The Meaning of Leviticus 26:31 Explained

Leviticus 26:31

KJV: And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.

YLT: and I have made your cities a waste, and have made desolate your sanctuaries, and I smell not at your sweet fragrances;

Darby: And I will lay waste your cities and desolate your sanctuaries; and I will not smell your sweet odours.

ASV: And I will make your cities a waste, and will bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savor of your sweet odors.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I will make  your cities  waste,  and bring  your sanctuaries  unto desolation,  and I will not smell  the savour  of your sweet odours. 

What does Leviticus 26:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 26:21-46 - Desolation And Captivity For The Stubborn
Notwithstanding the solemn and appalling pictures placed before Israel in these verses, they forsook the Lord and served other gods. Thus, they brought upon themselves the sore judgments threatened against them, consisting of defeat, scarcity, wild beasts, pestilence and famine, the horrors of siege and desolation, followed by dispersion to the four winds of heaven. The book of Judges illustrates the first, and the destruction of Jerusalem, as told by Josephus, the last of these plagues.
Under the curse of this chapter the chosen people are suffering to this very hour. Scattered and peeled, wasted and outcast, they are monuments of God's truthfulness to His word. They teach an impressive lesson which the nations of the world would do well to lay to heart. Note that remarkable expression about accepting their punishment, as the necessary condition of forgiveness and restoration. The same condition always holds.
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments. [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 26:31 mean?

And I will lay - your cities waste and bring to desolation your sanctuaries and not I will smell the fragrance of your sweet aromas
וְנָתַתִּ֤י אֶת־ עָֽרֵיכֶם֙ חָרְבָּ֔ה וַהֲשִׁמּוֹתִ֖י מִקְדְּשֵׁיכֶ֑ם וְלֹ֣א אָרִ֔יחַ בְּרֵ֖יחַ נִיחֹֽחֲכֶֽם

וְנָתַתִּ֤י  And  I  will  lay 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
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.
עָֽרֵיכֶם֙  your  cities 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
חָרְבָּ֔ה  waste 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָרְבָּה  
Sense: a place laid waste, ruin, waste, desolation.
וַהֲשִׁמּוֹתִ֖י  and  bring  to  desolation 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמֵם  
Sense: to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy.
מִקְדְּשֵׁיכֶ֑ם  your  sanctuaries 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: מִקְדָּשׁ  
Sense: sacred place, sanctuary, holy place.
וְלֹ֣א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אָרִ֔יחַ  I  will  smell 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רִיחַ  
Sense: (Hiphil) to smell, scent, perceive odour, accept.
בְּרֵ֖יחַ  the  fragrance 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֵיחַ  
Sense: scent, fragrance, aroma, odour.
נִיחֹֽחֲכֶֽם  of  your  sweet  aromas 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: נִיחֹחַ  
Sense: soothing, quieting, tranquillising.