Leviticus 26–27: Blessings or Cursings

Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, (2002), 62

Having explained what He expected of the Israelites regarding religious cleanliness and holiness, the Lord concluded the book of Leviticus with an explanation of the consequences of obeying or disobeying these commandments (see Leviticus 26). The Lord also gave some concluding counsel about fully consecrating oneself to the Lord’s service.

Understanding the Scriptures

Leviticus 26

Yield (vv. 4, 20)Give 
Threshing (v. 5)Harvesting of grain 
Reach (v. 5)Last 
Vintage (v. 5)Grape harvest 
Ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new (v. 10)You will still be eating from last year’s storage when the new comes in, and you will have to move the old to make room for the new 
Abhor (vv. 11, 15, 30, 43–44)Dislike and neglect 
Upright (v. 13)Free 
Consumption, and the burning ague (v. 16)Diseases 
Pursueth (vv. 17, 36–37)Chases 
Contrary (vv. 21, 23–24, 27, 41)In opposition 
Desolate (vv. 22, 33, 35, 43)Empty 
Pestilence (v. 25)Plagues, diseases 
Staff (v. 26)Supply 
Chastise (v. 28)Discipline, correct 
Waste (vv. 31, 33)Devastate 
Desolation (vv. 31–32)Destruction 
Heathen (vv. 33, 38, 45)Those who don’t know the true and living God 
Faintness (v. 36)Lack of courage 

Studying the Scriptures

Do activity A as you study Leviticus 26–27.

Activity A iconIdentify Choices and Consequences

Make a chart on your paper with two columns like the one below. Label one column “If” and one column “Then.”



Choices the Israelites Could Make

Consequences for Those Choices

  1. 1.

    As you read Leviticus 26, find the word if. You may want to mark or circle it in your scriptures. Write in the “If” column the things the Lord said Israel could do.

  2. 2.

    Find the word then somewhere close after the ifs you found in the first step. Mark or circle it in your scriptures. List in the “Then” column what the Lord said would happen if Israel made certain choices. Continue through the chapter and find more “if-then” connections.