Leviticus 26:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel's labor yields nothing; the land refuses all produce.
The Context of Leviticus 26:20
Continued agricultural curse: labor without harvest, land in refusal against Israel's survival.
What Does Leviticus 26:20 Mean?
Strength spent in vain echoes verse 16 (seed sown in vain): effort without return. The land—personified as 'her'—will not yield. Trees that should fruit do not. The reversal of verse 4-5 is exact: rain promised now becomes drought; harvest assured now becomes barrenness.
This fruitlessness extends beyond famine to existential exhaustion: Israel works hard and gains nothing, watching their fields and orchards refuse to produce.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 26:20
What does Leviticus 26:20 mean?
Israel's labor yields nothing; the land refuses all produce.
What is the context of Leviticus 26:20?
Continued agricultural curse: labor without harvest, land in refusal against Israel's survival.