Leviticus 26:28

KJV

Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then I will walk {H1980} contrary {H7147} unto you also in fury {H2534}; and I, even {H637} I, will chastise {H3256} you seven times {H7651} for your sins {H2403}.

Complete Jewish Bible

then I will go against you furiously, and I also will chastise you yet seven times more for your sins.

Berean Standard Bible

then I will walk in fury against you, and I, even I, will punish you sevenfold for your sins.

American Standard Version

then I will walk contrary unto you in wrath; and I also will chastise you seven times for your sins.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 26:28 stands as a solemn divine declaration, articulating the severe and escalating nature of God's judgment against Israel's persistent and unrepentant rebellion against His covenant. It powerfully underscores God's unwavering commitment to His holiness, justice, and the sanctity of His covenant, promising a comprehensive and intensely magnified chastisement, symbolically described as "seven times," to compel His disobedient people toward repentance and restore their fidelity to Him. This verse highlights that divine patience has righteous limits, and God's holy indignation will be expressed with full measure against sin that continually defies His gracious commands.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within [Leviticus 26](/leviticus/26 "Leviticus 26 - Blessings and Curses"), a pivotal chapter that serves as the climactic conclusion to the detailed legal and ritual instructions given throughout the book. It functions as a covenant summary, presenting a stark dichotomy: abundant blessings for obedience, as outlined in [Leviticus 26:3-13](/leviticus/26-3-13 "Leviticus 26:3-13 - Blessings for Obedience"), and escalating curses for disobedience, detailed in [Leviticus 26:14-39](/leviticus/26-14-39 "Leviticus 26:14-39 - Curses for Disobedience"). The judgments described are progressive, designed to intensify in severity if Israel fails to repent after initial warnings. Verse 28 specifically marks the fourth and most intense stage of promised chastisement, following earlier warnings of intensified punishment in [Leviticus 26:18](/leviticus/26-18 "Leviticus 26:18 - First Intensification of Punishment"), [Leviticus 26:21](/leviticus/26-21 "Leviticus 26:21 - Second Intensification of Punishment"), and [Leviticus 26:24](/leviticus/26-24 "Leviticus 26:24 - Third Intensification of Punishment"). Each preceding stage describes a specific type of hardship (e.g., famine, wild beasts, pestilence), with God promising to increase the severity "seven times more" if they continue to resist. Verse 28 signifies a direct, personal, and furious divine intervention, indicating that the previous warnings have been ignored and a deeper, more comprehensive level of judgment is now warranted.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Leviticus was delivered to the Israelites shortly after their miraculous exodus from Egypt and their foundational covenant ratification at Mount Sinai. It meticulously established the framework for their life as God's holy nation, centered around the Tabernacle, sacrificial system, and a comprehensive code of conduct designed to distinguish them from surrounding pagan nations. The covenant outlined in [Exodus 19-24](/exodus/19-24 "Exodus 19-24 - The Sinai Covenant") and further elaborated upon in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, was conditional, promising blessings for fidelity and severe curses for apostasy. This conditional structure was a common feature of ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaties, where a great king (suzerain) would establish terms with a vassal people, including stipulations, blessings for loyalty, and curses for rebellion. God, as the divine Suzerain, was establishing His unique covenant with Israel, His chosen vassal people. The solemn warnings in [Leviticus 26](/leviticus/26 "Leviticus 26 - Blessings and Curses") and parallel passages like [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses") served as a dire reminder of the profound consequences of breaking faith with the one true God, particularly through idolatry, injustice, and persistent disobedience. The "fury" and "chastisement" described here are not arbitrary acts of vengeance but righteous responses to covenant infidelity, aimed at purifying a people whom God had set apart for Himself.
* **Key Themes:** Leviticus 26:28 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Leviticus and the broader Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **Covenant Faithfulness**, emphasizing that God's covenant with Israel was bilateral, requiring obedience for blessing and incurring consequences for disobedience, as seen throughout [Deuteronomy 30](/deuteronomy/30 "Deuteronomy 30 - Choose Life or Death"). It reinforces the theme of **Divine Holiness and Justice**, demonstrating that God's character demands a righteous response to sin and that He will not tolerate unrepentant rebellion within His chosen people, a truth echoed in [Leviticus 19:2](/leviticus/19-2 "Leviticus 19:2 - Be Holy"). The verse also highlights the theme of **Progressive Judgment and Discipline**, illustrating God's patient yet firm approach to leading His people to repentance; the "seven times" intensification signifies a comprehensive and escalating discipline rather than immediate annihilation, reflecting His desire for their restoration. Finally, it underscores the **Seriousness of Sin**, particularly covenant breaking, revealing that persistent defiance provokes God's righteous "fury" and necessitates severe chastisement, a principle consistently taught in the prophetic books, such as [Jeremiah 7](/jeremiah/7 "Jeremiah 7 - The Temple Sermon").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Contrary (Hebrew, _qᵉrîy'_):** This word (H7147) denotes a "hostile encounter" or "opposition." In the context of God "walking contrary," it signifies a deliberate, active, and confrontational stance taken by God against His people. It's not a passive withdrawal but a direct, opposing movement, indicating that God will meet their rebellion with His own determined resistance and judgment. This emphasizes the personal and intentional nature of divine retribution.
* **Fury (Hebrew, _chêmâh'_):** This term (H2534) describes intense heat, figuratively representing anger, wrath, or hot displeasure. When applied to God, it signifies His righteous indignation and fervent resolve against sin and idolatry. In this verse, it communicates that God's patience has been exhausted, and His discipline will be administered with an unyielding, burning resolve that stems from His holy character. This is not a fleeting emotion but a settled, just wrath against persistent rebellion, emphasizing the gravity of their sin.
* **Seven times (Hebrew, _shebaʻ'_):** The word (H7651) literally means "seven." In biblical numerology, the number seven frequently denotes completeness, perfection, or fullness. Here, "seven times" does not necessarily imply exactly seven distinct punishments but rather a complete, thorough, and intensified measure of chastisement. It conveys that God's judgment would be utterly comprehensive, exhaustive, and perfectly proportionate to the depth and persistence of Israel's sin, signifying a full and perfect application of divine retribution.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury;":** This initial clause reveals God's direct and active opposition to His disobedient people. The phrase "walk contrary" signifies a profound divine reversal of relationship; instead of walking with them in blessing and covenant partnership, God will now actively walk against them in judgment. This action is accompanied "in fury," signifying His righteous, intense, and unyielding anger over their persistent rebellion and covenant breaking. It highlights God's personal involvement and His unyielding commitment to justice, demonstrating that their defiance has provoked a direct, divine response.
* **"and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.":** This second clause powerfully reiterates God's personal commitment to discipline, with the emphatic "I, even I" underscoring divine agency, resolve, and the certainty of this judgment. The term "chastise" (Hebrew: `yâsar`) implies correction and discipline, often involving severe measures, but ultimately aimed at instruction and restoration. The phrase "seven times" underscores the completeness, thoroughness, and intensity of this discipline. It means the punishment will be full, exhaustive, and perfectly aligned with the measure of their sins, ensuring that the consequences are comprehensive and leave no doubt about the seriousness of their transgression. This discipline is explicitly stated to be "for your sins," directly linking the punishment to their covenant infidelity and moral failures.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 26:28 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of divine judgment with profound impact. **Anthropomorphism** is vividly evident in the phrase "I will walk contrary unto you," attributing human-like action (walking) and emotion (fury) to God. This makes the abstract concept of divine judgment tangible and relatable, emphasizing God's personal and direct involvement in the consequences of Israel's disobedience. The phrase "in fury" further intensifies this anthropomorphic portrayal, highlighting the depth of God's righteous indignation. **Symbolism** or **Hyperbole** is present in the phrase "seven times." While literally meaning seven occurrences, in this context, the number seven, often associated with completeness and perfection in biblical numerology, functions symbolically to convey the idea of a full, exhaustive, and comprehensive measure of chastisement. It suggests a complete and perfect application of judgment, proportionate to their complete and perfect rebellion. The **Repetition** of "I, even I" serves as an emphatic statement, underscoring God's unwavering resolve and personal commitment to execute this judgment. This rhetorical device ensures that the audience understands the divine origin and certainty of the promised discipline, leaving no room for doubt regarding its inevitability.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 26:28 profoundly reveals God's character as both holy and just, demonstrating that His covenant faithfulness extends not only to blessings for obedience but also to righteous judgment for persistent rebellion. It underscores the severity of sin and the reality of divine retribution, emphasizing that God does not take covenant breaking lightly. This "chastisement" is not arbitrary cruelty but a purposeful act of discipline, intended to bring His people to repentance and restore them to a right relationship with Him. It highlights the principle that God's love includes correction, and His discipline is ultimately for the good of His people, even when it is severe, aiming for their purification and return to covenant fidelity.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28-15-68 "Extensive Curses for Disobedience")
* [Hebrews 12:5-11](/hebrews/12-5-11 "God's Discipline for His Children")
* [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "God's Wrath Revealed Against Ungodliness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Leviticus 26:28, though rooted in the Old Covenant's conditional framework, offers timeless and profound principles about the nature of God and the seriousness of sin. It serves as a sobering reminder that God is neither indifferent to disobedience nor is His patience limitless when faced with persistent rebellion against His righteous commands. For believers today, this passage teaches us that while we are no longer under the Law's curse, God, as our loving Heavenly Father, still disciplines His children. This discipline, for those in Christ, is not punitive wrath—which was fully borne by Jesus—but a corrective measure designed to refine our character, draw us closer to Him, and lead us to greater holiness and conformity to Christ's image. It calls us to a deep examination of our lives, to take sin seriously, and to respond to God's warnings and gentle corrections with humility, immediate repentance, and a willingness to submit to His refining hand, recognizing that His ultimate desire is always for our spiritual restoration, growth, and flourishing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's willingness to "walk contrary" to His people challenge my understanding of His perfect love and unwavering justice?**
* **In what specific areas of my life might God be seeking to "chastise" or discipline me, not in wrath, but in loving correction for my ultimate good?**
* **What does the phrase "seven times" imply about the thoroughness and completeness of God's discipline, and how should this understanding influence my response to sin?**
* **How can I cultivate a heart that is quick to repent and respond to God's corrective hand, embracing His discipline as a sign of His fatherly love, rather than resisting it?**

