Leviticus 25:28-38

28 But if there is not enough money to buy it back, the one who bought it will keep it until the year of Jubilee. During that celebration, the land will go back to the first owner's family.

29 "'If someone sells a home in a walled city, for a full year after it is sold, the person has the right to buy it back.

30 But if the owner does not buy back the house before a full year is over, it will belong to the one who bought it and to his future sons. The house will not go back to the first owner at Jubilee.

31 But houses in small towns without walls are like open country; they can be bought back, and they must be returned to their first owner at Jubilee.

32 "'The Levites may always buy back their houses in the cities that belong to them.

33 If someone buys a house from a Levite, that house in the Levites' city will again belong to the Levites in the Jubilee. This is because houses in Levite cities belong to the people of Levi; the Israelites gave these cities to them.

34 Also the fields and pastures around the Levites' cities cannot be sold, because those fields belong to the Levites forever.

35 "'If anyone from your country becomes too poor to support himself, help him to live among you as you would a stranger or foreigner.

36 Do not charge him any interest on money you loan to him, but respect your God; let the poor live among you.

37 Don't lend him money for interest, and don't try to make a profit from the food he buys.

38 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give the land of Canaan to you and to become your God.

Leviticus 25:28-38 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.