Leviticus 25:25-41

25 “ ‘If one of your fellow Israelites becomes poor and sells some of their property, their nearest relative is to come and redeem what they have sold.
26 If, however, there is no one to redeem it for them but later on they prosper and acquire sufficient means to redeem it themselves,
27 they are to determine the value for the years since they sold it and refund the balance to the one to whom they sold it; they can then go back to their own property.
28 But if they do not acquire the means to repay, what was sold will remain in the possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. It will be returned in the Jubilee, and they can then go back to their property.
29 “ ‘Anyone who sells a house in a walled city retains the right of redemption a full year after its sale. During that time the seller may redeem it.
30 If it is not redeemed before a full year has passed, the house in the walled city shall belong permanently to the buyer and the buyer’s descendants. It is not to be returned in the Jubilee.
31 But houses in villages without walls around them are to be considered as belonging to the open country. They can be redeemed, and they are to be returned in the Jubilee.
32 “ ‘The Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the Levitical towns, which they possess.
33 So the property of the Levites is redeemable—that is, a house sold in any town they hold—and is to be returned in the Jubilee, because the houses in the towns of the Levites are their property among the Israelites.
34 But the pastureland belonging to their towns must not be sold; it is their permanent possession.
35 “ ‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you.
36 Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you.
37 You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit.
38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.
39 “ ‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves.
40 They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.
41 Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors.

Leviticus 25:25-41 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.

Cross References 20

  • 1. ver 48; Ruth 2:20; Jeremiah 32:7
  • 2. Lev 27:13,19,31; Ruth 4:4
  • 3. ver 49
  • 4. S ver 15
  • 5. ver 10
  • 6. Leviticus 27:24
  • 7. S ver 10
  • 8. Numbers 35:1-8; Joshua 21:2
  • 9. Numbers 35:2-5; Ezekiel 48:14
  • 10. Deuteronomy 24:14,15
  • 11. Deuteronomy 15:8; Psalms 37:21,26; Proverbs 21:26; Luke 6:35
  • 12. S Exodus 22:25; Deuteronomy 23:19-20; Jeremiah 15:10
  • 13. S Leviticus 19:32
  • 14. S Exodus 22:25
  • 15. S Genesis 10:19
  • 16. S Genesis 17:7; Leviticus 11:45
  • 17. 1 Kings 5:13; 1 Kings 9:22; Jeremiah 34:14; Exodus 21:2; Deuteronomy 15:12; 1Ki 1 Kings 9:22
  • 18. ver 53
  • 19. ver 28
  • 20. Jeremiah 34:8
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