Leviticus 26:43

KJV

The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.

KJV (with Strong's)

The land {H776} also shall be left {H5800} of them, and shall enjoy {H7521} her sabbaths {H7676}, while she lieth desolate {H8074} without them: and they shall accept {H7521} of the punishment of their iniquity {H5771}: because {H3282}, even because {H3282} they despised {H3988} my judgments {H4941}, and because their soul {H5315} abhorred {H1602} my statutes {H2708}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For the land will lie abandoned without them, and it will be paid its Shabbats while it lies desolate without them; and they will be paid the punishment for their misdeeds, because they rejected my rulings and loathed my regulations.

Berean Standard Bible

For the land will be abandoned by them, and it will enjoy its Sabbaths by lying desolate without them. And they will pay the penalty for their iniquity, because they rejected My ordinances and abhorred My statutes.

American Standard Version

The land also shall be left by them, and shall enjoy its sabbaths, while it lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity; because, even because they rejected mine ordinances, and their soul abhorred my statutes.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 26:43 stands as a solemn declaration within the Mosaic Covenant, articulating the inevitable and just consequences of Israel's persistent rebellion against God. It prophesies a period of forced exile and desolation for the land, during which it would finally receive its long-neglected sabbatical rests. Crucially, the verse emphasizes that the people, through their suffering, would be compelled to acknowledge the righteousness of God's disciplinary hand, recognizing their plight as a direct and deserved outcome of their profound contempt for His divine judgments and statutes.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a climactic point within the extensive "blessings and curses" section of [Leviticus 26](/leviticus/26 "Leviticus 26 - Blessings and Curses"), which forms the theological apex of the Mosaic Covenant's stipulations. The chapter systematically outlines the covenant's conditional nature: promises of abundant blessing for obedience (from [Leviticus 26:3-13](/leviticus/26-3-13 "Leviticus 26:3-13 - Blessings for Obedience")) are followed by a detailed, escalating series of judgments for disobedience (from [Leviticus 26:14-39](/leviticus/26-14-39 "Leviticus 26:14-39 - Curses for Disobedience")). These curses intensify progressively, moving from disease and famine to military defeat, wild beasts, siege, and ultimately, a devastating exile from the promised land. Verse 43 specifically looks forward to the post-exilic period, highlighting God's faithfulness to His own ordinances even amidst human rebellion, ensuring the land's rest. It also sets the immediate stage for the conditional promise of restoration in the subsequent verses (from [Leviticus 26:40-45](/leviticus/26-40-45 "Leviticus 26:40-45 - Confession, Acceptance, and Restoration")), contingent upon Israel's confession and acceptance of their deserved punishment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Leviticus was delivered to Israel at Mount Sinai, establishing the foundational covenant for their national and spiritual life in the soon-to-be-entered Promised Land. The warnings in [Leviticus 26](/leviticus/26 "Leviticus 26 - Blessings and Curses"), particularly the prophecy in [Leviticus 26:43](/leviticus/26-43 "Leviticus 26:43 - The Land's Sabbaths and Accepted Punishment"), anticipate the historical reality of the Babylonian exile, which occurred centuries later (as recorded in [2 Kings 25](/2_kings/25 "2 Kings 25 - The Fall of Jerusalem and Exile")). A core aspect of the Mosaic Law was the command for the land to observe Sabbatical Years ([Leviticus 25:1-7](/leviticus/25-1-7 "Leviticus 25:1-7 - The Sabbatical Year")) and the Year of Jubilee ([Leviticus 25:8-12](/leviticus/25-8-12 "Leviticus 25:8-12 - The Year of Jubilee")), emphasizing God's ownership of the land and Israel's need to trust His provision rather than exploit the earth. Historical accounts and prophetic laments, such as those found in [Jeremiah 25:11-12](/jeremiah/25-11-12 "Jeremiah 25:11-12 - Prophecy of Babylonian Captivity") and the fulfillment noted in [2 Chronicles 36:21](/2_chronicles/36-21 "2 Chronicles 36:21 - Fulfillment of Land's Sabbaths"), confirm Israel's consistent failure to observe these land sabbaths. This failure directly led to the 70-year exile, during which the land lay fallow, thus fulfilling the prophecy of this verse. The "punishment of their iniquity" refers to the suffering and displacement of exile, intended by God as a corrective measure to bring His people to repentance and a renewed understanding of His holiness and justice.
* **Key Themes:** [Leviticus 26](/leviticus/26 "Leviticus 26 - Blessings and Curses") and specifically [Leviticus 26:43](/leviticus/26-43 "Leviticus 26:43 - The Land's Sabbaths and Accepted Punishment") contribute significantly to several major theological themes. Firstly, the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Justice** is paramount, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His covenant, both in blessing and in judgment. His purposes for the land's rest, even if unheeded by Israel, would ultimately be fulfilled through His sovereign intervention. Secondly, the theme of **Consequences of Disobedience** is starkly presented, showing that rebellion against God's revealed will leads to severe and deserved suffering. This is not arbitrary punishment but a just response to a people who "despised" and "abhorred" His commands. Thirdly, the concept of **Repentance and Restoration** is subtly introduced, as the "acceptance of punishment" is a crucial step towards humility and a prerequisite for God's promised remembrance of His covenant, as detailed in [Leviticus 26:40-42](/leviticus/26-40-42 "Leviticus 26:40-42 - Conditions for Restoration"). Finally, the theme of **God's Ownership of the Land and Creation Care** is underscored by the land's forced sabbaths, reminding Israel that the land was not theirs to exploit but God's to steward according to His divine ordinances.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Despised (Hebrew, _mâʼaç'_):** This verb (H3988) signifies a profound contempt, scorn, or disdain. It implies more than mere neglect; it is an active rejection, treating something as worthless or despicable. In this context, it describes Israel's deep-seated repudiation of God's authority and wisdom as embodied in His judgments. It suggests a willful turning away from God's revealed will.
