The Meaning of Leviticus 26:15 Explained

Leviticus 26:15

KJV: And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:

YLT: and if at My statutes ye kick, and if My judgments your soul loathe, so as not to do all My commands -- to your breaking My covenant --

Darby: and if ye shall despise my statutes, and if your soul shall abhor mine ordinances, so that ye do not all my commandments, that ye break my covenant,

ASV: and if ye shall reject my statutes, and if your soul abhor mine ordinances, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And if ye shall despise  my statutes,  or if your soul  abhor  my judgments,  so that ye will not do  all my commandments,  [but] that ye break  my covenant: 

What does Leviticus 26:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 26:1-20 - Results Of Obedience And Disobedience
There is a vast contrast between the ideal life of the first thirteen verses of this chapter and the remainder; just the distinction which God ever makes between a life of obedience and faith, and one of disobedience and disbelief. In our inner life we also may have that blessed rain of spiritual grace; the fruit-fullness and the peace, the safety and the victory, the old store reaching to the new, the breaking of our bars and the snapping of our yoke.
If these privileges are not yours, think back on your past to ascertain whether you are walking in all God's commandments, or are in anything walking contrary to them. Confess your sins and return, and dare to believe that He will bring you again, if penitent and believing, into the old glad position. But if "ye will not," Leviticus 26:14; Leviticus 26:18; Leviticus 26:21; Leviticus 26:23; Leviticus 26:27, heavy penalties must befall. God loves us too well to allow us to drift, unwarned and unrestrained, to perdition. [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 26

1  Of idolatry
2  Reverence
3  A blessing to those who keep the commandments
14  A curse to those who break them
40  God promises to remember those who repent

What do the individual words in Leviticus 26:15 mean?

and if My statutes you despise or if - My judgments abhors your soul so that not you do perform all My commandments [but] break My covenant
וְאִם־ בְּחֻקֹּתַ֣י תִּמְאָ֔סוּ וְאִ֥ם אֶת־ מִשְׁפָּטַ֖י תִּגְעַ֣ל נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם לְבִלְתִּ֤י עֲשׂוֹת֙ כָּל־ מִצְוֺתַ֔י לְהַפְרְכֶ֖ם בְּרִיתִֽי

וְאִם־  and  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
בְּחֻקֹּתַ֣י  My  statutes 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: חֻקָּה  
Sense: statute, ordinance, limit, enactment, something prescribed.
תִּמְאָ֔סוּ  you  despise 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: מָאַס 
Sense: to reject, despise, refuse.
וְאִ֥ם  or  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מִשְׁפָּטַ֖י  My  judgments 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
תִּגְעַ֣ל  abhors 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: גָּעַל  
Sense: to abhor, loathe, be vilely cast away, fall.
נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם  your  soul 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
לְבִלְתִּ֤י  so  that  not 
Parse: Preposition-l
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
עֲשׂוֹת֙  you  do  perform 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
מִצְוֺתַ֔י  My  commandments 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
לְהַפְרְכֶ֖ם  [but]  break 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, second person masculine plural
Root: פָּרַר 
Sense: to break, frustrate.
בְּרִיתִֽי  My  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.