ScriptureDepth's study of Leviticus 25
“You shall make the fiftieth year holy, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee to you; and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family.”
Leviticus 25:10
Yahweh commands the Israelites to proclaim liberty in the fiftieth year, which mandates the return of property and families, marking the Year of Jubilee.
What Leviticus 25 is about
Yahweh speaks to Moses on Mount Sinai, instructing the children of Israel on the Sabbath year (vv. 1-7). In the seventh year, the land shall rest and not be cultivated. The growth that occurs during this time is to be left for the people and livestock. After seven cycles of years, they are to celebrate the Year of Jubilee, beginning with a trumpet sound on the Day of Atonement (vv. 8-12). In this jubilee year, property returns to original owners, and no sowing or reaping occurs. Specific rules govern property redemption, allowing a relative to redeem land or property sold in times of need (vv. 13-17). Yahweh promises safety and provision, assuring that they will eat and dwell safely in the land if they follow His statutes (vv. 18-22). The land belongs to Yahweh, and Israelites are to treat each other fairly regarding ownership and help for the poor (vv. 23-34). Provisions for the poor and regulations about servitude, including support for the impoverished, are also given (vv. 35-43, vv. 44-55).
Yahweh reminds the children of Israel that they are His servants whom He brought out of Egypt.
Leviticus 25 at a glance
- Leviticus 25:1–7Sabbath Year Instructions
- Leviticus 25:8–12The Year of Jubilee
- Leviticus 25:13–17Property Redemption Regulations
- Leviticus 25:18–22Safety and Provision
- Leviticus 25:23–34Land Ownership and Redemption
- Leviticus 25:35–43Support for the Poor
- Leviticus 25:44–55Servitude and Redemption
Key verse: Leviticus 25:10
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Leviticus 25 (WEB)
Sabbath Year Instructions Leviticus 25:1–7
1Verse 1. Yahweh said to Moses in Mount Sinai, 2Verse 2. “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a Sabbath to Yahweh. 3Verse 3. You shall sow your field six years, and you shall prune your vineyard six years, and gather in its fruits; 4Verse 4. but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to Yahweh. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. 5Verse 5. What grows of itself in your harvest you shall not reap, and you shall not gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land.
6Verse 6. The Sabbath of the land shall be for food for you; for yourself, for your servant, for your maid, for your hired servant, and for your stranger, who lives as a foreigner with you. 7Verse 7. For your livestock also, and for the animals that are in your land, shall all its increase be for food.
The Year of Jubilee Leviticus 25:8–12
8Verse 8. “‘You shall count off seven Sabbaths of years, seven times seven years; and there shall be to you the days of seven Sabbaths of years, even forty-nine years. 9Verse 9. Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land. 10Verse 10. You shall make the fiftieth year holy, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee to you; and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family.
11Verse 11. That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee to you. In it you shall not sow, neither reap that which grows of itself, nor gather from the undressed vines. 12Verse 12. For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you. You shall eat of its increase out of the field.
Property Redemption Regulations Leviticus 25:13–17
13Verse 13. “‘In this Year of Jubilee each of you shall return to his property. 14Verse 14. “‘If you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another. 15Verse 15. According to the number of years after the Jubilee you shall buy from your neighbor. According to the number of years of the crops he shall sell to you. 16Verse 16. According to the length of the years you shall increase its price, and according to the shortness of the years you shall diminish its price; for he is selling the number of the crops to you. 17Verse 17. You shall not wrong one another; but you shall fear your God: for I am Yahweh your God.
Safety and Provision Leviticus 25:18–22
18Verse 18. “‘Therefore you shall do my statutes, and keep my ordinances and do them; and you shall dwell in the land in safety. 19Verse 19. The land shall yield its fruit, and you shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. 20Verse 20. If you said, “What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase”; 21Verse 21. then I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, and it shall bear fruit for the three years. 22Verse 22. You shall sow the eighth year, and eat of the fruits, the old store; until the ninth year, until its fruits come in, you shall eat the old store.