* **Abhorred (Hebrew, _gâʻal'_):** This word (H1602) conveys a strong sense of loathing, detestation, or disgust. It suggests an emotional aversion, a visceral repugnance towards God's statutes. This goes beyond intellectual disagreement to a spiritual rebellion that finds God's holy commands utterly repugnant to the sinful nature, a deep-seated spiritual nausea at divine truth.
* **Judgments (Hebrew, _mishpâṭ'_), Statutes (Hebrew, _chuqqâh'_):** These terms collectively refer to God's entire body of law and divine decrees. _Mishpâṭ_ (H4941) denotes legal rulings, ethical ordinances, and principles of justice and fairness, often concerning how to live righteously in community. _Chuqqâh_ (H2708) signifies divine decrees or fixed ordinances, often with a sense of being 'engraved' or firmly established, representing the non-negotiable, foundational aspects of God's law. The combination emphasizes a comprehensive and profound rejection of God's revealed will, encompassing both its practical applications and its foundational principles.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them:"** This clause prophesies the forced abandonment of the land by the Israelites, a direct consequence of their impending exile. Crucially, it reveals God's sovereign and purposeful action in this desolation: the land, which had been denied its prescribed sabbatical rests by the people's disobedience (cf. [Leviticus 25:4](/leviticus/25-4 "Leviticus 25:4 - The Sabbatical Year")), would finally "enjoy her sabbaths" during their absence. This highlights God's unwavering faithfulness to His own creation ordinances and His commitment to the land's well-being, even when His covenant people prove unfaithful.
* **"and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity:"** This signifies more than simply suffering the consequences; it implies a profound recognition and acknowledgment of the justness and righteousness of God's discipline. It is a crucial step towards repentance, where the people, through their hardship and suffering, come to understand that their plight is a direct and deserved outcome of their own sin, rather than an arbitrary act of God. This acceptance is a prerequisite for future restoration, indicating a humble submission to divine judgment (cf. [Leviticus 26:40](/leviticus/26-40 "Leviticus 26:40 - Confession and Repentance")).
* **"because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes."** This final phrase provides the explicit and emphatically stated reason for the severe punishment. The powerful repetition ("because, even because") underscores the direct and undeniable causal link between Israel's profound spiritual rebellion and their impending downfall. It was not merely accidental transgression but a deep-seated, intentional contempt ("despised") and visceral loathing ("abhorred") for God's righteous laws and decrees. This spiritual rebellion, a rejection of God's very character as expressed in His commands, was the ultimate root cause of their national calamity and subsequent exile.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 26:43 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message with striking clarity and force. **Personification** is vividly present in the phrase "the land... shall enjoy her sabbaths," which attributes human-like pleasure, rest, and even a sense of justice being served to the land itself. This device powerfully portrays the land's long-overdue respite from human exploitation, emphasizing God's care for creation and His commitment to His own laws, even when His people fail. The **repetition** of "because, even because" serves as an emphatic device, powerfully highlighting the direct and undeniable causal link between Israel's profound spiritual rebellion and their impending punishment. This rhetorical emphasis underscores the gravity of their sin—it was not just law-breaking, but a deep-seated despising and abhorring of the very source of those laws. The entire chapter, culminating in this verse, functions as a grand **prophetic warning**, painting a stark and vivid picture of future judgment to impress upon the people the absolute seriousness of their covenant obligations and the dire consequences of disobedience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 26:43 powerfully articulates God's unwavering justice, absolute sovereignty, and fidelity to His covenant. It demonstrates that His promises of blessing and warnings of curse are not idle threats but divinely ordained realities that will come to pass. The verse reveals that God's purposes, including the necessary rest for His creation, will ultimately be fulfilled, even if it requires human suffering and displacement. It also introduces the critical concept of accepting divine discipline as a necessary precursor to genuine repentance and subsequent restoration, highlighting that true turning to God involves humbly acknowledging His righteousness in judgment. The root cause of Israel's downfall—a deep-seated contempt for God's Word—serves as a timeless warning against spiritual apathy, intellectual rebellion, and emotional aversion to divine truth.

