Leviticus 26:31 Meaning and Explanation
“And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Cities are ruined, sanctuaries desolate, and God refuses the offerings that once pleased Him.
The Context of Leviticus 26:31
National devastation is complete: the land is emptied, sacred places are ruined, and God has ceased to accept offerings.
What Does Leviticus 26:31 Mean?
Waste cities—emptied of inhabitants, stripped of life—mark Israel's loss of the promised land. Sanctuaries, once the dwelling of God's presence (verse 11), become desolate. The incense offerings (sweet odours) that were once received as a pleasing aroma (as in Leviticus 1) are now rejected. God will not smell them.
The refusal to accept offerings is the final covenant reversal: sacrifices, the language of reconciliation, become meaningless. God has ceased to hear, to smell, to engage with Israel's attempts at propitiation.
Leviticus 26:31 in the Original Language
ach (אַח), 'sweet'—pleasant, delightful; offerings that were once a 'pleasing aroma' to God are now rejected.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 26:31
What does Leviticus 26:31 mean?
Cities are ruined, sanctuaries desolate, and God refuses the offerings that once pleased Him.
What is the context of Leviticus 26:31?
National devastation is complete: the land is emptied, sacred places are ruined, and God has ceased to accept offerings.