Leviticus 18:25 Commentary - Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

(25) The land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.—From the creation the earth shared in the punishment of man’s guilt (Gen. 3:17), and at the restitution of all things she is to participate in his restoration (Rom. 8:19-22). The physical condition of the land, therefore, depends upon the moral conduct of man. When he disobeys God’s commandments she is parched up and does not yield her fruit” (Deu. 11:17). “The land is defiled” when he defiles himself. When he walks in the way of the Divine commands she is blessed (Lev. 25:19; Lev. 26:4); “God is merciful unto his land and to his people” (Deu. 32:43). Hence, “the earth mourneth” when her inhabitants sin (Isa. 24:4-5), and “the earth is glad” when God avenges the cause of His people (Psa. 96:11-13). It is owing to this intimate connection between them that the land, which is here personified, is represented as loathing the wicked conduct of her children and being unable to restrain them. She nauseated them. The same figure is used in Lev. 18:28; Lev. 20:22; and in Rev. 3:16.