a divine gift that can be withdrawn. It underscores the theme of **Dependence on God**, forcing Israel to recognize their utter reliance on Yahweh for their very existence, rather than on their own efforts or the land's natural productivity. Finally, the concluding phrase "and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied" introduces the profound theme of **Spiritual Dissatisfaction**, indicating that true contentment and fulfillment are ultimately spiritual, flowing from God's blessing and presence, rather than from mere physical consumption. This foreshadows later prophetic laments about seeking satisfaction in vain, as seen in [Isaiah 55:2](/isaiah/55-2 "Isaiah 55:2 - Spending for What Does Not Satisfy").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **broken (Hebrew, _shâbar'_):** From H7665, this primitive root means "to burst (literally or figuratively)." In this context, it signifies a decisive and destructive act, implying the complete cessation or removal of the "staff of bread." It is not merely a shortage but a divine act of breaking, indicating God's direct agency in bringing about this judgment.
* **staff (Hebrew, _maṭṭeh'_):** From H4294, this word literally refers to a "rod" or "stick." Here, it is used metaphorically to represent support, sustenance, or the very foundation of life. To "break the staff" of bread means to sever the primary means of survival, rendering the people utterly vulnerable and dependent, as bread was the essential support of daily life.
* **bread (Hebrew, _lechem'_):** From H3899, this term refers to "food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)." While literally baked bread, _lechem_ frequently functions as a synecdoche for all food or sustenance in general. Its scarcity in this context represents a comprehensive deprivation of all necessary provisions, striking at the core of physical existence.
* **satisfied (Hebrew, _sâbaʻ'_):** From H7646, this primitive root means "to sate, i.e., fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively)." The declaration "and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied" points to a deeper spiritual and psychological emptiness. Even if some food is obtained, it fails to bring true nourishment, peace, or contentment, highlighting the spiritual dimension of God's judgment where His blessing is withheld, leaving an unquenchable craving.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when I have broken the staff of your bread":** This opening clause immediately establishes God as the sovereign agent of judgment, using the first-person pronoun "I." The powerful metaphor of "breaking the staff" communicates the divine act of cutting off the very source of sustenance. It implies a complete and intentional disruption of the agricultural cycle and food supply, orchestrated by God Himself, rendering all human efforts to secure food futile. This is presented not as a natural disaster, but as a direct, intentional consequence of covenant infidelity.
* **"ten women shall bake your bread in one oven":** This vivid imagery illustrates the extreme scarcity and hardship. Normally, each household would have its own oven or access to one for daily baking. The necessity for ten women (representing ten households or families) to share a single oven speaks to a severe shortage of both fuel and flour. It depicts a desperate communal effort to produce a minuscule amount of bread, highlighting the dire economic and social conditions brought about by the famine and the breakdown of normal domestic life.
* **"and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight":** This detail further emphasizes the meticulous rationing and extreme value placed on every morsel of food. Instead of freely available portions, bread would be measured out precisely, indicating its rarity and the desperate need to conserve every crumb. This contrasts sharply with times of abundance and signifies a complete reversal of prosperity, where basic sustenance becomes a precious commodity doled out under strict control, reflecting a society on the brink of collapse.
* **"and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied":** This is the ultimate and most poignant outcome of the judgment. Despite the immense effort, sacrifice, and meticulous rationing involved in acquiring the meager bread, it would provide no true satisfaction. This lack of satisfaction can be understood on multiple levels: physically, the quantity would be insufficient to truly fill the stomach; spiritually, the absence of God's blessing would prevent any true contentment or peace, leaving a pervasive sense of emptiness and futility. It underscores that true satisfaction comes not merely from physical provision but from God's favor and presence, a deeper spiritual hunger that cannot be appeased by material means alone.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 26:26 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message of divine judgment and the consequences of disobedience. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, specifically in the phrase "broken the staff of your bread." Here, "staff" symbolizes the essential support and sustenance that bread provides, and its "breaking" vividly represents the complete removal or destruction of this life-sustaining provision. This metaphor effectively communicates the severity and totality of the famine, portraying it as a direct divine act. The phrase "ten women shall bake your bread in one oven" utilizes **Hyperbole** to emphasize the extreme scarcity of resources (fuel and flour) and the desperate, communal measures people would resort to. While perhaps not literally ten, it conveys an unimaginable level of communal deprivation and resource pooling, highlighting the dire straits of the people. Finally, the concluding phrase, "and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied," employs **Irony**. Despite the arduous process of obtaining and consuming food, the ultimate result is a profound lack of fulfillment. This highlights the spiritual dimension of the curse, where even basic needs, when met without God's blessing, fail to bring true contentment, pointing to a deeper, unquenchable hunger that transcends mere physical satiety.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 26:26 profoundly illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over creation, sustenance, and the consequences of covenantal disobedience. It reveals that physical provision is not merely a natural phenomenon but a direct outflow of God's blessing, and its withdrawal is a potent form of divine judgment. The verse underscores the theological truth that true satisfaction and sustenance are ultimately spiritual, dependent on a right relationship with God, rather than solely on material abundance. It teaches that persistent disobedience leads to a state of spiritual and physical emptiness, where even the most basic human efforts to survive are rendered futile without God's favor. This passage serves as a timeless reminder that God uses both blessings and curses to call His people to repentance and faithfulness, demonstrating His justice and His unwavering desire for their ultimate good and restoration to covenant fellowship.