Land Ownership and Redemption Leviticus 25:23–34
23Verse 23. “‘The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; for you are strangers and live as foreigners with me. 24Verse 24. In all the land of your possession you shall grant a redemption for the land. 25Verse 25. “‘If your brother becomes poor, and sells some of his possessions, then his kinsman who is next to him shall come, and redeem that which his brother has sold. 26Verse 26. If a man has no one to redeem it, and he becomes prosperous and finds sufficient means to redeem it; 27Verse 27. then let him reckon the years since its sale, and restore the surplus to the man to whom he sold it; and he shall return to his property.
28Verse 28. But if he isn’t able to get it back for himself, then what he has sold shall remain in the hand of him who has bought it until the Year of Jubilee: and in the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his property. 29Verse 29. “‘If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it has been sold. For a full year he shall have the right of redemption. 30Verse 30. If it isn’t redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be made sure in perpetuity to him who bought it, throughout his generations. It shall not be released in the Jubilee.
31Verse 31. But the houses of the villages which have no wall around them shall be accounted for with the fields of the country: they may be redeemed, and they shall be released in the Jubilee. 32Verse 32. “‘Nevertheless the cities of the Levites, the houses in the cities of their possession, the Levites may redeem at any time. 33Verse 33. The Levites may redeem the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, and it shall be released in the Jubilee; for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel. 34Verse 34. But the field of the suburbs of their cities may not be sold; for it is their perpetual possession.
Support for the Poor Leviticus 25:35–43
35Verse 35. “‘If your brother has become poor, and his hand can’t support himself among you; then you shall uphold him. He shall live with you like an alien and a temporary resident. 36Verse 36. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God; that your brother may live among you. 37Verse 37. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. 38Verse 38. I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. 39Verse 39. “‘If your brother has grown poor among you, and sells himself to you; you shall not make him to serve as a slave.
40Verse 40. As a hired servant, and as a temporary resident, he shall be with you; he shall serve with you until the Year of Jubilee: 41Verse 41. then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and shall return to his own family, and to the possession of his fathers. 42Verse 42. For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. They shall not be sold as slaves. 43Verse 43. You shall not rule over him with harshness, but shall fear your God.
Servitude and Redemption Leviticus 25:44–55
44Verse 44. “‘As for your male and your female slaves, whom you may have; of the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves. 45Verse 45. Moreover of the children of the aliens who live among you, of them you may buy, and of their families who are with you, which they have conceived in your land; and they will be your property. 46Verse 46. You may make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession; of them may you take your slaves forever; but over your brothers the children of Israel you shall not rule, one over another, with harshness.
47Verse 47. “‘If an alien or temporary resident with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him has grown poor, and sells himself to the stranger or foreigner living among you, or to a member of the stranger’s family; 48Verse 48. after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him; 49Verse 49. or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any who is a close relative to him of his family may redeem him; or if he has grown rich, he may redeem himself. 50Verse 50. He shall reckon with him who bought him from the year that he sold himself to him to the Year of Jubilee. The price of his sale shall be according to the number of years; he shall be with him according to the time of a hired servant.
51Verse 51. If there are yet many years, according to them he shall give back the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. 52Verse 52. If there remain but a few years to the year of jubilee, then he shall reckon with him; according to his years of service he shall give back the price of his redemption. 53Verse 53. As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him. He shall not rule with harshness over him in your sight. 54Verse 54. If he isn’t redeemed by these means, then he shall be released in the Year of Jubilee, he, and his children with him.
55Verse 55. For to me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Leviticus 25
Restoration
In Leviticus 25, restoration is woven throughout the laws regarding the land and people. In vv. 10-13, the chapter mandates that during the Year of Jubilee, ‘each of you shall return to his own property’ and ‘shall return to his family’. This requirement of returning to one’s ancestral land and family signifies a communal restoration to rightful ownership and belonging, fostering stability within the Israelite society.
Redemption
Redemption is a key focus in this chapter, particularly concerning property and individuals. In verses 25-28, if a brother suffers poverty and sells his possessions, 'his kinsman who is next to him shall come, and redeem that which his brother has sold'. These laws create a framework for individuals to reclaim their property and freedom, highlighting the role of familial responsibility and community support in maintaining social stability.
