Leviticus 25:5-15

5 quae sponte gignit humus non metes et uvas primitiarum tuarum non colliges quasi vindemiam annus enim requietionis terrae est

6 sed erunt vobis in cibum tibi et servo tuo ancillae et mercennario tuo et advenae qui peregrinantur apud te

7 iumentis tuis et pecoribus omnia quae nascuntur praebebunt cibum

8 numerabis quoque tibi septem ebdomades annorum id est septem septies quae simul faciunt annos quadraginta novem

9 et clanges bucina mense septimo decima die mensis propitiationis tempore in universa terra vestra

10 sanctificabisque annum quinquagesimum et vocabis remissionem cunctis habitatoribus terrae tuae ipse est enim iobeleus revertetur homo ad possessionem suam et unusquisque rediet ad familiam pristinam

11 quia iobeleus est et quinquagesimus annus non seretis neque metetis sponte in agro nascentia et primitias vindemiae non colligetis

12 ob sanctificationem iobelei sed statim ablata comedetis

13 anno iobelei redient omnes ad possessiones suas

14 quando vendes quippiam civi tuo vel emes ab eo ne contristes fratrem tuum sed iuxta numerum annorum iobelei emes ab eo

15 et iuxta supputationem frugum vendet tibi

Leviticus 25:5-15 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.