Leviticus 25:10
So you are to consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be your Jubilee, when each of you is to return to his property and to his clan.
consecrate the fiftieth year
The term "consecrate" comes from the Hebrew word "qadash," which means to set apart as holy. In the context of the fiftieth year, this consecration signifies a divine appointment, a time set apart by God for a special purpose. The fiftieth year, known as the Jubilee, is a time of restoration and renewal. It reflects God's sovereignty over time and His desire for His people to experience freedom and redemption. The number fifty, in biblical numerology, often symbolizes fullness or completion, indicating that this year is the culmination of a cycle of seven sabbatical years.

proclaim liberty
The Hebrew word for "liberty" is "deror," which conveys the idea of freedom and release. This proclamation is a powerful declaration of God's intention for His people to live in freedom, both physically and spiritually. Historically, this liberty included the release of slaves and the return of property, symbolizing a fresh start and a new beginning. It is a reminder of God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, reinforcing the theme of redemption that runs throughout Scripture.

in the land
The land of Israel holds significant theological importance as the Promised Land given to the descendants of Abraham. It is a tangible representation of God's covenant and faithfulness. The proclamation of liberty in the land underscores the idea that the land itself is a gift from God, and its use and stewardship are subject to His divine laws. This phrase also highlights the communal aspect of the Jubilee, as the entire nation is called to participate in this sacred observance.

for all its inhabitants
This phrase emphasizes the inclusivity of the Jubilee. The liberty proclaimed is not limited to a select few but is intended for every inhabitant of the land. It reflects God's justice and compassion, ensuring that all people, regardless of their social or economic status, experience the benefits of this holy year. This inclusivity is a foretaste of the ultimate freedom and equality found in Christ, where there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free.

It shall be a Jubilee for you
The word "Jubilee" comes from the Hebrew "yobel," meaning a ram's horn or trumpet, which was used to announce the beginning of this sacred year. The Jubilee is a time of joy and celebration, a reminder of God's provision and grace. For the Israelites, it was a time to reset and realign with God's purposes, a tangible expression of His mercy and love. Spiritually, the Jubilee points to the ultimate redemption found in Jesus Christ, who proclaimed the "year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:19).

each of you is to return to his property
This command underscores the restoration of property rights and the importance of family heritage in Israelite society. The return to one's property symbolizes a restoration of identity and stability, as land ownership was closely tied to one's place within the community. It reflects God's desire for His people to live in harmony and balance, with each family having the means to provide for themselves and contribute to the community.

and to his clan
The concept of the "clan" or "mishpachah" in Hebrew, refers to the extended family unit, which was the foundation of Israelite society. Returning to one's clan during the Jubilee reinforces the importance of family and community ties. It is a call to reconnect with one's roots and to strengthen the bonds of kinship. This return is not just physical but also spiritual, as it encourages a renewal of relationships and a recommitment to living according to God's covenant.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The primary audience of the Levitical laws, including the commandment of the Jubilee year.

2. The Land of Israel
The geographical context where the Jubilee was to be observed, emphasizing the land's sanctity and God's ownership.

3. The Jubilee Year
A significant event occurring every fifty years, marked by the release of debts, liberation of slaves, and return of property.

4. Moses
The prophet through whom God delivered the laws, including the instructions for the Jubilee.

5. The Priests
Responsible for proclaiming the Jubilee and ensuring its observance among the people.
Teaching Points
The Principle of Rest and Renewal
The Jubilee year teaches us the importance of rest and renewal, both physically and spiritually. It reminds us to trust in God's provision and to take time to restore our relationships and resources.

God's Ownership and Stewardship
The command to return property during the Jubilee underscores God's ultimate ownership of the land. We are reminded that we are stewards of God's creation, called to manage our resources wisely and justly.

Social Justice and Compassion
The Jubilee promotes social justice by addressing economic disparities and providing a fresh start for those in debt or bondage. As Christians, we are called to advocate for fairness and compassion in our communities.

Spiritual Freedom in Christ
The Jubilee foreshadows the spiritual freedom we have in Christ. Just as the Jubilee liberated people physically, Jesus liberates us spiritually, offering forgiveness and a new beginning.

Community and Reconciliation
The return to one's clan during the Jubilee emphasizes the importance of community and reconciliation. We are encouraged to seek unity and healing in our relationships, reflecting God's love and grace.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of the Jubilee year challenge our modern understanding of ownership and property?