* [2 Chronicles 36:21](/2_chronicles/36-21 "2 Chronicles 36:21 - Fulfillment of Land's Sabbaths during Exile")
* [Jeremiah 25:11-12](/jeremiah/25-11-12 "Jeremiah 25:11-12 - Prophecy of Babylonian Captivity and Land's Desolation")
* [Daniel 9:5-8](/daniel/9-5-8 "Daniel 9:5-8 - Daniel's Confession of Israel's Sin and Rebellion")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Leviticus 26:43 serves as a profound mirror for self-examination, urging us to consider our own posture towards God's commands and His disciplinary hand in our lives. It reminds us that genuine faith is not merely intellectual assent to theological truths but a heartfelt reverence for God's Word, expressed through humble obedience and a willingness to conform our lives to His will. When we face difficulties, trials, or consequences in our lives, this verse challenges us to move beyond blaming circumstances or others, and instead, to humbly ask if we are "accepting the punishment of our iniquity"—recognizing God's justice in our trials and our own culpability. This acceptance is not passive resignation but an active, repentant posture that opens the door for God's restorative grace and healing. Furthermore, the land's forced rest during exile reminds us of God's ultimate sovereignty and His commitment to His creation; even when we fail, His purposes will prevail. This should inspire both profound humility and unwavering trust, knowing that God works all things, even our failures and their consequences, into His grand and redemptive design.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life might I be subtly "despising" or "abhorring" God's judgments or statutes through my actions, attitudes, or priorities?**
* **When I face difficult consequences or trials, do I accept them as just, or do I resist, blame, and complain? How can I cultivate a heart that humbly accepts divine discipline as a pathway to growth?**
* **How does the concept of the land enjoying its sabbaths, even in desolation, speak to God's unwavering sovereignty and His care for creation, independent of human faithfulness, and what does this teach me about His character?**

