Skip to main content

    Leviticus 25 (KJV)

    Read Leviticus chapter 25 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    Leviticus 25

    Deep Verse Commentaries in This Chapter

    Leviticus 25:10

    "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty …"

    Explore Topics Related to Leviticus 25

    Continue your study with related content from across our library:

    Commentary

    Leviticus 25:10 Commentary

    In-depth study • Jubilee & Freedom

    Commentary

    Leviticus 23:3 Commentary

    In-depth study • Sabbath Rest

    Promise

    God Promises Freedom from Every Bondage

    Bible promises about spiritual freedom and deliverance from bondage.

    Word Meaning

    Sabbath (שַׁבָּת (Shabbat))

    The seventh day of rest; ceasing from work as God did in creation

    Strong's

    Strong's H7676 — Sabbath

    שַׁבָּת (Shabbat) • The seventh day of rest; ceasing from work as God did in creation

    Bible Quiz

    Rest & Sabbath Bible Quiz

    The seventh day, the Lord of the sabbath, and the rest that remains.

    Leviticus 25 Summary

    Leviticus 25 introduces two revolutionary economic institutions: the Sabbath Year (every seventh year, the land rests) and the Year of Jubilee (every fiftieth year, all land returns to its original owners, debts are canceled, and slaves go free). Both are grounded in God's declaration: 'The land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.'

    The Jubilee prevented permanent poverty and permanent wealth accumulation, ensuring each generation had access to land and opportunity. It was the Bible's most radical economic legislation — a systematic reset that protected the vulnerable and reminded Israel that God, not humans, is the ultimate owner of everything.

    Key Themes

    Sabbath YearYear of JubileeLand belongs to GodEconomic justiceFreedom for the enslaved

    Key Verses in Leviticus 25

    "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you."

    — Leviticus 25:10

    Inscribed on the Liberty Bell — the Jubilee principle shaped Western concepts of freedom.

    "The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me."

    — Leviticus 25:23

    The theological foundation: God owns everything; humans are stewards, not owners.

    "And if thy brother be waxen poor… then thou shalt relieve him."

    — Leviticus 25:35

    Care for the poor is not optional charity but covenant obligation.

    Life Application

    The Jubilee principle challenges modern assumptions about ownership: everything belongs to God, and no economic advantage should become permanent. While the specific legislation was for ancient Israel, the principles remain: care for the poor is obligatory, not optional; generational poverty should be disrupted; and human dignity outweighs property rights.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What was the Year of Jubilee?

    Every fiftieth year, all ancestral land returned to its original family, Hebrew slaves were freed, and debts were released. It prevented permanent economic inequality and ensured each family had the resources to sustain itself. The ram's horn (yobel) was blown to announce the year.

    Was the Jubilee ever practiced?

    There is limited evidence of full Jubilee observance in Israel's history. However, the principle profoundly influenced biblical ethics, prophetic critiques of economic injustice, and Jesus' ministry — He announced His mission in Luke 4:18-19 using Jubilee language from Isaiah 61.

    Read the full summary of Leviticus

    Free Bible widgets and more ways to read