* [Deuteronomy 28:48](/deuteronomy/28-48 "Deuteronomy 28:48 - Curses of Famine and Servitude")
* [Isaiah 55:2](/isaiah/55-2 "Isaiah 55:2 - Spending for What Does Not Satisfy")
* [Amos 8:11](/amos/8-11 "A Famine of Hearing the Word of the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Leviticus 26:26 stands as a powerful reminder of God's ultimate authority over all aspects of life, including our most basic needs. It compels us to reflect on our own relationship with divine provision and satisfaction. In a world often consumed by the relentless pursuit of material abundance and fleeting pleasures, this verse challenges us to recognize that true contentment and fulfillment are not found in the quantity of what we consume, but in the quality of our relationship with the Giver of all good things. It calls us to cultivate a heart of profound gratitude for daily sustenance, acknowledging that every blessing, from the food on our tables to the very breath in our lungs, flows from God's gracious hand. Furthermore, it serves as a sober warning that persistent disobedience to God's revealed will can lead to a profound sense of spiritual emptiness, where even our greatest efforts yield no lasting satisfaction. This passage should stir within us a deep compassion for those who genuinely suffer from physical hunger and scarcity, prompting us to pray for them and to act justly in a world of uneven distribution. Ultimately, it directs us to seek our deepest satisfaction in God alone, understanding that He is the true source of life and contentment, and that apart from Him, all our striving will leave us perpetually unfulfilled.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do I seek satisfaction outside of God, and how might this lead to a sense of emptiness, even amidst apparent abundance?**
* **How does this verse challenge my understanding of prosperity and scarcity in my own life and in the world around me, particularly in light of global food insecurity?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a deeper gratitude for God's daily provision and to share generously with those who lack, reflecting His heart?**
* **How does the concept of "eating and not being satisfied" speak to spiritual hunger or dissatisfaction in my own walk with God, and what might be the underlying causes?**

### FAQ

**Why would God use something as severe as famine as a form of judgment?**

Answer: God uses famine, as described in [Leviticus 26:26](/leviticus/26-26 "Leviticus 26:26 - The Curse of Famine"), as a severe form of judgment to demonstrate His absolute sovereignty over creation and to call His people to repentance. In ancient Israel, agricultural prosperity was directly linked to God's blessing, and famine was understood as a clear sign of His displeasure. By "breaking the staff of bread," God directly impacts the most fundamental aspect of their survival, forcing them to recognize their utter dependence on Him. This extreme measure is not arbitrary but serves as a powerful, tangible consequence of persistent covenant unfaithfulness, designed to humble the people and turn their hearts back to Him. It underscores the seriousness of their rebellion and the profound implications of breaking their covenant with the living God, as seen in other prophetic warnings like [Jeremiah 14:12](/jeremiah/14-12 "Jeremiah 14:12 - God's Refusal to Hear Prayer During Famine").

**What does it mean to "eat, and not be satisfied" beyond physical hunger?**

Answer: While "eating, and not being satisfied" certainly implies a physical lack of sufficient food to quell hunger, its deeper meaning extends to a profound spiritual and existential emptiness. In the biblical context, true satisfaction (Hebrew: _sâbaʻ_) encompasses not just physical fullness but also contentment, peace, and spiritual well-being that comes from God's blessing. When God withholds His blessing due to disobedience, even the act of eating, no matter how much effort is put into it, fails to bring true contentment or inner peace. This points to a spiritual hunger that no amount of physical provision can fill, highlighting that ultimate satisfaction is found only in a right relationship with God. This theme is echoed in passages like [Isaiah 55:2](/isaiah/55-2 "Isaiah 55:2 - Spending Money for What Does Not Satisfy"), which asks why people spend their labor on what does not truly satisfy, implicitly pointing to the spiritual nourishment that only God can provide.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 26:26, with its grim depiction of physical and spiritual dissatisfaction, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus, the true "Bread of Life." The broken "staff of bread" and the unquenchable hunger described in the Old Testament curse foreshadow humanity's deeper, inherent spiritual famine—a profound emptiness caused by sin and separation from God. While the law could only expose this hunger and pronounce judgment, Jesus comes to satisfy it completely. He declares in [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." He is the divine provision that truly satisfies the soul, addressing the spiritual lack that no amount of physical food or human effort could ever fill. Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Christ absorbed the curse of the law, including the judgment of famine and dissatisfaction ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeems Us from the Curse of the Law")). He provides not merely physical sustenance but eternal life and spiritual contentment, fulfilling the longing that the Israelites experienced in their judgment. His words in [Matthew 4:4](/matthew/4-4 "Matthew 4:4 - Man Shall Not Live by Bread Alone") further emphasize that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God," pointing to the spiritual nourishment found in Him and His divine truth, which truly satisfies the deepest cravings of the human heart, offering an abundance that transcends any earthly scarcity.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 3:1

¶ For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

Micah 6:14

Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down [shall be] in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and [that] which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.

Ezekiel 5:16

When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for [their] destruction, [and] which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:

Psalms 105:16

Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.

Isaiah 9:20

And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

Ezekiel 14:13

Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

Ezekiel 4:16

Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment: