Leviticus 26:37
35 As long as it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not receive during the Sabbaths when you lived in it.
36 As for those of you who survive, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, so that even the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. And they will flee as one flees the sword, and fall when no one pursues them.
They will stumble over one another as before the sword, though no one is behind them. So you will not be able to stand against your enemies.
38 You will perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies will consume you.
39 Those of you who survive in the lands of your enemies will waste away in their iniquity and will decay in the sins of their fathers.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- They will stumble over one another as before the sword, though no one is behind them. So you will not be able to stand against your enemies.
- KJV
- And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.
- WEB
- They will stumble over one another, as it were before the sword, when no one pursues. You will have no power to stand before your enemies.
- ASV
- And they shall stumble one upon another, as it were before the sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.
- DARBY
- and they shall stumble one over another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth; and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.
- BLB
- And they will stumble over one another as it were before a sword, when none pursues. And you⁺ shall have no standing before the face of your⁺ enemies.
- ÅB
- Og de skal falle, den ene over den andre, som for sverd skjønt ingen forfølger dem; og dere skal ikke holde stand mot deres fiender.
- OTB
- De vil snuble over hverandre som om de flykter fra sverdet, selv om ingen forfølger dem; og dere vil ikke ha styrke til å stå foran deres fiender.
- B1930
- Og de skal falle, den ene over den andre, som for sverd skjønt ingen forfølger dem; og I skal ikke holde stand mot eders fiender.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Judges 2:14
Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of those who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.
Read in contextJoshua 7:12–13
This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction.
Read in context1 Samuel 14:15–16
Then terror struck the Philistines in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even those in the outposts and raiding parties trembled. Indeed, the earth quaked and panic spread from God.
Read in contextIsaiah 10:4
Nothing will remain but to crouch among the captives or fall among the slain. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.
Read in contextJudges 7:22
And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.
Read in contextNumbers 14:42
Do not go up, lest you be struck down by your enemies, because the LORD is not among you.
Read in contextJeremiah 37:10
Indeed, if you were to strike down the entire army of the Chaldeans that is fighting against you, and only wounded men remained in their tents, they would still get up and burn this city down.”
Read in context