LEV 26

Leviticus 26:41

WEB

I also walked contrary to them, and brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled, and they then accept the punishment of their iniquity,

BSB

and I acted with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity,

KJV

And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:

Matthew Henry

Verses 40–46

Leviticus 26:40–46

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.

Cross-references: Zech 9:12 · Lev 26:40 · Lev 26:41 · Ezra 9:1 · Neh 9:2 · Rom 2:29 · Jer 9:26 · Lev 26:43 · Lev 26:44 · Hos 11:8 · Hos 11:9 · Lev 26:42 · Lev 26:45 · Ps 74:20 · Mic 7:20 · Rom 11:28 · Lev 26:46

Hebrew interlinear

H637

אַףʼaph/af/

prt — accession, yea, though

Derivation: a primitive particle;

meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though

KJV: also, + although, and (furthermore, yet), but, even, + how much less (more, rather than), moreover, with, yea.

אַף

conj — also

אַף conj. denoting addition, esp. of something greater, also, yea

H589

אֲנִיʼănîy/an-ee'/

p — I

Derivation: contracted from 595;

I

KJV: I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, × which, × who.

אֲנִי

pron — I

אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I

H3212

יָלַךְyâlak/yaw-lak'/

v — walk, carry

Derivation: a primitive root (compare 1980);

to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)

KJV: × again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, × be weak.

הָלַךְ

vb — go

הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk

Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך

I. lit.

1. of persons

2. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

3. in like manner of inanimate things

4. The inf. abs. is often used

a. as in other vbs., quite independently

b. to intensify meaning of finite form

c. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.

(1). with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

(2). with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

(3). in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance

(4). twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

(5). quite by itself

(6). 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

d. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

5. In combination with other verbal forms

II. Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:

1. pass away, die

2. live (‘walk’), in general

3. of moral and religious life

4. other fig. uses

Pi. (chiefly poet. and late)

1. walk in or with a throng

2. also of walking about = living

3. depart, go entirely away

4. fig. of mode of life, action, etc.

Hithp. walk, walk about, move to and fro

Hiph.

1. lead, bring

2. lead away

3. carry, bring

4. fig. of influence on character

5.

a. cause to walk, go

b. cause to flow, run

c. cause to depart, retire, go back

H5973

עִםʻim/eem/

prep — with, equally with

Derivation: from 6004;

adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)

KJV: accompanying, against, and, as (× long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-) to, with(-al).

מֵעִם

from with

מֵעִם 72 from with or beside

עִם

prep — with

עִם prep. with

1. of fellowship and companionship

a. of aid

b. Of actions done jointly with another

c. If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against

d. Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another

e. Of a common lot together with the wicked

f. Of equality or resemblance generally aid

g. Of time, as long as

2. Of a locality, close to, beside

3. Of persons, עִם is spec.

a. in the house or family or service of

b. In possession of

c. In the custody or care of

d. Beside = except

e. With = friendly with

4. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

5. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

H7147

קְרִיqᵉrîy/ker-ee'/

n-m — hostile encounter

Derivation: from 7136;

hostile encounter

KJV: contrary.

קְרִי

n.[m.] — opposition

[קְרִי] n.[m.] opposition, contrariness

H935

בּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/

v — go, come

Derivation: a primitive root;

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

KJV: abide, apply, attain, × be, befall, besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, × certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, × doubtless again, eat, employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, have, × indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, × (well) stricken (in age), × surely, take (in), way.

בּוֹא

vb — come in

בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go

Qal

1. come in

2. come (approach, arrive)

3. go, i.e. walk, associate with

4. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

Hiph.

1. cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

2. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

Hoph.

a. be brought in (of pers. and things)

b. be brought

c. be introduced, put

H853

אֵתʼêth/ayth/

prt — self, even, namely

Derivation: apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity;

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

KJV: [as such unrepresented in English].

אֵת

mark of the accusative

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

H776

אֶרֶץʼerets/eh'-rets/

n-f — earth, land

Derivation: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm;

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

KJV: × common, country, earth, field, ground, land, × natins, way, + wilderness, world.

