Leviticus 26:29

And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.

And ye shall eat {H398} the flesh {H1320} of your sons {H1121}, and the flesh {H1320} of your daughters {H1323} shall ye eat {H398}.

You will eat the flesh of your own sons, you will eat the flesh of your own daughters.

You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters.

And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.

Commentary

Leviticus 26:29 is part of a solemn and terrifying section in the book of Leviticus, detailing the severe consequences of persistent disobedience to God's covenant with ancient Israel. This verse stands as a stark warning within a progressively escalating list of curses, intended to underscore the gravity of turning away from the Lord.

Context of Leviticus 26:29

Chapter 26 of Leviticus presents a foundational covenant document, outlining blessings for obedience (Leviticus 26:3-13) and curses for disobedience (Leviticus 26:14-46). The warnings begin with relatively mild punishments like crop failure and defeat in battle, but they escalate dramatically to encompass disease, famine, desolation of the land, and eventually, the ultimate horror described here: cannibalism. This verse describes a scenario of extreme desperation, likely during a prolonged siege or devastating famine, where the very bonds of humanity and family would disintegrate under unimaginable suffering. It was a dire warning to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land, emphasizing the absolute necessity of covenant faithfulness to avoid such catastrophic judgment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Severe Consequences of Disobedience: This verse powerfully illustrates that God's warnings are not idle threats. Persistent rebellion against His commands leads to devastating and horrifying outcomes.
  • Divine Judgment: It highlights God's righteous judgment against sin and unfaithfulness. The curses are a direct result of Israel's rejection of their covenant relationship with Him.
  • Extreme Famine and Siege: The horrific act of cannibalism is depicted as a direct result of the most extreme conditions of famine and siege, where all other sources of sustenance have failed.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: The entire chapter, culminating in such severe warnings, serves to impress upon the Israelites the profound importance of loyalty and obedience to the Lord as the foundation of their national well-being and survival.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "eat" (ΧΦΈΧ›Φ·Χœ, 'akhal) is a common verb, but its use in this context carries an exceptionally gruesome weight. The repetition of the phrase "ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat" serves to intensify the horror and certainty of this judgment, leaving no doubt about the severity of the threatened consequences.

Cross-References and Connections

This dreadful prophecy found historical fulfillment during periods of intense national distress and siege in Israel's history. Similar warnings and accounts of such extreme suffering appear elsewhere in Scripture:

  • A parallel and equally vivid warning of cannibalism as a curse for disobedience is found in Deuteronomy 28:53-57.
  • The tragic fulfillment of these warnings is chillingly recounted during the siege of Jerusalem in Lamentations 4:10, where mothers are described cooking their own children.
  • Prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel also prophesied similar horrors as a result of Israel's unfaithfulness (e.g., Jeremiah 19:9, Ezekiel 5:10).

Practical Application for Today

While the specific curse of Leviticus 26:29 is a historical warning to ancient Israel under a unique covenant, its underlying principles remain relevant for understanding God's character and the nature of sin:

  • It underscores the profound seriousness of God's warnings and the reality that disobedience has severe consequences, even if not always in such literal, horrific forms today.
  • It reminds us of the importance of living in faithful obedience to God's revealed will, recognizing that our well-being and flourishing are deeply connected to our relationship with Him.
  • This verse serves as a stark reminder of the depths of human depravity and desperation when individuals or societies completely abandon divine order and blessing.
  • Ultimately, it points to the immense grace of God in Christ, who bore the curses of the law on our behalf, offering a path to blessing and reconciliation rather than judgment for those who believe (Galatians 3:13).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Lamentations 4:10

    The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

  • Matthew 24:19

    And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

  • Ezekiel 5:10

    Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.

  • Luke 23:29

    For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed [are] the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

  • Lamentations 2:20

    Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, [and] children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?

  • 2 Kings 6:28

    And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.

  • 2 Kings 6:29

    So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.
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