What is the meaning of Leviticus 26:42?

I will remember My covenant with Jacob

“Then I will remember My covenant with Jacob…” (Leviticus 26:42a)

• God speaks in first person, pledging to “remember”––not recall forgotten information but actively honor the promises He swore to Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15).

• The covenant with Jacob centers on:

– A chosen people who bear Jacob’s new name, Israel (Genesis 32:28).

– Specific territory promised as an everlasting possession (Genesis 35:12).

• Even if Israel breaks faith, God’s faithfulness stands (Romans 11:29). He disciplines (Leviticus 26:33-39) yet never voids His word (Jeremiah 31:35-37).

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and My covenant with Isaac

“…and My covenant with Isaac…” (Leviticus 26:42b)

• The same oath is traced backward to Isaac, underscoring continuity (Genesis 26:2-5).

• Key elements repeated to Isaac:

– Numerous descendants “like the stars of heaven.”

– Land “all these lands” given to him and his seed.

• God bases His faithfulness on His own character, not human merit (2 Timothy 2:13). The inclusion of Isaac shows the covenant is a multi-generational promise held together by God’s integrity (Psalm 105:8-10).

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and My covenant with Abraham

“…and My covenant with Abraham…” (Leviticus 26:42c)

• This is the foundational covenant (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:17-21; 17:7-8).

• Core features:

– Blessing to Abraham’s seed and through them to all nations (Galatians 3:8).

– A literal, defined land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates.

– An everlasting, unconditional promise ratified solely by God passing between the pieces (Genesis 15:17-18).

• By citing Abraham last, the verse builds to the original source, assuring Israel that the initial promise still governs their future (Hebrews 6:13-18).

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and I will remember the land

“…and I will remember the land.” (Leviticus 26:42d)

• The land itself matters to God; it is not merely symbolic (Leviticus 25:23).

• God’s remembrance involves:

– Restoring the land after desolation (Ezekiel 36:8-11).

– Regathering His people to that soil (Deuteronomy 30:3-5).

• The land clause ties spiritual covenant to physical geography, proving God’s promises extend to tangible reality (Amos 9:14-15).

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summary

Leviticus 26:42 assures Israel—and by extension all believers in God’s promises—that the Lord actively upholds His covenants with Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham and the very land tied to those covenants. His faithfulness is rooted in His unchanging character, guaranteeing that discipline will never cancel destiny.