Bible Strands

Leviticus 26:21

If you walk in hostility toward Me and refuse to obey Me, I will multiply your plagues seven times, according to your sins.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Israel regarding covenant consequences, positioning this warning immediately after the failure of the land to yield produce and before the threat of wild animals.

The words — The text highlights תֵּלְכ֤וּ (te.le.Khu), meaning "you will walk," and קֶ֔רִי (Ke.ri), meaning "contrariness," to frame disobedience as a deliberate direction of life. It also uses וְ/יָסַפְתִּ֤י (ve./ya.saf.Ti), literally "and I will add," to describe the escalation of punishment.

The thread — The conditional escalation of punishment appears in Leviticus 26:18, which uses the same "if you will not obey Me" structure without the hostility language. The phrase "walk in hostility toward Me" reappears in Leviticus 26:27 as a renewed warning after further disobedience.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that persistent refusal to obey God triggers proportionally increased judgment. It requires immediate alignment with divine instruction to halt the cycle of escalating consequences.

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.

The Hebrew words

וְאִם־ve./'im-and/ ifתֵּֽלְכ֤וּte.le.Khuyou will walkעִמִּי֙'i.M/iwith/ meקֶ֔רִיKe.ricontrarinessוְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ notתֹאב֖וּto.Vuyou will be willingלִשְׁמֹ֣עַֽli/sh.Mo.a'to/ listenלִ֑יL/ito <the>/ meוְיָסַפְתִּ֤יve./ya.saf.Tiand/ I will addעֲלֵיכֶם֙'a.lei./Khemto/ youמַכָּ֔הma.Kaha blowשֶׁ֖בַעShe.va'sevenfoldכְּחַטֹּאתֵיכֶֽם׃ke./cha.to.tei./Khemaccording to/ sins/ your

King James Version

And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.

Cross-references