Leviticus 26:29 Meaning and Explanation
“And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Famine becomes so severe that cannibalism—eating children—results from desperate starvation.
The Context of Leviticus 26:29
The curse reaches its theological and human limit: the dissolution of family bonds and the violation of all law.
What Does Leviticus 26:29 Mean?
This is the nadir of human degradation. Famine has progressed from rationed bread (verse 26) to the consumption of human flesh—the ultimate violation of covenant law and human dignity. Parents eat children. The passage presents this not as God's command but as the inevitable consequence when the land is stripped of all sustenance.
Cannibalism in siege situations appears in historical siege narratives (2 Kings 6:28-29). Here it is the sign that God has completely withdrawn provision and all social order has collapsed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 26:29
What does Leviticus 26:29 mean?
Famine becomes so severe that cannibalism—eating children—results from desperate starvation.
What is the context of Leviticus 26:29?
The curse reaches its theological and human limit: the dissolution of family bonds and the violation of all law.