The Church Fathers on this verse

Leviticus 26:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

I will set my face against you, and you shall fall down before your enemies: and shall be made subject to them that hate you. You shall flee when no man pursueth you.

Douay-Rheims

וְנָתַתִּ֤י פָנַי֙ בָּכֶ֔ם וְנִגַּפְתֶּ֖ם לִפְנֵ֣י אֹיְבֵיכֶ֑ם וְרָד֤וּ בָכֶם֙ שֹֽׂנְאֵיכֶ֔ם וְנַסְתֶּ֖ם וְאֵין־רֹדֵ֥ף אֶתְכֶֽם׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Vissarion (Nechaev)

19th centuryCommentator

I will direct My gaze toward you. The Lord declares His intention to turn His countenance away from the unrighteous, signifying His anger, which will reveal to them their complete inability to defend themselves against external foes without His aid. In this state of being subject to His disfavor, they will succumb to their adversaries — they will perish in battle. Those who despise you will harvest your downfall, and fear will besiege you, with your enemies scattering you like a defenseless flock on the field of conflict.

Read more (51 words)

It will not suffice that you find no refuge from those who pursue you; as stated in verse 36 of the same chapter, "the sound of a rustling leaf will put them to flight, and they will flee as though from a sword, falling even when no one is pursuing them."

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.