Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5475 property  »  5477 property, land

All land belongs to God, and he allows people to care for it and use it for their own needs and the needs of others. The land promised to Israel is a special case illustrating the spiritual inheritance of all believers and God's ultimate purpose for the world.

All land belongs to God

It is in his possession and care

Psalm 24:1 See also Exodus 9:29; Psalm 33:5; 1 Corinthians 10:26

It is given to human beings to manage

Genesis 2:15 All exploitation of land is therefore contrary to God's purpose. See also Psalm 8:6; Psalm 115:16

The land promised to Israel

It was promised on oath

Genesis 12:6-7 See also Genesis 13:14-17; Genesis 15:7,18; Genesis 17:8; Genesis 50:24; Exodus 6:8; Deuteronomy 6:10-11; Deuteronomy 31:20-21; Judges 2:1

It was a fruitful land

Exodus 3:8 See also Leviticus 20:24; Numbers 14:7-8; Joshua 5:6

The distribution of the land

Leviticus 25:34; Numbers 33:53-54; Numbers 35:2-5

Individual land rights

Legitimate purchase or sale

Genesis 23:15-16; Genesis 33:19; Genesis 47:20; 2 Samuel 24:24; Proverbs 31:16; Jeremiah 32:6-15 Jeremiah's purchase was an act of faith.

Judas bought land with blood money:

Matthew 27:7-10; Acts 1:18

Examples of renting

Songs 8:11; Matthew 21:33-41 pp Mark 12:1-9 pp Luke 20:9-16

Laws of inheritance

Numbers 36:6-9; Micah 2:2

Encroachment was forbidden

Deuteronomy 19:14 Land boundaries were marked out by stones, the removal of which was a serious offence; Deuteronomy 27:17; Job 24:2; Proverbs 22:28; Proverbs 23:10; Hosea 5:10

Redemption of land

Leviticus 25:23-28; Ruth 4:2-9

God's ultimate purpose for the world

The heavenly land

Hebrews 11:13-16 See also Hebrews 11:8-10

A new heaven and earth

Isaiah 65:17 See also Isaiah 66:22; Revelation 21:1-2

The inheritance of the righteous

Matthew 5:5 See also Psalm 37:11,29; 2 Peter 3:13

See also

1325  God, the Creator
4206  land
5001  human race, the
5075  Abraham
5310  exploitation
5657  birthright
5701  heir
5802  care
6720  redemption
7257  promised land
9160  new heavens & new earth
9410  heaven