Leviticus 26:29
Leviticus 26:29 in Multiple Translations
You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters.
And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.
And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.
Then you will take the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters for food;
You will eat the bodies of your own sons and daughters.
And ye shall eate ye flesh of your sonnes, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye deuoure.
'And ye have eaten the flesh of your sons; even flesh of your daughters ye do eat.
You will eat the flesh of your sons, and you will eat the flesh of your daughters.
And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.
So that you shall eat the flesh of your sons and of your daughters.
You will be extremely hungry, with the result that you will kill your sons and daughters and eat their flesh.
Berean Amplified Bible — Leviticus 26:29
BAB
Word Study
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Leviticus 26:29 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/אֲכַלְתֶּ֖ם
בְּשַׂ֣ר
בְּנֵי/כֶ֑ם
וּ/בְשַׂ֥ר
בְּנֹתֵי/כֶ֖ם
תֹּאכֵֽלוּ
וַ/אֲכַלְתֶּ֖ם
ʼâkal
H398
to eat
Conj | V-Qal-2mp
בְּשַׂ֣ר
bâsâr
H1320
flesh
N-ms
בְּנֵי/כֶ֑ם
bên
H1121
son
N-mp | Suff
וּ/בְשַׂ֥ר
bâsâr
H1320
flesh
Conj | N-ms
בְּנֹתֵי/כֶ֖ם
bath
H1323
Bath (Shua)
N-fp | Suff
תֹּאכֵֽלוּ
ʼâkal
H398
to eat
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Leviticus 26:29
וַ/אֲכַלְתֶּ֖ם
ʼâkal
H398
"to eat"
Conj | V-Qal-2mp
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Definition: 1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to eat (human subject) 1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds) 1a3) to devour, consume (of fire) 1a4) to devour, slay (of sword) 1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought) 1a6) to devour (of oppression) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be eaten (by men) 1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire) 1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh) 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to cause to eat, feed with 1c2) to cause to devour 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to feed 1d2) to cause to eat 1e) (Piel) 1e1) consume Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
Usage: Occurs in 703 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. See also: Genesis 2:16; Leviticus 6:9; Numbers 24:8.
בְּשַׂ֣ר
bâsâr
H1320
"flesh"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for flesh refers to the body or a person, and can also describe living things or animals. In the Bible, it is used to describe humans and animals, as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: 1) flesh 1a) of the body 1a1) of humans 1a2) of animals 1b) the body itself 1c) male organ of generation (euphemism) 1d) kindred, blood-relations 1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God) 1f) all living things 1g) animals 1h) mankind Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321)
Usage: Occurs in 241 OT verses. KJV: body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. See also: Genesis 2:21; Numbers 11:21; Psalms 16:9.
בְּנֵי/כֶ֑ם
bên
H1121
"son"
N-mp | Suff
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
וּ/בְשַׂ֥ר
bâsâr
H1320
"flesh"
Conj | N-ms
The Hebrew word for flesh refers to the body or a person, and can also describe living things or animals. In the Bible, it is used to describe humans and animals, as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: 1) flesh 1a) of the body 1a1) of humans 1a2) of animals 1b) the body itself 1c) male organ of generation (euphemism) 1d) kindred, blood-relations 1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God) 1f) all living things 1g) animals 1h) mankind Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321)
Usage: Occurs in 241 OT verses. KJV: body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. See also: Genesis 2:21; Numbers 11:21; Psalms 16:9.
בְּנֹתֵי/כֶ֖ם
bath
H1323
"Bath (Shua)"
N-fp | Suff
The Hebrew word for daughter is used to describe a female child or a woman, and can also be used figuratively. In the Bible, it is used to describe women like Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and later of King David.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.38.2; daughter of: Shua (H7770); married to Judah (H3063); mother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956) the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan (alternate spelling to 'Bathsheba')
Usage: Occurs in 498 OT verses. KJV: apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. See also: Genesis 5:4; Exodus 2:21; Ruth 1:13.
תֹּאכֵֽלוּ
ʼâkal
H398
"to eat"
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Definition: 1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to eat (human subject) 1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds) 1a3) to devour, consume (of fire) 1a4) to devour, slay (of sword) 1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought) 1a6) to devour (of oppression) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be eaten (by men) 1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire) 1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh) 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to cause to eat, feed with 1c2) to cause to devour 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to feed 1d2) to cause to eat 1e) (Piel) 1e1) consume Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
Usage: Occurs in 703 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. See also: Genesis 2:16; Leviticus 6:9; Numbers 24:8.
Study Notes — Leviticus 26:29
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Leviticus 26:29 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Leviticus 26:29
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Leviticus 26:29
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Leviticus 26:29
- Trapp's Commentary on Leviticus 26:29
- Ellicott's Commentary on Leviticus 26:29
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Leviticus 26:29
- Cambridge Bible on Leviticus 26:29
- Whedon's Commentary on Leviticus 26:29
- Sermons on Leviticus 26:29
Context — Punishments for Disobedience
27But if in spite of all this you do not obey Me, but continue to walk in hostility toward Me,
28then I will walk in fury against you, and I, even I, will punish you sevenfold for your sins.
29You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters.