2. In what ways can we practice the principles of rest and renewal in our daily lives, as taught by the Jubilee?

3. How can the church today embody the spirit of the Jubilee in addressing social and economic inequalities?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to promote reconciliation and unity within our communities?

5. How does understanding the Jubilee deepen our appreciation for the freedom and new life offered through Jesus Christ?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 61:1-2
This passage echoes the themes of liberty and restoration found in the Jubilee, as it speaks of the anointed one proclaiming freedom and the year of the Lord's favor.

Luke 4:18-19
Jesus references Isaiah 61, indicating the fulfillment of the Jubilee's spiritual significance through His ministry.

Acts 2:44-45
The early church's practice of sharing possessions reflects the Jubilee's principles of economic equality and community support.

Galatians 5:1
Paul speaks of the freedom believers have in Christ, paralleling the liberty proclaimed during the Jubilee.

Hebrews 4:9-10
The concept of rest in the Jubilee year is connected to the spiritual rest believers find in Christ.
The Sabbatic YearJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 25:1-7, 18-22
A Sabbath of Rest unto the LandW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 25:2-55
Deliverance from SinHoward James.Leviticus 25:2-55
Freedom Through ChristT. De Witt Talmage.Leviticus 25:2-55
Jubilee GladnessJ. Cairns.Leviticus 25:2-55
Land Laws Among Other NationsM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
Land TenureT. T. Munger.Leviticus 25:2-55
Laws of Trade-WagesHom. ReviewLeviticus 25:2-55
Lessons from the Sabbatical YearF. W. Brown.Leviticus 25:2-55
Liberty Through ChristRichard Newton, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
Man Need not Despair of -ProvidenceBp. Babington.Leviticus 25:2-55
Practical Reliance Upon GodIndian Witness.Leviticus 25:2-55
Released from DebtChristian AgeLeviticus 25:2-55
Results of Jubilee YearT. Guthrie, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
Sojourners with GodHomilistLeviticus 25:2-55
The Hebrew System of Land TenureR. Reid.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Joyful SoundC. S. Robinson, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The JubileeHomilistLeviticus 25:2-55
The JubileeHomilistLeviticus 25:2-55
The Jubilee a Type of the GospelWm. Sleigh.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Jubilee Year: its Fourfold SignificanceW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Oppressor Rebuked and the Oppression RemovedC. F. S. Money, M. A.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Purpose of the Sabbatical YearM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Resemblance Between the Year of Jubilee and the GospelT. B. Baker.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Sabbath of the FieldsH. Macmillan, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Sabbatic Year and JubileeJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Sinner's Chains are Self ForgedPreacher's Lantern.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeA. G. Brown.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeA. H. Currier.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeWalter Roberts, M. A.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeD. C. Hughes, M. A.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeT. Binney.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year SabbathDr. Ide.Leviticus 25:2-55
What Shall We Eat the Seventh Year?A. G. Brown.Leviticus 25:2-55
The JubileeJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 25:8-17
The Year of JubileeR.A. Redford Leviticus 25:8-34
The JubileeR.M. Edgar Leviticus 25:8-55
Year of JubileeW. Clarkson Leviticus 25:8-55
Year of Jubilee: Ii. the World's RedemptionW. Clarkson Leviticus 25:8-55
Year of Jubilee: Iii. the Blessed KingdomW. Clarkson Leviticus 25:8-55
People
Israelites, Levites, Moses
Places
Canaan, Egypt, Mount Sinai
Topics
Clan, Consecrate, Debt, Family, Fiftieth, Free, Hallow, Hallowed, Heritage, Holy, Inhabitants, Jubilee, Kept, Liberty, Possession, Proclaim, Proclaimed, Property, Publicly, Release, Return, Thereof, Throughout, Thus, Turn, Yea
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 25:10

     5338   holiday
     5671   clan
     5682   family, significance
     6659   freedom, acts in OT
     8218   consecration
     8242   ethics, personal

Leviticus 25:1-13

     4208   land, divine responsibility
     4978   year

Leviticus 25:8-12

     4534   vine
     7431   sabbatical year
     8270   holiness, set apart

Leviticus 25:8-13

     7482   Year of Jubilee

Leviticus 25:10-11

     1654   numbers, 11-99

Library
Sojourners with God
'The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is Mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with Me.' --LEV. xxv. 23. The singular institution of the Jubilee year had more than one purpose. As a social and economical arrangement it tended to prevent the extremes of wealth and poverty. Every fiftieth year the land was to revert to its original owners, the lineal descendants of those who had 'come in with the conqueror,' Joshua. Debts were to be remitted, slaves emancipated, and so the mountains
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

