Leviticus 26:44–45
Even in the land of their enemies, God says he will not break his covenant
Study it word by word44Yet even for all this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them and I will not loathe them so as to destroy them completely and break my covenant with them; for I am YHWH their Elohim.
45But I will remember for them the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, to be their Elohim. I am YHWH.
In its context
42then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham I will remember, and the land I will remember.
43But the land will be abandoned by them and will enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them; and they will accept the payment for their iniquity, because, yes, because they rejected my rules and their soul loathed my statutes.
…
46These are the statutes and the rules and the instructions that YHWH made between himself and the sons of Israel on Mount Sinai through Moses.
Its words in the original
- הְיוֹתָheota· be, become, happen
Be, exist; also "become" or "happen". It is the verb of "there was", "it was" and "it came to pass".
- אֶרֶץerets· earth, land
The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").
- אֹיְבֵיoyve· enemy
Enemy, foe: one who hates and opposes another.
- מְאַסְתִּיmeasti· reject, despise
Despise, reject, refuse something.
- גְעַלְתִּיgealti· abhor
Abhor, feel a deep rejection for something.
- כַלֹּתָchalota· finish, consume
Finish, complete something; come to an end. Also put an end to something, consume it, destroy it.
- הָפֵרhafer· break, annul
Break, annul, frustrate; break a covenant, fail to keep it.
- בְּרִיתִberiti· covenant
Covenant: a solemn commitment between two parties, with promises and obligations. When God makes it, he is the one who offers it and guarantees it.
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- אֱלֹהֵיelohe· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- זָכַרְתִּיzacharti· remember
Remember, call to mind; also mention. When God "remembers" someone, it is not that he had forgotten: it means he acts in his favor.
- רִאשֹׁנִיםrishonim· first
First, in place, time or rank; former.
- הוֹצֵאתִיhotseti· go out, bring out
Go out, come out. In the causative form, "make go out", "bring out", "lead out", "produce".
- מִצְרַיִםmitsrayim· Egypt, Mizraim
Mizraim, the Hebrew name of Egypt; also the Egyptians. As a person, a son of Ham, ancestor of the Egyptians.
- עֵינֵיene· eye
Eye. "In someone's eyes" means "in his opinion"; "find favor in the eyes of" is to please him. Also a spring of water.
- גּוֹיִםgoyim· nation
Nation, a people with its land. In the plural, "the nations": all the peoples of the world, and especially those who are not Israel.