Leviticus 26:26

[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.

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}.

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.

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.

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

Leviticus 26:26 is a solemn warning from God to the Israelites, detailing one of the severe consequences of persistent disobedience to His covenant. It describes a dire state of famine and scarcity, where basic sustenance becomes a luxury, and even then, fails to satisfy.

Context

This verse is part of Leviticus chapter 26, a pivotal chapter in the Pentateuch that outlines the blessings for obedience to God's commandments (Leviticus 26:3-13) and the curses or punishments for disobedience (Leviticus 26:14-39). The curses are presented in an escalating series, with each stage becoming more severe if the people fail to repent. Verse 26 specifically describes the devastating effects of a profound famine, following earlier warnings of disease and defeat in battle.

Meaning of the Verse

  • "And when I have broken the staff of your bread": This powerful metaphor signifies the complete removal of the primary means of sustenance. Bread was the staple of life in ancient Israel, and the "staff" refers to its supporting, life-sustaining quality. To "break the staff" means God Himself will orchestrate a severe famine, cutting off their food supply. The concept of God breaking the staff of bread is echoed in other prophetic warnings, such as in Ezekiel 4:16.
  • "ten women shall bake your bread in one oven": This paints a vivid picture of extreme scarcity and hardship. Normally, each household would bake its own bread, often daily. For ten families to share a single oven implies a drastic shortage of fuel (wood) and flour, forcing them to pool resources for tiny, insufficient batches of bread. It speaks to the desperate measures people would resort to for mere survival.
  • "and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight": This detail underscores the meticulous rationing of food due to its extreme rarity. Instead of freely available portions, bread would be measured out precisely, indicating that every crumb was precious and hard to come by. This contrasts sharply with times of abundance where food is consumed without such strict limitations.
  • "and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied": This is the ultimate, bitter outcome. Despite the immense effort to procure and ration the meager bread, it would provide no true satisfaction. This lack of satisfaction could be physical (insufficient quantity to fill the stomach) or spiritual (a profound sense of emptiness and futility because God's blessing was absent). It highlights the spiritual dimension of God's judgment, where even basic needs are met without contentment.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Consequences: The verse clearly illustrates God's sovereign hand in bringing judgment upon a disobedient people, using famine as a tool of correction.
  • Scarcity and Famine: It vividly describes the devastating effects of food shortages, highlighting the desperation and hardship that result when God withholds His provision.
  • Futility Without God's Blessing: Despite human efforts to survive and ration, the core message is that without God's blessing, even consumption yields no true satisfaction or sustenance. This points to a deeper spiritual hunger that only God can fill, as alluded to in John 6:35.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "broken the staff of your bread" utilizes a powerful Hebrew idiom. The Hebrew word for "staff" (ืžึทื˜ึผึถื” - matteh) can refer to a rod or stick, often symbolizing support or authority. Here, its metaphorical use with "bread" (ืœึถื—ึถื - lechem) perfectly conveys the removal of the very pillar of life and sustenance. The word for "satisfied" (ืฉึธื‚ื‘ึทืข - sava') implies not just physical fullness, but also contentment and satiation, emphasizing the deep dissatisfaction experienced during this judgment.

Practical Application

Leviticus 26:26 serves as a potent reminder of God's absolute sovereignty over creation and sustenance. It encourages us to:

  • Value God's Provision: Be grateful for daily sustenance and acknowledge that all blessings come from Him.
  • Seek Spiritual Satisfaction: Recognize that true contentment is not found in material abundance alone, but in a right relationship with God. As Isaiah 55:2 asks, "Why do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?"
  • Understand Consequences: Reflect on the biblical principle that disobedience has consequences, and God's desire is always for His people to walk in faithfulness.
  • Pray for the Hungry: The vivid description of famine should stir compassion and prayer for those around the world who still experience such dire scarcity.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 3:1 (5 votes)

    ยถ 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 (5 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

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

  • Isaiah 9:20 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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: