Leviticus 25:18 kjv

Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety.

Leviticus 25:18 nkjv

'So you shall observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land in safety.

Leviticus 25:18 niv

"?'Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land.

Leviticus 25:18 esv

"Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely.

Leviticus 25:18 nlt

"If you want to live securely in the land, follow my decrees and obey my regulations.

Leviticus 25 verses

Leviticus 25 18 Meaning

Leviticus 25:18 declares that observing God's specific statutes and faithfully carrying out His judgments is the prerequisite for Israel to dwell securely and without fear in the Promised Land. It connects active obedience to divine law with divine protection and peaceful habitation within their covenant inheritance, addressing the practical concerns of following the land sabbath laws.

Leviticus 25 18 Context

Leviticus chapter 25 details the laws concerning the Sabbatical Year (Shemitah) and the Year of Jubilee (Yovel). These laws govern land usage, debt, and the restoration of property and personal liberty every seven and fifty years, respectively. The Israelites were commanded to let the land lie fallow every seventh year, trusting God to provide for their needs from the sixth year's bounty. The Jubilee year brought even greater socioeconomic reordering, restoring tribal land inheritances and releasing slaves. Leviticus 25:18 directly addresses a foundational human concern about these seemingly disruptive practices: "How shall we eat if we do not sow, nor gather our produce for the seventh year?" (v. 20). The verse is a divine reassurance, declaring that obedience to these unique agricultural and social laws is not a path to hardship but to safety and security in the very land God gave them. It contrasts divine protection and provision with reliance on human methods, reinforcing the covenantal nature of Israel's existence in the land, where their continued possession was conditional on faithful adherence to God's commandments rather than military strength or shrewd agriculture alone.

Leviticus 25 18 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵ֕ן, lakhen): This word signifies a logical consequence or a summation. It connects the promise of secure dwelling directly to the previous commands and the implicit challenge of trusting God regarding the Sabbatical and Jubilee years (specifically in vv. 20-22 regarding the food supply during fallow years). It highlights the conditional nature of God's blessings related to obedience.

• you shall observe (תַּעֲשׂ֣וּ, ta'asu from root asah, "to do," "make," "perform"; in parallel with tishmeru): While often translated "observe," asah primarily means to "do" or "perform." This emphasizes active implementation rather than mere intellectual acknowledgement. It implies practical application and obedience.

• My statutes (חֻקֹּתַ֗י, ḥuqotay): These are God's prescribed ordinances or decrees. Often distinct from "judgments" (mishpatim), chukkim refer to laws that are divinely established, sometimes without obvious rational human basis (e.g., ceremonial laws, the land sabbath itself). They represent God's sovereign will and order for His people, demonstrating His authority.

• and keep (תִּשְׁמְר֔וּ, tishmeru from root shamar): To "keep" implies more than mere doing; it means to guard, protect, preserve, be watchful over, heed, and maintain. This term suggests careful adherence, diligent attention, and holding these laws in high regard, treating them as precious.

• My judgments (וּמִשְׁפָּטַי֙, u-mishpatay): These are God's just decrees, ordinances, or legal precedents. Mishpatim often pertain to ethical and civil laws, guiding social interaction and justice within the community. They are based on righteous principles and reveal God's standard of justice.

• and perform them (וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם, va`asitem otam): A reiteration and reinforcement of the initial "you shall observe" using asah. This redundancy (do, keep, do) serves as an emphatic command, stressing complete and practical obedience to all aspects of God's law. It moves beyond knowing or hearing to actual, tangible compliance.

• and you will dwell (וִֽישַׁבְתֶּ֥ם, vîshaḇtem from root yashav): To sit, inhabit, settle, or remain. It speaks of permanence and a settled existence, indicating stability and security within the land rather than being a transient or vulnerable population.

• in the land (בָּאָ֖רֶץ, bā'āreṣ): This specifically refers to the land of Canaan, the covenantal inheritance promised to Abraham's descendants. The security promised is tangible and tied directly to their physical presence and possession of this specific territory.

• in safety (לָבֶֽטַח, labetaḥ): Derived from the root bataḥ, meaning to trust, feel secure, be confident. "In safety" signifies a state of complete security, free from fear, anxiety, or external threat. It suggests divine protection, peace, and freedom from danger and opposition. It is the opposite of living in terror or apprehension, a direct answer to any fear regarding the observance of the land sabbaths.

• Word Groups / Phrases:

  • "observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them": This phrase combines three strong verbs (asah, shamar, asah) and two categories of law (chukkim, mishpatim), underscoring the comprehensive and active nature of the required obedience. It's a call to total fidelity—knowing God's laws, guarding them diligently, and putting them into practice without reservation or picking and choosing. This comprehensive obedience applies to both the divinely decreed (statutes) and the ethically just (judgments) aspects of the Mosaic covenant.
  • "dwell in the land in safety": This highlights the primary benefit of obedience in the earthly context. It ties together the covenantal promise of the land (habbateḥ), its secure habitation (yashav), and the emotional and physical well-being (betaḥ) that accompanies God's favor. It means security against external enemies, internal strife, and economic uncertainty, as God Himself becomes their protector and provider.

Leviticus 25 18 Bonus section

The concept of "safety" (betach) in this verse is profound. It's more than just physical security; it encompasses a sense of well-being, confidence, and freedom from alarm, derived from trusting in God's unwavering faithfulness. This assurance allows the Israelites to live without anxiety concerning their provision during fallow years or the re-ordering of their societal structures. This betach stands in stark contrast to the insecurity experienced by nations that do not honor God's decrees, highlighting God as the ultimate source of stability and true rest. The consistent use of phrases like "you shall observe... keep... perform" showcases a legal as well as moral obligation, indicating that Israel's identity and continuous enjoyment of their promised inheritance are inextricably linked to their active response to God's covenantal requirements. This establishes a foundational truth about the reciprocal nature of the covenant: God is faithful to His promises, and Israel's enjoyment of those promises is conditional on their faithfulness to His laws.

Leviticus 25 18 Commentary

Leviticus 25:18 is a concise statement of a fundamental biblical principle: divine blessing and secure existence are contingent upon obedient adherence to God's revealed will. Within the specific context of the Jubilee and Sabbatical laws, which demanded extraordinary trust in God's provision by foregoing annual harvests, this verse offers the foundational reassurance. It directly addresses Israel's natural human anxiety regarding the practicalities of surviving by promising "safety" – not just security from external foes, but economic and existential peace despite human limitations or doubts about God's provision. The emphasis on "My statutes" and "My judgments" underlines that God's laws are an integrated whole, encompassing both ritual observance and social justice, all of which are critical for covenantal flourishing. True safety comes not from human planning or self-reliance, but from humble submission and active performance of all God commands. It illustrates God's desire for His people to live in full confidence in Him, allowing Him to manage the very real concerns of life. This timeless principle transcends the specific land laws, showing that obedience is consistently linked to security and peace, whether individually or nationally.