The Meaning of Leviticus 26:18 Explained

Leviticus 26:18

KJV: And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.

YLT: And if unto these ye hearken not to Me, -- then I have added to chastise you seven times for your sins;

Darby: And if for this ye hearken not unto me, I will punish you sevenfold more for your sins,

ASV: And if ye will not yet for these things hearken unto me, then I will chastise you seven times more for your sins.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And if ye will not yet  for all this hearken  unto me, then I will punish  you seven times  more  for your sins. 

What does Leviticus 26:18 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 26:18 mean?

And if after these [things] not you do obey Me then I will more punish you sevenfold for your sins
וְאִ֨ם־ עַד־ אֵ֔לֶּה לֹ֥א תִשְׁמְע֖וּ לִ֑י וְיָסַפְתִּי֙ לְיַסְּרָ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם שֶׁ֖בַע עַל־ חַטֹּאתֵיכֶֽם

וְאִ֨ם־  And  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
עַד־  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
אֵ֔לֶּה  these  [things] 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
תִשְׁמְע֖וּ  you  do  obey 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
לִ֑י  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
וְיָסַפְתִּי֙  then  I  will  more 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
לְיַסְּרָ֣ה  punish 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person feminine singular
Root: יָסַר 
Sense: to chasten, discipline, instruct, admonish.
שֶׁ֖בַע  sevenfold 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
חַטֹּאתֵיכֶֽם  your  sins 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.