Leviticus 26:2

Study note

Setting — Yahweh addresses Israel in the wilderness, placing this directive immediately after the prohibition against carved images and sacred pillars. The command bridges the initial worship regulations and the subsequent covenant blessings and curses.

The words — The verb תִּשְׁמְרוּ (tish.Mo.ru) literally means "you will keep" and governs אֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַי (et-sha.be.to.Ta/i, "My Sabbaths") to mandate strict observance. The verb תִּירָאוּ (ti.Ra.'u, "you will fear") attaches to מִקְדָּשִׁי (mik.da.Sh/i, "My sanctuary") to require formal awe and respect for the holy place.

The thread — The identical phrasing appears in Leviticus 19:30, establishing a fixed parallel between Sabbath keeping and sanctuary reverence. This pairing functions as a recurring covenant marker throughout the Mosaic legislation.

Why it lands — The text commands exclusive loyalty by regulating both sacred time and sacred space. It requires concrete obedience to worship boundaries before any theological or emotional response.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.