The Meaning of Leviticus 26:40 Explained

Leviticus 26:40

KJV: If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;

YLT: And -- they have confessed their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they have trespassed against Me, and also, that they have walked with Me, in opposition,

Darby: And they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, through their unfaithfulness wherein they were unfaithful to me, and also that they have walked contrary unto me,

ASV: And they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against me, and also that, because they walked contrary unto me,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If they shall confess  their iniquity,  and the iniquity  of their fathers,  with their trespass  which they trespassed  against me, and that also they have walked  contrary  unto me; 

What does Leviticus 26:40 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 26:40 mean?

And [But] if they confess - their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me and also that they have walked to Me contrary
וְהִתְוַדּ֤וּ אֶת־ עֲוֺנָם֙ וְאֶת־ עֲוֺ֣ן אֲבֹתָ֔ם בְּמַעֲלָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר מָֽעֲלוּ־ בִ֑י וְאַ֕ף אֲשֶׁר־ הָֽלְכ֥וּ עִמִּ֖י בְּקֶֽרִי

וְהִתְוַדּ֤וּ  And  [But]  if  they  confess 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָדָה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast.
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.
עֲוֺנָם֙  their  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
עֲוֺ֣ן  the  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
אֲבֹתָ֔ם  of  their  fathers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
בְּמַעֲלָ֖ם  with  their  unfaithfulness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מַעַל  
Sense: unfaithful or treacherous act, trespass.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  in  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
מָֽעֲלוּ־  they  were  unfaithful 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: מַעַל  
Sense: unfaithful or treacherous act, trespass.
בִ֑י  to  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
וְאַ֕ף  and  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אַף  
Sense: also, yea, though, so much the more adv.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הָֽלְכ֥וּ  they  have  walked 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
עִמִּ֖י  to  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
בְּקֶֽרִי  contrary 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קְרִי  
Sense: opposition, contrariness, encounter, contrary or hostile encounter.