· Translation: KJV

Leviticus 26:33I will scatter you among the nations, and I will draw out the sword after you: and your land will be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.

The setting

Sinai Peninsula, ~1445 BC. God warns through Moses that covenant-breaking will lead to exile. The Hebrew word for 'scatter' is the same used for winnowing grain — total separation.

The emotion here: anguished at recording a future he desperately hopes won't happen

The original word

zarah (זָרָה) — to winnow, scatter like chaff in the wind

Why it matters

Both northern Israel (722 BC) and southern Judah (586 BC) experienced this exact scattering, with survivors found from India to Spain

Read with care

What most readers miss in Leviticus 26:33

The sword 'drawn out after you' means persecution would follow them even in exile

Common misconceptionMany think this only happened once, but Jewish people have been scattered multiple times — 586 BC, 70 AD, medieval expulsions, and modern diaspora.

Bible Genome reading

Leviticus 26:33 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerGod
Eraexodus
Primary emotionanxious
Literary typeprophecy
MarkPromise of God
MarkProphecy

Emotional genome

Comfort power5%
Quotability70%
Memorability80%
Crisis relevance80%
Standalone80%
Themes:exilediasporapersecution

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Leviticus 26

Leviticus 26:33 comes from the book of Leviticus, written during the exodus period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 5% and a tone that is prophetic. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include exile, diaspora, persecution. Notable phrases: scatter you among the nations; draw out the sword after you. This verse contains a promise of God. This verse contains prophecy.

Your reflection

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