### FAQ
**What does "the land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths" mean?**

Answer: This phrase refers to the fulfillment of God's command for the land of Israel to rest every seventh year (the Sabbatical Year, [Leviticus 25:4](/leviticus/25-4 "Leviticus 25:4 - The Sabbatical Year")) and every fiftieth year (the Year of Jubilee, [Leviticus 25:10](/leviticus/25-10 "Leviticus 25:10 - The Year of Jubilee")). The Israelites were commanded to let the land lie fallow during these times, trusting God to provide for them. However, historical accounts and prophetic laments (e.g., [Jeremiah 25:11-12](/jeremiah/25-11-12 "Jeremiah 25:11-12 - Prophecy of Babylonian Captivity")) indicate that they largely failed to observe these sabbaths over many centuries. Therefore, God declared that if they continued in disobedience and rebellion, He would force them from the land through exile. During their absence, the land would finally receive the cumulative rest it was owed. This was literally fulfilled during the 70-year Babylonian exile, as noted in [2 Chronicles 36:21](/2_chronicles/36-21 "2 Chronicles 36:21 - Fulfillment of Land's Sabbaths during Exile"), which states the land "enjoyed her sabbaths" for the duration of the desolation, making up for the neglected years.

**What is the significance of "they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity"?**

Answer: This phrase is profoundly significant because it implies more than just suffering the consequences of sin; it denotes a crucial recognition and acknowledgment of the justice and righteousness of God's discipline. It marks a turning point where the people, through their hardship and suffering, come to understand that their plight is a direct and deserved outcome of their own sin and rebellion, rather than an arbitrary or unjust act of God. This acceptance is a necessary prerequisite for true repentance and subsequent restoration. As seen in [Leviticus 26:40-42](/leviticus/26-40-42 "Leviticus 26:40-42 - Conditions for Restoration"), God promises to remember His covenant if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, and if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they "accept of the punishment of their iniquity." It signifies a humble submission to God's righteous judgment, paving the way for His mercy and renewed covenant relationship.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 26:43, with its stark portrayal of judgment for despising God's law and its emphasis on accepting the punishment for iniquity, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant, with its conditional blessings and curses, revealed humanity's utter inability to perfectly keep God's "judgments" and "statutes," leading inevitably to punishment, exile, and separation from God's holy presence. Israel's failure to observe the land's sabbaths and their deep-seated abhorrence of God's commands foreshadowed the universal human condition of sin and rebellion against a righteous God ([Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned")). However, Christ perfectly fulfilled every one of God's "judgments" and "statutes" on our behalf, living a life of impeccable obedience ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). He then "accepted the punishment of our iniquity" not for His own sin, but by bearing the full, just wrath of God for the sins of humanity on the cross ([Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5-6 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - Christ's Atoning Sacrifice")). Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ became the ultimate "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Those who believe in Him are no longer under the curse of the law, which Leviticus 26:43 so vividly describes ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeems Us from the Curse of the Law")), but receive His perfect righteousness and the promise of eternal life, dwelling in His presence forever, a far greater and more secure restoration than any return to a physical land ([Hebrews 4:9-11](/hebrews/4-9-11 "Hebrews 4:9-11 - The Rest for the People of God")). Thus, the judgment threatened in Leviticus 26:43, and its subsequent acceptance, points to the profound substitutionary work of Christ, who endured the ultimate desolation of separation from God so that we, through faith, might enjoy eternal Sabbath rest and reconciliation in Him.

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

Leviticus 26:15

And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, [but] that ye break my covenant:

Romans 8:7

Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

John 7:7

The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Zechariah 11:8

Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

Job 5:17

¶ Behold, happy [is] the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

2 Chronicles 36:14

Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 36:16

But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till [there was] no remedy.