30I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and heap your lifeless bodies on the lifeless remains of your idols; and My soul will despise you. 31I will reduce your cities to rubble and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will refuse to smell the pleasing aroma of your sacrifices.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel 5:10 | As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’ |
| 2 | Lamentations 4:10 | The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people. |
| 3 | Matthew 24:19 | How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! |
| 4 | Luke 23:29 | Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’ |
| 5 | Jeremiah 19:9 | I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’ |
| 6 | Deuteronomy 28:53–57 | Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. The most gentle and refined woman among you, so gentle and refined she would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, will begrudge the husband she embraces and her son and daughter the afterbirth that comes from between her legs and the children she bears, because she will secretly eat them for lack of anything else in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within your gates. |
| 7 | 2 Kings 6:28–29 | Then the king asked her, “What is the matter?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him, and tomorrow we will eat my son.’ So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.” |
| 8 | Lamentations 2:20 | Look, O LORD, and consider: Whom have You ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the infants they have nurtured? Should priests and prophets be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord? |
Leviticus 26:29 Summary
[Leviticus 26:29 is a warning from God that if we disobey Him, we may face extreme consequences, including physical hunger and starvation. This is not just about food, but also about the spiritual nourishment we need to survive. As seen in Deuteronomy 8:3, God wants us to remember that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. By prioritizing our relationship with God and following His commands, we can avoid the severe punishments warned about in this verse and find true satisfaction and fulfillment in Him.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to eat the flesh of our own sons and daughters?
This verse, Leviticus 26:29, is a severe warning from God of the consequences of disobedience, where people would be driven to cannibalism in times of extreme famine or siege, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:53 and Lamentations 4:10.
Is this verse only talking about physical hunger or is there a spiritual aspect?
While the verse does refer to physical hunger, it also serves as a warning of the spiritual starvation that can occur when we turn away from God, as seen in Amos 8:11, where God warns of a famine of hearing His words.
How can a loving God threaten such a horrific punishment?
God's warnings and punishments are always motivated by His love and desire to bring people back to Himself, as seen in Jeremiah 31:3, where God says He has loved us with an everlasting love, and in Hebrews 12:6, which reminds us that the Lord disciplines those He loves.
Has this warning ever been fulfilled in history?
Unfortunately, yes, there have been instances where people have been driven to cannibalism in times of extreme famine or siege, such as during the siege of Samaria in 2 Kings 6:24-30, and the siege of Jerusalem in Lamentations 4:10, serving as a grim reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God's laws and commands.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I may be 'eating the flesh' of those around me through my selfish actions or words?
- In what ways can I prioritize obedience to God's commands in my daily life to avoid the consequences of disobedience?
- How can I cultivate a deeper appreciation for God's provision and care in my life, and avoid taking His blessings for granted?
- What are some spiritual 'hunger pangs' I may be experiencing, and how can I seek to satisfy them through a deeper relationship with God?
Gill's Exposition on Leviticus 26:29
And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons,.... Which was fulfilled at the siege of Samaria, in the times of Joram, 2 Kings 6:29; and at the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, Lamentations 4:10; and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Leviticus 26:29
And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. Ye shall eat the flesh of your sons.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Leviticus 26:29
Through extreme hunger. See .
Trapp's Commentary on Leviticus 26:29
Leviticus 26:29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.Ver. 29. And ye shall eat.] As they did. Pone pretium humanae corni, was once heard openly proclaimed at Rome in the reign of Honorius the Emperor. A hard case indeed. Here in England, in Edward II’ s time, anno 1316, there was so terrible a famine, that horses, dogs, yea, men and children, were stolen for food, and the thieves newly brought into the jail were torn in pieces, and eaten presently half alive, by such as had been longer there. Alsted, Chron. Speed’ s Hist.
Ellicott's Commentary on Leviticus 26:29
(29) And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons.—The harrowing scene here described is also depicted in Deuteronomy 28:53-57. This prediction actually came to pass at the siege of Samaria by the Syrians (2 Kings 6:28-29), and at the siege of Jerusalem by the Chaldæans, which Jeremiah thus bewails, “the hands of pitiful women have sodden their own children, they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people” (Lamentations 4:10; comp. also Jeremiah 19:9; Ezekiel 5:10; Zechariah 11:9, &c.). This also happened at the siege of Jerusalem by Titus. A woman named Mary killed her infant child and boiled it during the height of the famine, and after she had eaten part of it, the soldiers found the rest in her house.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Leviticus 26:29
Verse 29. Ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, &c.] This was literally fulfilled at the siege of Jerusalem. Josephus, WARS of the Jews, book vii., chap. ii., gives us a particular instance in dreadful detail of a woman named Mary, who, in the extremity of the famine during the siege, killed her sucking child, roasted, and had eaten part of it when discovered by the soldiers! See this threatened, Jeremiah 19:9.
Cambridge Bible on Leviticus 26:29
29. Cp. Deuteronomy 28:53; Jeremiah 19:9, and, for the fulfilment of the prophet’s words, Lamentations 4:10.
Whedon's Commentary on Leviticus 26:29
29. Ye shall eat the flesh of your sons — This awful prediction was literally fulfilled in the siege of Jerusalem by Titus and the Roman army.
Sermons on Leviticus 26:29
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
We Shall Learn to Sing of Judgment and Mercy. by Andrew Murray | Andrew Murray emphasizes the dual attributes of God's holiness: His righteousness and His love, which are revealed through judgment and mercy. He explains that true knowledge of Go |
|
The Siege of Samaria by Denis Lyle | Denis Lyle preaches on the Siege of Samaria, highlighting the misery that sin brings, including idolatry in the land and the hypocrisy of the leader, King Jehoram. Despite the dire |
|
Commentary Notes - Ii Kings by Walter Beuttler | Walter Beuttler delves into the Book of 2 Kings, highlighting the division of the book into two parts and the continuous history it provides of God's people. The message of the boo |
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Leviticus 26:3 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes the certainty of God's promises as outlined in Leviticus 26:3, highlighting the importance of obedience to God's statutes and commandments. He explains that |