Leviticus 26:31

BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

“I will reduce your cities to rubble and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will refuse to smell the pleasing aroma of your sacrifices.”

What this verse means

A short, plain-language explanation of Leviticus 26:31 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.

Compare translations
BSBPD

“I will reduce your cities to rubble and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will refuse to smell the pleasing aroma of your sacrifices.”

Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)
KJVPD

“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 · Public Domain
ASVPD

“And I will make your cities a waste, and will bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savor of your sweet odors.”

American Standard Version · Public Domain
YLTPD

“and I have made your cities a waste, and have made desolate your sanctuaries, and I smell not at your sweet fragrances;”

Young's Literal Translation · Public Domain
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Cross references

Other passages that echo Leviticus 26:31 — 24 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  1. Genesis 8:21When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.
  2. 2 Kings 25:4Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. They headed toward the Arabah,
  3. 2 Kings 25:9He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building.
  4. 2 Chronicles 36:19Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value.
  5. Nehemiah 1:3And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
  6. Nehemiah 2:3and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
  7. Nehemiah 2:17Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”
  8. Psalms 74:3Turn Your steps to the everlasting ruins, to everything in the sanctuary the enemy has destroyed.
  9. Psalms 74:7They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; they have defiled the dwelling place of Your Name.
  10. Isaiah 1:7Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Foreigners devour your fields before you— a desolation demolished by strangers.
  11. Isaiah 1:11“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
  12. Isaiah 1:13Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me— your New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations. I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly.
  13. Isaiah 24:10The city of chaos is shattered; every house is closed to entry.
  14. Isaiah 64:9Do not be angry, O LORD, beyond measure; do not remember our iniquity forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray; we are all Your people!
  15. Isaiah 66:3Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.
  16. Jeremiah 4:7A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited.
  17. Jeremiah 4:26I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert. All its cities were torn down before the LORD, before His fierce anger.
  18. Jeremiah 4:27For this is what the LORD says: “The whole land will be desolate, but I will not finish its destruction.
  19. Jeremiah 9:11“And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.”
  20. Jeremiah 22:5But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself, declares the LORD, that this house will become a pile of rubble.’”
  21. Jeremiah 26:6then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.’”
  22. Jeremiah 26:9How dare you prophesy in the name of the LORD that this house will become like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted!” And all the people assembled against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
  23. Jeremiah 52:13He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building.
  24. Lamentations 1:1How lonely lies the city, once so full of people! She who was great among the nations has become a widow. The princess of the provinces has become a slave.

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

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