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Leviticus 26:22

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I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your [high] ways shall be desolate.

I will also send {H7971} wild {H7704} beasts {H2416} among you, which shall rob you of your children {H7921}, and destroy {H3772} your cattle {H929}, and make you few in number {H4591}; and your high ways {H1870} shall be desolate {H8074}.

I will send wild animals among you; they will rob you of your children, destroy your livestock and reduce your numbers, until your roads are deserted.

I will send wild animals against you to rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and reduce your numbers, until your roads lie desolate.

And I will send the beast of the field among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your ways shall become desolate.

Commentary

Context

Leviticus 26:22 is part of a significant chapter in the book of Leviticus, which outlines the blessings for obedience to God's covenant and the severe curses for disobedience. This specific verse falls within the section detailing the consequences of Israel's persistent rebellion against the Lord's commands. It serves as a stark warning, illustrating that if the people turned away from God, He would remove His protective hand, allowing natural dangers to become instruments of judgment. This passage underscores the conditional nature of the Sinai covenant, where prosperity and security were tied directly to faithfulness.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Consequence: The verse clearly states that God Himself "will send" these calamities, emphasizing His sovereignty over creation and His active role in upholding the terms of His covenant. It highlights that disobedience has real, tangible consequences.
  • Loss of Protection: The proliferation of "wild beasts" (Hebrew: chayyat hassadeh, meaning "beasts of the field") suggests a breakdown of order and the withdrawal of God's protective shield, which normally keeps such threats at bay. This particular curse targets the most vulnerable: children, and the economic backbone of the community: cattle.
  • Societal Desolation: The phrase "make you few in number" points to a decline in population, while "your ways shall be desolate" indicates a breakdown of safe travel and commerce, leading to widespread fear and isolation. This paints a picture of a society in decay, mirroring the spiritual desolation caused by turning from God.

Linguistic Insights

The term "wild beasts" (Hebrew: chayyat hassadeh) refers not just to individual dangerous animals, but to the general threat posed by an unchecked wilderness. In ancient Israel, wild animals like lions, bears, and wolves were a constant danger to livestock and people. God's promise to "send" them implies He would allow them to multiply and become a devastating force, directly impacting human life and livelihood. The word "desolate" (Hebrew: shamem) conveys a sense of emptiness, ruin, and abandonment, reflecting the state of the land and its roads when people are few and fearful.

Practical Application

While we may not face literal wild beasts in the same way today, Leviticus 26:22 speaks to timeless principles:

  1. The Seriousness of Disobedience: This verse serves as a powerful reminder that turning away from God's ways has serious repercussions. It underscores the importance of seeking and obeying God's will in all aspects of life.
  2. God's Sovereignty: It reaffirms that God is ultimately in control, even over seemingly natural occurrences. He can remove His blessings and protection, allowing difficulties to arise as a call to repentance.
  3. Covenant Faithfulness: For believers, this passage encourages faithfulness to the new covenant in Christ. While the specific curses of the Old Testament covenant are not directly applied to New Testament believers in the same way, the principle remains that drawing near to God brings blessing and protection, while drifting away can lead to spiritual and sometimes tangible struggles. We are called to submit to God and resist the devil, trusting in His provision and care.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 14:15 (6 votes)

    If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:

  • Deuteronomy 32:24 (5 votes)

    [They shall be] burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.

  • Judges 5:6 (4 votes)

    ¶ In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.

  • 2 Kings 17:25 (3 votes)

    And [so] it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, [that] they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew [some] of them.

  • Leviticus 26:6 (3 votes)

    And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make [you] afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.

  • Lamentations 1:4 (3 votes)

    The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she [is] in bitterness.

  • Isaiah 33:8 (3 votes)

    The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.