Leviticus 26:44

Translation
King James Version
And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And yet H637 for all that H2063, when they be H1571 in the land H776 of their enemies H341, I will not cast them away H3988, neither will I abhor H1602 them, to destroy them utterly H3615, and to break H6565 my covenant H1285 with them: for I am the LORD H3068 their God H430.
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Complete Jewish Bible
Yet, in spite of all that, I will not reject them when they are in the lands of their enemies, nor will I loathe them to the point of utterly destroying them and thus break my covenant with them, because I am ADONAI their God.
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Berean Standard Bible
Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject or despise them so as to destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God.
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American Standard Version
And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them; for I am Jehovah their God;
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World English Bible Messianic
Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God;
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Yet notwithstanding this, when they shalbe in the lande of their enemies, I wil not cast them away, neither will I abhorre them, to destroy them vtterly, nor to breake my couenant with them: for I am the Lord their God:
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Young's Literal Translation
and also even this, in their being in the land of their enemies, I have not rejected them, nor have I loathed them, to consume them, to break My covenant with them; for I am Jehovah their God; --
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See also
Nehemiah 9:31Romans 11:2Psalms 94:142 Kings 13:23Deuteronomy 4:29Deuteronomy 4:31Psalms 89:33
In the KJVVerse 3,569 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Leviticus 26:44 stands as a profound testament to God's enduring faithfulness and covenant loyalty, even in the face of Israel's anticipated disobedience and subsequent judgment. Nestled within a chapter outlining severe curses for covenant infidelity, this verse offers a divine assurance that despite the nation's eventual exile to the "land of their enemies," God would neither utterly abandon nor abhor His people, nor would He break the sacred covenant He established with them, affirming His unchanging character as the LORD their God.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Leviticus 26 concludes the legal and ritualistic instructions given at Mount Sinai, serving as a climactic covenant ratification. It presents a stark dichotomy: blessings for obedience to the Mosaic Covenant in the first half (Leviticus 26:3-13), followed by an extensive and escalating series of curses for disobedience in the latter half (Leviticus 26:14-39). These curses detail famine, pestilence, war, and ultimately, the desolation of the land and the dispersion of Israel among the nations. Verse 44 appears at the very end of this dire warning, after God describes how He would "bring a sword upon you" and "scatter you among the heathen," immediately preceding a call to repentance and a reaffirmation of the Abrahamic and Jacobic covenants in Leviticus 26:40-45. This strategic placement highlights God's ultimate commitment beyond the conditional Mosaic Law, demonstrating His sovereign grace that undergirds His disciplinary actions.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The book of Leviticus was given to Israel shortly after their exodus from Egypt, while they were encamped at Mount Sinai. They had just entered into a unique covenant relationship with Yahweh, becoming His treasured possession among all peoples, as outlined in Exodus 19:5-6. The warnings in Leviticus 26, particularly concerning exile to the "land of their enemies," foreshadow the historical reality of Israel's repeated cycles of apostasy, divine judgment, and eventual dispersion, most notably the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, as chronicled in 2 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 25. In the ancient Near East, a broken covenant often meant the complete annihilation of the offending party, with no hope of restoration. However, this verse reveals a unique aspect of Yahweh's character: His faithfulness transcends human failure, ensuring that His foundational promises to the patriarchs, which predated the Mosaic Law, would ultimately endure, even when the conditional Mosaic Covenant brought about severe consequences.
  • Key Themes: This verse contributes significantly to several major theological themes within Leviticus and the broader Pentateuch. It powerfully underscores the theme of Divine Faithfulness, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people despite their anticipated unfaithfulness. It highlights the distinction between the conditional Mosaic Covenant and the unconditional, eternal covenants made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, emphasizing the theme of Covenant Continuity and Preservation. The verse also touches upon the theme of Divine Judgment and Mercy, showing that while God will justly discipline His people for sin, His judgment is not annihilative but redemptive, preserving a remnant and a future. Finally, it reinforces the theme of God's Immutable Character, as His promise not to break His covenant is grounded in His very identity as "the LORD their God," a declaration of His self-existent, covenant-keeping nature.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • gam (Hebrew, gam', H1571): This particle, translated "And yet for all that," serves to introduce a strong contrast or concession. It signifies "even," "also," or "though," indicating that despite the preceding litany of curses and the dire state of exile, God's promise of non-abandonment holds true. It highlights the surprising and gracious nature of God's declaration, occurring against the backdrop of severe judgment.
  • mâʼaç (Hebrew, mâʼaç', H3988): Translated "cast them away," this primitive root means "to spurn," "to despise," or "to reject." It conveys a strong sense of disdain or repudiation. God's promise not to "cast them away" means He will not utterly disown or abandon His people, even when their actions would justly warrant such a response. This speaks to a deep, enduring commitment that transcends their failure.
  • bᵉrîyth (Hebrew, bᵉrîyth', H1285): This foundational term, translated "covenant," refers to a solemn, binding agreement or compact, often sealed by an oath and involving mutual obligations and consequences. The phrase "to break my covenant with them" emphasizes the inviolable nature of God's divine promises, particularly the unconditional covenants (like the Abrahamic Covenant), which guarantee Israel's continued existence and the ultimate fulfillment of promises concerning land and descendants, even when the conditional Mosaic Covenant is violated.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies,": This opening clause acknowledges the severe consequences of Israel's disobedience detailed in the preceding verses of Leviticus 26. "For all that" refers to the comprehensive list of curses, including scattering among the nations. "The land of their enemies" vividly describes their future state of captivity and dispersion, a direct consequence of their covenant infidelity, yet it sets the stage for God's surprising declaration of enduring grace.
  • "I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them,": Despite Israel's rebellion and the just punishment of exile, God promises He will not utterly repudiate them nor view them with complete disgust. This is a profound statement of divine steadfastness and compassion, indicating that His judgment is corrective and restorative, not annihilative. It assures that His relationship with His people remains intact at a fundamental level, even when their sin makes them worthy of revulsion.
  • "to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them:": This phrase reinforces the limits of God's discipline. While severe, His judgment will not lead to their absolute annihilation. Crucially, God pledges not to annul His foundational covenant with them. This refers primarily to the unconditional, everlasting covenants made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which guarantee their continued existence as a people and the eventual fulfillment of promises concerning land and descendants, even when the Mosaic covenant's conditional terms are violated.
  • "for I [am] the LORD their God.": This concluding affirmation serves as the ultimate ground for God's faithfulness. His name, Yahweh (LORD), signifies His self-existent, sovereign, and covenant-keeping nature. His identity as "their God" underscores His unique, personal, and unchanging relationship with Israel, providing the immutable basis for His promise of non-abandonment and covenant preservation. It is a divine guarantee rooted in His very character.

