Leviticus 25:12 kjv

For it is the jubilee; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field.

Leviticus 25:12 nkjv

For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its produce from the field.

Leviticus 25:12 niv

For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.

Leviticus 25:12 esv

For it is a jubilee. It shall be holy to you. You may eat the produce of the field.

Leviticus 25:12 nlt

It will be a jubilee year for you, and you must keep it holy. But you may eat whatever the land produces on its own.

Leviticus 25 verses

Leviticus 25 12 Meaning

Leviticus 25:12 declares the fiftieth year, the Jubilee, as a sacred period, emphatically stating that during this year, the people were to subsist solely on the spontaneous produce grown naturally from the land, without human cultivation or harvesting in the usual manner. It signifies a mandated time of rest for the earth and a demonstration of complete dependence on God's miraculous provision.

Leviticus 25 12 Context

Leviticus chapter 25 details the divinely ordained economic and social system for Israel, primarily focusing on the Sabbatical Year (every seventh year) and the Jubilee Year (the fiftieth year). These laws underscore God's sovereignty over the land and its inhabitants, serving as a profound lesson in trust, equity, and the pursuit of holiness. Leviticus 25:12 builds upon the preceding verses (Lev 25:8-11) which declare the Jubilee and its main features: the release of slaves, the return of inherited land, and the ceasing of agricultural labor. This verse specifically clarifies the provision aspect, commanding the people to rely entirely on God's uncultivated provision, preventing any human effort to plant or harvest. Historically, this presented a radical challenge to typical ancient Near Eastern societal structures, which often entrenched debt and land accumulation, portraying Yahweh's system as distinct and benevolent, aimed at preventing perpetual poverty and ensuring the nation's welfare by re-setting their socio-economic equilibrium every fifty years.

Leviticus 25 12 Word analysis

• For (כִּ֣י - ki): This particle often introduces an explanation or the reason for a preceding statement. Here, it clarifies why the Jubilee instructions (not sowing or reaping, v. 11) are to be followed, by emphatically stating the nature of this year.
• it is (הִ֠יא - hi): A feminine singular pronoun, used here to emphatically declare "it is" the Jubilee. It confirms the identity of the year being discussed.
• the Jubilee (יוֹבֵ֖ל - yovel): Derived from the Hebrew word for "ram's horn" or "trumpet." The term itself signifies the blast of the shofar that announced the beginning of this pivotal fiftieth year. It symbolizes the resounding call to liberty, release, and restoration of all things to their original state and ownership according to God's law. More than just a year, it represents a profound concept of divine order and justice.
• it shall be (תִּהְיֶ֥ה - tihyeh): "It shall come to be" or "it will exist." Indicates a definitive divine decree.
• holy (קֹ֖דֶשׁ - qodesh): Meaning "set apart," "sacred," "consecrated." The holiness of the Jubilee year means it is distinctly separated from all other years for God's purposes, reflecting His character and intent for His people. It's not merely an economic policy, but a spiritual and theological ordinance.
• to you (לָכֶ֑ם - lakhem): This holiness is declared specifically for the benefit and spiritual formation of the Israelite people. It implies a demand for their participation, obedience, and faith, leading to their well-being.
• you shall eat (תֹּאכְל֖וּ - to’khlu): A command and permission. It instructs them on how to subsist during this extraordinary year, indicating active consumption based on passive receipt. It tests their trust in God's provision.
• its increase (אֶת־תְּבוּאָתָֽהּ - et-t'vu'atah): Refers to the "produce" or "yield" that the land spontaneously brings forth, without any sowing or active cultivation during that year. It specifically means the naturally grown food, distinguishing it from harvests achieved through human labor.
• from the field (מִן־הַשָּׂדֶֽה - min-hassadeh): Specifies the source of this permitted sustenance – directly from nature, from what grows wild, not from personal cultivation. This reinforces the prohibition against labor and emphasizes total reliance on divine provision.

Word-group analysis

• "For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you": This phrase establishes the foundational truth of the year's divine nature and sacred purpose. It’s a period set apart by God, emphasizing that its regulations are not arbitrary but stem from its holy designation. The direct address "to you" makes this holiness personally relevant, indicating a benefit and a responsibility for the community of Israel. This designation grounds the seemingly difficult commands that follow in the holiness of God Himself.
• "you shall eat its increase from the field": This instruction delineates the practical aspect of trusting God's provision during this holy time. By forbidding regular cultivation and instructing them to eat only the land's spontaneous growth, the phrase vividly illustrates Israel's complete dependence on God. It’s a profound act of faith, relinquishing control and human labor for a period, confident that God, the true owner and provider, will sustain them miraculously through nature.

Leviticus 25 12 Bonus section

The Jubilee laws, as exemplified in Lev 25:12, functioned as an ideal blueprint for Israel, a societal 'reset button' challenging human tendencies toward accumulation and control. While there's little explicit biblical evidence of its full and consistent implementation throughout Israel's history, its prophetic significance remains profound. It anticipates the ultimate spiritual Jubilee inaugurated by Jesus Christ, who came to "proclaim liberty to the captives" (Lk 4:18-19, citing Isa 61:1-2). Just as the physical Jubilee offered release from debt, return to inheritance, and freedom from bondage, Christ's work offers spiritual emancipation from sin, restoration of lost inheritance in God, and freedom from spiritual slavery. This verse underscores God’s desire for justice, equity, and sustainable living based on faith, serving as a powerful counter-cultural message to any society driven by unrestrained self-interest or material anxiety.

Leviticus 25 12 Commentary

Leviticus 25:12 distills the core theological implications of the Jubilee: absolute divine sovereignty and the call to human faith. By declaring the Jubilee "holy," God consecrated not just a timeframe but an entire economic and social paradigm rooted in His character. This holiness demanded a radical trust: forsaking sowing and reaping, Israel was commanded to eat only what the unworked "field" spontaneously yielded. This direct injunction taught total reliance on God’s supernatural provision over human effort, demonstrating that God is the ultimate sustainer of life and source of blessing. The Jubilee, marked by liberation and restoration, thus served as a recurring, tangible lesson that true prosperity and stability flowed from obedience and faithful dependence on the Lord's redemptive order, preventing human systems of wealth and debt from becoming oppressive and ultimately revealing the sacredness of rest and equitable living.