Exodus 23:11 kjv

But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.

Exodus 23:11 nkjv

but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove.

Exodus 23:11 niv

but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

Exodus 23:11 esv

but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the beasts of the field may eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard.

Exodus 23:11 nlt

but let the land be renewed and lie uncultivated during the seventh year. Then let the poor among you harvest whatever grows on its own. Leave the rest for wild animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves.

Exodus 23 verses

Exodus 23 11 Meaning

Exodus 23:11 describes the requirement for the Israelites to observe a Sabbatical year for their agricultural land every seventh year. During this year, the land was to lie fallow and remain uncultivated, so that the poor, and even the wild animals, could freely eat from what grew naturally. This law extends to vineyards and olive orchards, ensuring the principle applies to various types of cultivation, teaching reliance on God's provision, stewardship of creation, and compassionate care for the vulnerable within society and beyond.

Exodus 23 11 Context

Exodus 23:11 is part of the "Book of the Covenant" (Exo 20:22-23:33), which outlines specific laws and statutes given to Israel following the Ten Commandments. This section particularly details social and judicial regulations, alongside religious observances, aimed at establishing Israel as a just and holy nation under God. Verses 10-11 specifically address the "Sabbath of the land," a complement to the weekly Sabbath. Historically, these laws were given to an agricultural people shortly after their liberation from Egyptian bondage, before they entered the Promised Land. This commandment counteracted common Near Eastern practices where land was viewed solely as a means to personal wealth and exploited continuously. By mandating rest for the land, it polemically declared God's ultimate ownership and sovereignty over creation, challenging the human tendency towards ceaseless accumulation and instead promoting reliance on divine provision and communal welfare, contrasting sharply with the often brutal and self-serving economic systems of surrounding nations.

Exodus 23 11 Word analysis

• but the seventh year: The Hebrew phrase is v’ha shvi’it, emphasizing a distinct temporal demarcation, directly linking to the sacred pattern of seven seen in Creation (Gen 2:2-3) and the weekly Sabbath (Exo 20:8-11). It highlights a rhythm of divine order.
• you shall let it rest: The Hebrew verb is tishm’tna, from the root shamat (שָׁמַט). This word means "to let fallow," "to release," "to drop," or "to discontinue." It signifies an active cessation from work, not mere neglect. It implies both rest for the land to recuperate and a release of the produce for others.
• and lie fallow: This is an interpretation of the shamat root, emphasizing the physical state of the uncultivated land. The ground is given a chance to restore its fertility naturally.
• that the poor: The Hebrew la'evyon, referring to the 'needy' or 'destitute.' This is a socio-economic term, emphasizing those who are economically vulnerable and dependent on divine and community provision. The law directly connects this land rest to their sustenance.
• of your people may eat: Highlights the social dimension of the law; it's a shared resource for the community, particularly the most vulnerable. It underlines the principle of common ownership and communal responsibility.
• and what they leave: Indicates an abundance from God's natural provision during this rest period, beyond what the poor can consume.
• the wild beasts may eat: Hebrew chayat ha-sadeh (חיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה) refers to the 'beasts of the field' or wild animals. This extends God's compassionate concern and provision not just to humans, but to the wider created order, demonstrating a holistic theology of divine care for all life.
• You shall do the same: Implies consistency and universality of the principle. It applies to all types of agricultural land, not just fields of grain.
• with your vineyard and your olive orchard: These are specific examples of perennial crops, which require different cultivation methods than annual grains. By including them, the law ensures the principle of rest and provision is comprehensively applied across all types of agriculture within Israel's land.

Exodus 23 11 Bonus section

• Ecological Insight: The practice of letting the land lie fallow is a foundational agricultural principle, allowing the soil to naturally restore its nutrients and fertility, which modern farming validates as essential for sustainable agriculture.
• Theological Parallel to Creation: The instruction for the land to rest in the seventh year directly parallels God’s rest on the seventh day of creation and the weekly Sabbath, embedding a divine rhythm into the very fabric of Israelite life and economy, proclaiming that rest, and not just work, is sacred and productive in God's order.
• Test of Obedience and Trust: Observing the Sabbatical year required immense faith, as it meant forgoing a significant portion of income and trusting that God would supernaturally provide in the preceding sixth year and during the Sabbatical year.
• Boundary on Greed: This law served as a spiritual fence against unchecked human covetousness and a practical expression of releasing ownership and control to God, fostering humility and dependency on His grace.

Exodus 23 11 Commentary

Exodus 23:11 is a profound command reflecting God's ultimate sovereignty over creation, emphasizing that land, like time, is not solely for human exploitation but requires sacred rest. This rest provides essential physical restoration for the land's fertility and embodies a powerful socio-economic ethic. It directly addresses human greed and the desire for ceaseless gain by requiring trust in God's sustained provision, even during apparent "loss" of productivity. The purpose clause – "that the poor...may eat; and what they leave the wild beasts may eat" – reveals God's heart for justice, mercy, and a deep, holistic care for all His creatures. This commandment fostered communal solidarity by establishing a system where the most vulnerable members of society, along with wildlife, were cared for through passive rather than active cultivation. It served as a spiritual discipline, cultivating humility, dependence on God, and a rejection of self-sufficiency. This principle of Sabbath and generosity prefigures the broader Kingdom ethic of sharing and concern for the less fortunate found throughout scripture, particularly in the teachings of Christ regarding mercy and loving one's neighbor.