### FAQ

**Does God still "walk contrary" to people today in fury?**

Answer: For those who remain unrepentant and outside of a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, God's righteous wrath against sin remains a present and future reality, as powerfully revealed in passages like [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Against Ungodliness"). However, for believers in Jesus Christ, God's "fury" or punitive wrath for sin has been fully and eternally satisfied by Christ's perfect sacrifice on the cross. Therefore, God's interaction with His children is no longer one of judicial wrath but of loving discipline and correction, as clearly highlighted in [Hebrews 12:6](/hebrews/12-6 "Hebrews 12:6 - The Lord Disciplines Those He Loves"). While He may allow or orchestrate difficult circumstances to bring us to repentance, to refine our character, or to teach us obedience, this is never a manifestation of His judicial wrath but always an expression of His paternal love and commitment to our holiness.

**What is the significance of "seven times" in this verse?**

Answer: The phrase "seven times" (Hebrew: _shebaʻ_) in this context signifies completeness, fullness, or an intensified measure rather than a literal count of exactly seven distinct punishments. In biblical numerology, the number seven often represents perfection or totality. Therefore, it indicates that God's chastisement would be comprehensive, thorough, and perfectly proportionate to the depth and persistence of Israel's unrepentant sin. It communicates that the divine discipline would be fully executed until its intended purpose was achieved, which was to bring the people to genuine repentance and restore them to covenant fidelity. This phrase underscores both the severity and the certainty of God's judgment for unrepentant rebellion.

**Is God's chastisement punitive or corrective for believers?**

Answer: For believers in Jesus Christ, God's chastisement is fundamentally corrective and redemptive, not punitive. The full and righteous punishment for our sins was borne by Jesus on the cross, where He became sin for us ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Consequently, any difficulties, trials, or discipline we experience from God as His children are out of His profound love, designed to refine us, lead us to deeper repentance, and conform us more fully to the image of Christ ([Hebrews 12:7-11](/hebrews/12-7-11 "Hebrews 12:7-11 - God Disciplines Us for Our Good")). It is a fatherly discipline aimed at our spiritual growth, holiness, and ultimate good, never a judicial sentence for our offenses, which have already been paid for by Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 26:28, with its stark pronouncements of divine fury and comprehensive chastisement, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound transformation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "fury" and the "chastisement seven times for your sins" that Israel deserved for their persistent covenant breaking were perfectly and completely absorbed by the Lamb of God. On the cross, Jesus became the curse for us ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse of the Law")), bearing the full measure of God's righteous wrath against sin—a "seven times" complete and exhaustive judgment—so that all who believe in Him would never experience it. Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ perfectly fulfilled the demands of the Law, satisfying divine justice and making a new and living way for reconciliation with God. Now, instead of God walking "contrary" to His people in fury, He walks with believers in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit ([Romans 8:4](/romans/8-4 "Romans 8:4 - Walking According to the Spirit")), and any discipline we experience is not punitive wrath but loving correction from a heavenly Father who seeks our holiness and good ([Hebrews 12:5-11](/hebrews/12-5-11 "Hebrews 12:5-11 - God's Discipline for His Children")). The "fury" of God against sin was poured out on Christ, allowing those who trust in Him to receive boundless grace, mercy, and the promise of eternal life ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")).

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 59:18

According to [their] deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.

Jeremiah 21:5

And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.

Ezekiel 5:13

Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken [it] in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.

Ezekiel 5:15

So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that [are] round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken [it].

Ezekiel 8:18

Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, [yet] will I not hear them.

Isaiah 66:15

¶ For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

Isaiah 63:3

I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people [there was] none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.