אֶ֫רֶץ

n. f — earth

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

1.

a. earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

b. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

c. earth = inhabitants of earth

2. land =

a. country, territory

b. district, region

c. trial territory

d. piece of ground

e. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

f. = inhabitants of land

g. used even of Shᵉʼôl

3.

a. ground, surface of ground

b. soil, as productive

4. אֶרֶץ in phrases

a. people of the land

b. in measurements of distance

c. the country of the plain, level or plain country

d. land of the living

e. end(s) of the earth

5. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

H341

אֹיֵבʼôyêb/o-yabe'/

n-m — hating, adversary

Derivation: or (fully) אוֹיֵב; active participle of 340;

hating; an adversary

KJV: enemy, foe.

אָיַב

vb — be hostile to

[אָיַב] 283 vb. be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)

H176

אוֹʼôw/o/

conj — desire, or, if

Derivation: presumed to be the 'constructive' or genitival form of אַו ; short for 185;

desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

KJV: also, and, either, if, at the least, × nor, or, otherwise, then, whether.

אֵו

n.m — desire

[אֵו] n.m. אוֹ, Kt Pr 31:4 desire, so Thes MV; but < Qr אֵי q.v.

אוֹ

conj — or

אוֹ 320 conj. or

1. sometimes implying a preference, nearly or rather

2. introducing a sentence, esp. a particular case under a general principle, or = or if

3. if perchance

4. once, with the juss. = except

H227

אָזʼâz/awz/

adv — at that time, place, therefore

Derivation: a demonstrative adverb;

at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore

KJV: beginning, for, from, hitherto, now, of old, once, since, then, at which time, yet.

אָז

adv — at that time

אָז adv. at that time, then whether expressing duration, or inception (= thereupon).

1. strictly temporal

2. expressing logical sequence strictly

מֵאָז

from that time

מֵאָז lit. from that time

H3665

כָּנַעkânaʻ/kaw-nah'/

v — bend, humiliate, vanquish

Derivation: a primitive root;

properly, to bend the knee; hence, to humiliate, vanquish

KJV: bring down (low), into subjection, under, humble (self), subdue.

כָּנַע

vb — be humble

[כָּנַע] vb. be humble, only in der. conj.

Niph.

1. reflex. humble oneself

2. pass. be humbled, subdued

Hiph.

1. humble

2. subdue enemies

H3824

לֵבָבlêbâb/lay-bawb'/

n-m — heart

Derivation: from 3823; used also like 3820

the heart (as the most interior organ);

KJV: bethink themselves, breast, comfortably, courage, ((faint), (tender-) heart(-ed), midst, mind, × unawares, understanding.

לֵבָב

n.m — inner man

לֵבָב 251 n.m. inner man, mind, will, heart

I. seldom of things in the midst of the seas

II. usu. of men

1. the inner man in contrast with the outer

2. the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

3. specific ref. to mind

4. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will

5. spec. ref. to conscience

6. spec. ref. to moral character

7. = the man himself

8. spec. as seat of appetites

9. spec. of seat of the emotions and passions

10. seat of courage

H6189

עָרֵלʻârêl/aw-rale'/

a — exposed, uncircumcised

Derivation: from 6188;

properly, exposed, i.e. projecting loose (as to the prepuce); used only technically, uncircumcised (i.e. still having the prepuce uncurtailed)

KJV: uncircumcised (person).

עָרֵל

adj — having foreskin

עָרֵל 35 adj. having foreskin, i.e. uncircumcised

H7521

רָצָהrâtsâh/raw-tsaw'/

v — be pleased with, satisfy

Derivation: a primitive root;

to be pleased with; specifically, to satisfy a debt

KJV: (be) accept(-able), accomplish, set affection, approve, consent with, delight (self), enjoy, (be, have a) favour(-able), like, observe, pardon, (be, have, take) please(-ure), reconcile self.

רָצָה

vb — be pleased with

רָצָה vb. be pleased with, accept favourably

Qal

1. be pleased with, favourable to

2. accept

3. be pleased

4. make acceptable, satisfy (by paying off debt)

Niph.

1. pass. of Qal 2, be accepted, of sacrifices

2. pass. of Qal 4: her punishment is accepted (as satisfactory)

Pi. seek the favour of the poor

Hiph. the land shall pay off her sabbaths

Hithp. with what shall he make himself acceptable unto his lord ?

H5771

עָוֺןʻâvôn/aw-vone'/

n-m — perversity, evil

Derivation: or עָווֹן; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 [7]), from 5753;

perversity, i.e. (moral) evil

KJV: fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.

עָוֹן

n.m — iniquity

עָוֹן n.m. iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity

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