Leviticus 25:1 kjv

And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying,

Leviticus 25:1 nkjv

And the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying,

Leviticus 25:1 niv

The LORD said to Moses at Mount Sinai,

Leviticus 25:1 esv

The LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying,

Leviticus 25:1 nlt

While Moses was on Mount Sinai, the LORD said to him,

Leviticus 25 verses

Leviticus 25 1 Meaning

Leviticus 25:1 serves as a programmatic declaration, introducing the laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years. It explicitly states that these significant socio-economic commands originated directly from the Lord (Yahweh) to Moses while on Mount Sinai. This verse establishes the divine authority and covenantal basis for the subsequent legislation, indicating that these laws are integral to Israel's identity and their existence in the Promised Land under God's governance.

Leviticus 25 1 Context

Leviticus 25:1 introduces a new block of legislation within the Book of Leviticus, following a series of laws on ritual purity, priestly conduct, and festival observance. It shifts focus from sanctuary worship and personal purity to the proper management and sacred use of the Promised Land that Israel was soon to inherit. These laws (Sabbatical Year, Jubilee) establish a distinct socio-economic structure for the nation, setting them apart from surrounding cultures. The historical context is Israel encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai, on the cusp of entering Canaan, receiving divine instructions for living as a holy nation in God's dwelling place. The context emphasizes that their national well-being and blessing in the land are contingent upon obedience to these specific, divinely revealed land laws.

Leviticus 25 1 Word analysis

• The Lord (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is God's covenant name, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to Israel. Its use here emphasizes that these profound societal laws come from the ultimate sovereign and covenant-making God of Israel, not from human wisdom or cultural practices. It underscores the unique, divine authority behind the upcoming statutes concerning land and liberty.
• spoke (וַיְדַבֵּר, vay'dabber): Derived from the Hebrew root dabar (to speak), this verb indicates an active, deliberate, and precise verbal communication. It reinforces that the subsequent laws are a direct, articulate utterance from God, highlighting the revelation's certainty and origin. It is a common legislative formula throughout the Pentateuch, affirming the divine initiative.
• to Moses (אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, el-Moshe): Identifies the direct recipient and human mediator of God's covenant instructions. Moses' unique role as the chosen prophet through whom God communicated His will ensures the authoritative transmission of these commands to the Israelites. His position lends unparalleled weight to the upcoming laws.
• on Mount Sinai (בְּהַר סִינַי, be'har Sinai): Pinpoints the precise geographic and symbolic location of this divine revelation. Mount Sinai (also called Horeb) is the foundational site where the Ten Commandments were given and the covenant with Israel was established. Attaching these land laws to Sinai inextricably links them to the core identity and spiritual obligations of God's people, reminding them of the sanctity and covenantal nature of these principles before they even enter the land. It evokes images of divine presence and authority.
• saying, (לֵאמֹר, lemor): An infinitive construct, literally meaning "to say." This formula serves to introduce the exact words that God is about to communicate directly. It underscores the immediate, unmediated, and authoritative nature of the subsequent divine commands.

Words-group analysis:

• "The Lord spoke to Moses": This standard preamble introduces almost every new set of divine laws or instructions in the Torah. It powerfully asserts God's initiating role and sovereign authority over Israel's life, not just in worship but in socio-economic structure. This formula establishes the laws' non-negotiable status as divine imperatives, distinct from human conventions or legal systems of other nations.
• "on Mount Sinai, saying": This phrase further grounds the divine communication within the specific, sacred context of the covenant at Sinai. It serves to bind the upcoming detailed laws concerning land tenure and release (Sabbatical and Jubilee) directly to the foundational covenant principles given to the nation. This stresses that living justly in the land, with periods of rest and restoration, is not an afterthought but a central tenet of their relationship with Yahweh, originating from the very place where they became His covenant people.

Leviticus 25 1 Bonus section

This introductory verse is vital for establishing the overarching theological framework for land ownership in Israel. It immediately dispels any notion of absolute human ownership of the land by linking its laws directly to Sinai and the divine speaker, Yahweh. This implies that the land is fundamentally God's (Lev 25:23, "The land is Mine") and that Israel are merely sojourners and tenants. This theological premise provides the indispensable basis for the counter-cultural Sabbatical and Jubilee laws, which enforce limits on human accumulation and uphold God's ultimate sovereignty over His creation and His chosen people, ensuring provision for the poor and preventing permanent economic disparities. This unique legal origin, contrasting with surrounding pagan societies, reveals God's blueprint for a just and equitable society centered on His benevolent ownership rather than human greed or exploitation.

Leviticus 25 1 Commentary

Leviticus 25:1 is a profoundly significant opening for one of the Bible's most unique economic and social codes. By unequivocally stating that "The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai," it elevates the detailed regulations for the Sabbatical and Jubilee years from mere agrarian or socio-economic policy to direct divine mandates, fundamental to Israel's covenant with Yahweh. This powerful introduction immediately roots the impending laws—which require radical practices like allowing the land to lie fallow, canceling debts, and freeing enslaved persons—in the absolute authority and holy character of God Himself. It emphasizes that Israel's economic practices were not left to human discretion or conventional wisdom but were an extension of their theological commitments, a visible manifestation of living under God's righteous rule and demonstrating dependence on His provision, ultimately fostering a society distinctively marked by justice, mercy, and restorative grace. This underscores that holiness permeates all aspects of life, including wealth, land, and personal freedom.