The Meaning of Leviticus 26:23 Explained

Leviticus 26:23

KJV: And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;

YLT: And if by these ye are not instructed by Me, and have walked with Me in opposition,

Darby: And if ye will not be disciplined by me through these, but walk contrary unto me,

ASV: And if by these things ye will not be reformed unto me, but will walk contrary unto me;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And if ye will not be reformed  by me by these things, but will walk  contrary  unto me; 

What does Leviticus 26:23 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 26:23 mean?

And if by these things not you are reformed by Me but walk to Me contrary
וְאִ֨ם־ בְּאֵ֔לֶּה לֹ֥א תִוָּסְר֖וּ לִ֑י וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֥ם עִמִּ֖י קֶֽרִי

וְאִ֨ם־  And  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
בְּאֵ֔לֶּה  by  these  things 
Parse: Preposition-b, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
תִוָּסְר֖וּ  you  are  reformed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָסַר 
Sense: to chasten, discipline, instruct, admonish.
לִ֑י  by  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֥ם  but  walk 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
עִמִּ֖י  to  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
קֶֽרִי  contrary 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קְרִי  
Sense: opposition, contrariness, encounter, contrary or hostile encounter.