Social Justice
Social justice is addressed through regulations that promote fairness and care for the vulnerable. In vv. 35-37, the text instructs that if a brother struggles financially, ‘you shall uphold him’ and ‘take no interest from him or profit’. These guidelines ensure that the community practices equity and compassion, preventing exploitation and fostering an environment where the poor can find support.
God's Sovereignty
In this chapter, God's sovereignty is asserted through the ownership and management of the land. In v. 23, the text states, ‘the land is mine; for you are strangers and live as foreigners with me’. This declaration reminds the Israelites that their relationship with the land is contingent upon their obedience to God's laws, positioning Him as the ultimate authority over the land and its use.
Chapter outline
How Leviticus 25 unfolds
Leviticus 25:1–7 Sabbath Year Instructions
Yahweh commands Moses to tell the Israelites about the Sabbath year, instructing them not to sow or prune in the seventh year (vv. 2-4) and allowing the land to rest (v. 5). This year is designated for food for people and animals (v. 6).
Leviticus 25:8–12 The Year of Jubilee
After seven cycles of seven years, the fiftieth year is called the Year of Jubilee, when liberty is proclaimed, and people return to their properties (vv. 8-10). This year also forbids sowing or reaping (vv. 11-12).
Leviticus 25:13–17 Property Redemption Regulations
In the Year of Jubilee, each person returns to his property, and if a neighbor sells land, it must be sold based on the years until Jubilee, ensuring fair transactions and respect for God (vv. 13-16).
Leviticus 25:18–22 Safety and Provision
Yahweh promises safety and provision if the Israelites follow His statutes, ensuring that the land yields fruit even without sowing in the seventh year (vv. 18-20). Blessings will come in the sixth year (v. 21).
Leviticus 25:23–34 Land Ownership and Redemption
The land is not to be sold permanently as it belongs to Yahweh, with provisions for redemption in the Year of Jubilee (vv. 23-24). Specific rules address properties in walled cities versus those in villages (vv. 29-31).
Leviticus 25:35–43 Support for the Poor
If a brother becomes poor, the Israelites must support him, allowing him to live as a temporary resident and forbidding interest on loans, ensuring he is treated fairly until the Year of Jubilee (vv. 35-40).
Leviticus 25:44–55 Servitude and Redemption
Regulations regarding servitude include provisions for redeeming sold individuals, with guidelines on how to calculate their redemption price until the Year of Jubilee (vv. 47-53). Israelite servants are not to be treated harshly (vv. 54-55).
Key verses
Leviticus 25:10Yahweh commands the Israelites to proclaim liberty in the fiftieth year, which mandates the return of property and families, marking the Year of Jubilee.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Leviticus 25
- observeIn v6, what is to be done with the food during the Sabbath of the land?
- observeWhat does the land do in v4 during the seventh year?
- interpretThe concept of 'liberty' in v10: how does it shape the understanding of community relationships?
- interpretIn v43, why is there an emphasis on not ruling over fellow Israelites with harshness?
- applyWhen have you experienced a 'Year of Jubilee' moment, where you had a chance to return to something important?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Leviticus 25
- Matthew 6Leviticus 25:20 and Matthew 6:33Both seek first God’s Kingdom: Leviticus 25:20 states concern for food, while Matthew 6:33 encourages seeking God first.
- Leviticus 26Leviticus 25:22 and Leviticus 26:10Both involve eating old store: Leviticus 25:22 mentions eating from old store, while Leviticus 26:10 speaks of moving out the old.
- Leviticus 27Leviticus 25:13 and Leviticus 27:17Both return to property: Leviticus 25:13 commands returning property in Jubilee, while Leviticus 27:17 addresses dedicating fields.
- Nehemiah 5Leviticus 25:36 and Nehemiah 5:7Both take no interest: Leviticus 25:36 instructs against interest, while Nehemiah 5:7 condemns usury among brothers.
- Leviticus 23Leviticus 25:9 and Leviticus 23:24Both sound trumpets: Leviticus 25:9 commands sounding the trumpet, while Leviticus 23:24 describes the memorial of trumpets.
- Deuteronomy 28Leviticus 25:21 and Deuteronomy 28:8Both command blessings: Leviticus 25:21 promises blessings in the sixth year, while Deuteronomy 28:8 speaks of God blessing barns.
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