Leviticus 25:31-41

31 But houses in villages that have no walls around them are to be classified as open fields. The right to redeem [such] houses stays in effect, and they are to be released at the Jubilee.
32 "Concerning the Levitical cities,[a] the Levites always have the right to redeem houses in the cities they possess.
33 Whatever [property] one of the Levites can redeem[b]-a house sold in a city they possess-must be released at the Jubilee, because the houses in the Levitical cities are their possession among the Israelites.
34 The open pastureland around their cities may not be sold, for it is their permanent possession.
35 "If your brother becomes destitute and cannot sustain himself among[c] you, you are to support him as a foreigner or temporary resident, so that he can continue to live among you.
36 Do not profit or take interest from him,[d] but fear your God and let your brother live among you.
37 You are not to lend him your silver with interest or sell [him] your food for profit.
38 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.
39 "If your brother among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you,[e] you must not force him to do slave labor.
40 Let him stay with you as a hired hand or temporary resident; he may work for you until the Year of Jubilee.[f]
41 Then he and his children are to be released from you, and he may return to his clan and his ancestral property.[g]

Leviticus 25:31-41 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 25

In this chapter the Israelites are directed, when come into the land of Canaan, to observe every seventh year as a sabbatical year, in which there was to be no tillage of the land, and yet there would be a sufficiency for man and beast, Le 25:1-7; and every fiftieth year as a year of jubilee, in which also there was to be no tillage of the land, and every man was to return to his possession or estate, which had been sold to another any time before this, Le 25:8-17; and a promise of safety and plenty in the seventh year is made to encourage the observance of it, Le 25:18-22; and several laws and rules are delivered out concerning the sale of lands, the redemption of them, and their return to their original owner in the year of jubilee, Le 25:23-28; and the sale of houses, and the redemption of them, and the difference between those in walled cities and those in villages, with respect thereunto, Le 25:29-31; and also concerning the houses of the cities of the Levites, and the fields of the suburbs of them, Le 25:32-34; to which are added some instructions about relieving decayed, persons, and lending and giving to them, without taking usury of them, Le 25:34-38; and other laws concerning the release of such Israelites as had sold themselves for servants to the Israelites, in the year of jubilee, since none but Heathens were to be bondmen and bondmaids for ever, Le 25:39-46; and of such who were sold to proselytes, Le 25:47-55.

Footnotes 7

  • [a]. Nm 35:1-8; Dt 18:1-2; 19:2-9; Jos 21; 1 Ch 6:54-81
  • [b]. Hb obscure
  • [c]. Lit and his hand falters with
  • [d]. Ex 22:25; Dt 23:19-20; Ezk 22:12
  • [e]. 2 Kg 4:1; Neh 5:5; Isa 50:1; Mt 18:25
  • [f]. Ex 21:2; Dt 15:12
  • [g]. Ex 21:3-6
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