Literary Devices

Leviticus 26:44 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. Contrast is central, juxtaposing the severe consequences of Israel's sin (exile, abhorrence, casting away) with God's unwavering faithfulness and covenant preservation. This creates a powerful tension that highlights the depth of divine grace. The use of Negative Assertion ("I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant") emphasizes God's commitment by explicitly stating what He will not do, thereby reinforcing the certainty of His enduring loyalty. The phrase "the land of their enemies" functions as Metonymy, representing the entire experience of exile, suffering, and dispersion. Finally, the concluding Divine Self-Attestation, "for I [am] the LORD their God," serves as an Oath Formula or Divine Guarantee, grounding the entire promise in God's immutable character and sovereign authority. This declaration acts as a theological anchor, ensuring the promise's reliability and demonstrating that God's faithfulness is not contingent on human performance but on His own nature.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Leviticus 26:44 is a profound theological statement on God's unwavering faithfulness, mercy, and the enduring nature of His covenant promises. It reveals that while God is just and will indeed punish sin, His ultimate disposition towards His chosen people is one of steadfast love and commitment. This verse underscores the concept of divine grace that transcends human failure, ensuring that God's ultimate plan for Israel, rooted in His unconditional covenants, will not be thwarted by their disobedience. It speaks to the preserving power of God's character, which acts as a safeguard against the complete destruction of His people, even when they are deserving of it. This principle of divine faithfulness amidst human unfaithfulness is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, providing a foundation for hope and assurance in God's redemptive plan.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Leviticus 26:44 offers immense comfort and reassurance for believers today, serving as a powerful reminder of God's unchanging character. In a world where relationships often falter and promises are broken, this verse stands as an anchor, affirming that God's commitment to His people, rooted in His very being, is unbreakable. It teaches us that even when we stumble, stray, or experience the natural consequences of our actions, God does not utterly abandon those who are His. His discipline is always redemptive, aimed at restoration rather than annihilation. This truth allows us to approach God with confidence, knowing that His love is steadfast and His mercies are new every morning, not because of our perfect obedience, but because of His perfect faithfulness. It calls us to trust in His enduring grace, even in our moments of deepest failure or despair, and to reflect His faithfulness in our own commitments and relationships, demonstrating the same steadfast love and forgiveness to others that God has shown to us.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does understanding God's promise not to "cast away" or "abhor" His people, even in their worst state, impact your view of His character?
  • In what ways does this verse challenge or affirm your understanding of divine judgment and mercy?
  • How can the assurance of God's unchanging covenant faithfulness in Leviticus 26:44 strengthen your faith when you face personal failures or difficult consequences?

FAQ

Does this verse mean God will never punish His people for their sins?

Answer: No, this verse does not mean God will never punish His people. In fact, it is found within a chapter that details extensive and severe curses for disobedience, including famine, pestilence, war, and ultimately, exile to the "land of their enemies." The preceding verses in Leviticus 26 clearly outline the consequences of breaking the Mosaic Covenant. What Leviticus 26:44 promises is that even in the midst of severe judgment and discipline, God will not utterly abandon His people, nor will He break His foundational, unconditional covenant with them (like the Abrahamic Covenant). His punishment is corrective, aimed at bringing them to repentance and restoration, rather than total annihilation. It's a promise of preservation, not immunity from consequence.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Leviticus 26:44, a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While the verse speaks of God's commitment to Israel despite their unfaithfulness under the Old Covenant, Christ embodies the perfect faithfulness that both Israel and humanity lacked. He is the true Israel, the obedient Son, who perfectly fulfilled the Law and its demands, as declared in Matthew 5:17. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus bore the full weight of the curses and judgments for sin, ensuring that those who are "in Christ" will never be utterly cast away or abhorred by God. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 proclaims, He who knew no sin became sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. The New Covenant established in His blood is an "everlasting covenant," as affirmed in Hebrews 13:20, a superior agreement that guarantees God's covenant promises to His people—now spiritual Israel, the church—will never be broken. In Christ, believers are assured that nothing can separate them from the love of God, as triumphantly declared in Romans 8:38-39, fulfilling the spirit of God's promise in Leviticus 26:44 on an even deeper, more secure, and eternally binding level.

