Leviticus 25:18-28

18 So keep my rules and my decisions and do them, and you will be safe in your land.

19 And the land will give her fruit, and you will have food in full measure and be safe in the land.

20 And if you say, Where will our food come from in the seventh year, when we may not put in seed, or get in the increase

21 Then I will send my blessing on you in the sixth year, and the land will give fruit enough for three years.

22 And in the eighth year you will put in your seed, and get your food from the old stores, till the fruit of the ninth year is ready.

23 No exchange of land may be for ever, for the land is mine, and you are as my guests, living with me for a time.

24 Wherever there is property in land, the owner is to have the right of getting it back.

25 If your brother becomes poor, and has to give up some of his land for money, his nearest relation may come and get back that which his brother has given up.

26 And if he has no one to get it back for him, and later he himself gets wealth and has enough money to get it back;

27 Then let him take into account the years from the time when he gave it up, and make up the loss for the rest of the years to him who took it, and so get back his property.

28 But if he is not able to get it back for himself, then it will be kept by him who gave a price for it, till the year of Jubilee; and in that year it will go back to its first owner and he will have his property again.

Leviticus 25:18-28 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.