God's Slaves
'For they are My servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as bondmen.' --LEV. xxv. 42. This is the basis of the Mosaic legislation as to slavery. It did not suppress but regulated that accursed system. Certainly Hebrew slavery was a very different thing from that of other nations. In the first place, no Jew was to be a slave. To that broad principle there were exceptions, such as the case of the man who voluntarily gave himself up to his creditor. But even
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Kinsman Redeemer
'After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him.'--LEV. xxv. 48. There are several of the institutions and precepts of the Mosaic legislation which, though not prophetic, nor typical, have yet remarkable correspondences with lofty Christian truth. They may be used as symbols, if only we remember that we are diverting them from their original purpose. How singularly these words lend themselves to the statement of the very central truths of Christianity--a slavery
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Boniface viii Ad 1294-1303.
PART I In Celestine's place was chosen Benedict Gaetani, who, although even older than the worn-out and doting late pope, was still full of strength, both in body and in mind. Benedict (who took the name of Boniface VIII) is said to have been very learned, especially in matters at law; but his pride and ambition led him into attempts which ended in his own ruin, and did serious harm to the papacy. In the year 1300 Boniface set on foot what was called the Jubilee. You will remember the Jubilee which
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

The Kinsman-Redeemer
'Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of Hosts is His name: He shall thoroughly plead their cause.'--JER. l. 34. Among the remarkable provisions of the Mosaic law there were some very peculiar ones affecting the next-of-kin. The nearest living blood relation to a man had certain obligations and offices to discharge, under certain contingencies, in respect of which he received a special name; which is sometimes translated in the Old Testament 'Redeemer,' and sometimes 'Avenger' of blood. What the etymological
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Day of Atonement
Now, I shall invite your attention to the ceremonies of this solemn day, taking the different parts in detail. First, we shall consider the person who made the atonement; secondly, the sacrifice whereby the atonement was typically made; thirdly, the effects of the atonement; and fourthly, our behaviour on the recollection of the atonement, as well set forth by the conduct prescribed to the Israelites on that day. I. First, THE PERSON WHO WAS TO MAKE THE ATONEMENT. And at the outset, we remark that
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
BY A.E. GRIMKE. "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:--and so will I go in unto the king,
Angelina Emily Grimke—An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South

Sin and Forgiveness Between Brethren.
(Autumn, a.d. 29.) ^A Matt. XVIII. 15-35. ^a 15 And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [Having warned against giving offense, Jesus now shows how to act when offense is received. The fault is to be pointed out to the offender, but for the purpose of gaining him--not from a desire to humiliate him. The offended is to seek the offender, and the offender is likewise to seek the offended (Matt. xv. 23, 24),
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Commerce
The remarkable change which we have noticed in the views of Jewish authorities, from contempt to almost affectation of manual labour, could certainly not have been arbitrary. But as we fail to discover here any religious motive, we can only account for it on the score of altered political and social circumstances. So long as the people were, at least nominally, independent, and in possession of their own land, constant engagement in a trade would probably mark an inferior social stage, and imply
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

"And the Redeemer Shall Come unto Zion, and unto them that Turn,"
Isaiah lix. 20.--"And the Redeemer shall come unto Zion, and unto them that turn," &c. Doctrines, as things, have their seasons and times. Every thing is beautiful in its season. So there is no word of truth, but it hath a season and time in which it is beautiful. And indeed that is a great part of wisdom, to bring forth everything in its season, to discern when and where, and to whom it is pertinent and edifying, to speak such and such truths. But there is one doctrine that is never out of season,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Eighth Commandment
Thou shalt not steal.' Exod 20: 15. AS the holiness of God sets him against uncleanness, in the command Thou shalt not commit adultery;' so the justice of God sets him against rapine and robbery, in the command, Thou shalt not steal.' The thing forbidden in this commandment, is meddling with another man's property. The civil lawyers define furtum, stealth or theft to be the laying hands unjustly on that which is another's;' the invading another's right. I. The causes of theft. [1] The internal causes
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Baptism
Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them,' &c. Matt 28: 19. I. The way whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemptions, is, in the use of the sacraments. What are the sacraments in general? They are visible signs of invisible grace. Is not the word of God sufficient to salvation? What need then is there of sacraments? We must not be wise above what is written. It is God's will that his church
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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