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Commentary on Leviticus 26 verses 40–46

Here the chapter concludes with gracious promises of the return of God's favour to them upon their repentance, that they might not (unless it were their own fault) pine away in their iniquity. Behold, with wonder, the riches of God's mercy to a people that had obstinately stood it out against the judgments of God, and would never think of surrendering till they were reduced to the last extremity. Yet turn to strong-hold, you prisoners of hope, Zac 9:12. As bad as things are, they may be mended. Yet there is hope in Israel. Observe,

I. How the repentance which would qualify them for this mercy is described, Lev 26:40, Lev 26:41. The instances of it are three: - 1. Confession, by which they must give glory to God, and take shame to themselves. There must be a confession of sin, their own and their fathers', which they must lament the guilt of because they feel the smart of it; that thus they may cut off the entail of wrath. They must in their confession put sin under its worst character, as walking contrary to God; this is the sinfulness of sin, the worst thing in it, and which in our repentance we should especially bewail. There must also be a confession of wrath; they must overlook the instruments of their trouble and the second causes, and confess that God has walked contrary to them, and so dealt with them according to their sins. Such a confession as this we find made by Daniel just before the dawning of the day of their deliverance (ch. 9), and the like, Ezr 9:1-15 and Neh 9:2. Remorse and godly sorrow for sin: If their uncircumcised heart be humbled. An impenitent, unbelieving, unhumbled heart, is called an uncircumcised heart, the heart of a Gentile that is a stranger to God, rather than the heart of an Israelite in covenant with him. True circumcision is of the heart (Rom 2:29), without which the circumcision of the flesh avails nothing, Jer 9:26. Now in repentance this uncircumcised heart was humbled, that is, it was truly broken and contrite for sin. Note, A humble heart under humbling providences prepares for deliverance and true comfort. 3. Submission to the justice of God in all his dealings; if they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity (Lev 26:41 and again Lev 26:43), that is, if they justify God and condemn themselves, patiently bear the punishment as that which they have well deserved, and carefully answer the ends o it as that which God has well designed, accept it as a kindness, take it as physic, and improve it, then they are penitents indeed.

II. How the mercy which they should obtain upon their repentance is described. 1. They should not be abandoned: Though they have despised my judgments, yet, for all that, I will not cast them away, Lev 26:43, Lev 26:44. He speaks as a tender Father that cannot find in his heart to disinherit a son that has been very provoking. How shall I do it? Hos 11:8, Hos 11:9. Till he had laid the foundations of a church for himself in the Gentile world, the Jewish church was not quite forsaken, nor cast away. 2. They should be remembered: I will remember the land with favour, which is grounded upon the promise before, I will remember my covenant (Lev 26:42), which is repeated, Lev 26:45. God is said to remember the covenant when he performs the promises of it, purely for his faithfulness' sake; not because there is any thing in us to recommend us to his favour, but because he will be as good as his word. This is the church's plea. Psa 74:20, Have respect unto the covenant. He will remember the constitution of the covenant, which is such as leaves room for repentance, and promises pardon upon repentance; and the Mediator of the covenant, who was promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and was sent, when the fulness of time came, in remembrance of that holy covenant. The word covenant is thrice repeated, to intimate that God is ever mindful of it and would have us to be so. The persons also with whom the covenant was made are mentioned in an unusual manner, per modum ascensus - in the ascending line, beginning with Jacob, to lead them gradually to the most ancient promise, which was made to the father of the faithful: thus (Mic 7:20) he is said to perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham. He will for their sakes (Lev 26:45), not their merit's sake, but their benefit's sake, remember the covenant of their ancestors, and upon that score show kindness to them, though most unworthy; they are therefore said to be, as touching the election, beloved for the fathers' sake, Rom 11:28. Note, When those that have walked contrary to God in a way of sin return to him by sincere repentance, though he has walked contrary to them in a way of judgment he will return to them in a way of special mercy, pursuant to the covenant of redemption and grace. None are so ready to repent as God is to forgive upon repentance, through Christ, who is given for a covenant.

Lastly, These are said to be the laws which the Lord made between him and the children of Israel, Lev 26:46. His communion with his church is kept up by his law. He manifests not only his dominion over them, but his favour to them, by giving them his law; and they manifest not only their holy fear, but their holy love, by the observance of it; and thus it is made between them, rather as a covenant than a law; for he draws with the cords of a man.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 40–46. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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