Leviticus 25:2 kjv

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD.

Leviticus 25:2 nkjv

"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the LORD.

Leviticus 25:2 niv

"Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the LORD.

Leviticus 25:2 esv

"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the LORD.

Leviticus 25:2 nlt

"Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. When you have entered the land I am giving you, the land itself must observe a Sabbath rest before the LORD every seventh year.

Leviticus 25 verses

Leviticus 25 2 Meaning

Leviticus 25:2 establishes the command for the Israelites to observe a "Sabbath for the land" once they enter the land promised by God. This mandated agricultural rest, known as the Sabbatical Year or Shmita, required the cessation of farming activities every seventh year. Its core purpose was to acknowledge God's ultimate ownership of the land and all its produce, promoting trust in His provision, fostering economic equality, and demonstrating the sacred rhythm of rest applied even to the natural world.

Leviticus 25 2 Context

Leviticus 25, part of the Holiness Code (Lev 17-27), outlines specific laws given at Mount Sinai concerning the use of the Promised Land, which Israel had not yet entered. The chapter focuses on two significant sabbatical cycles: the Sabbatical Year (Shmita) observed every seven years, and the Year of Jubilee (Yovel) occurring after seven Sabbatical cycles (every 50th year). This introductory verse, Leviticus 25:2, establishes the fundamental premise of God's ownership over the land even before Israel takes possession. It sets the stage for a unique economic and theological system distinct from contemporary pagan practices, emphasizing Israel's dependency on God rather than their own agricultural prowess or local deities. It foreshadows the challenges and blessings associated with trusting God's provision.

Leviticus 25 2 Word analysis

• Speak (דַּבֵּר, dabbēr): A strong command, indicating a direct divine mandate from God to Moses for immediate and authoritative relaying to the people.
• to the children of Israel (אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, 'el-b'nei Yisra'el): Specifically designates the covenant people of God as the sole recipients of this law, highlighting their unique relationship and responsibilities.
• and say to them (וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם, v'amar'ta 'alehem): Reinforces the direct, personal, and imperative nature of the instruction, ensuring clarity and accountability.
• 'When you come (כִּי תָבֹאוּ, ki tav'o'u): Establishes a future, conditional timing for the law's implementation—it takes effect upon their entry into and possession of the land. This indicates a law given in anticipation of an event, requiring faith.
• into the land (אֶל־הָאָרֶץ, 'el-ha'aretz): Refers to the specific territory of Canaan, the "Promised Land," which held immense theological and historical significance for Israel as the inheritance from God.
• which I give you (אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נֹתֵן לָכֶם, 'asher 'ani noten lachem): Crucial phrase affirming God's ultimate sovereignty and benevolent ownership over the land. The land is not conquered or earned by Israel's strength, but it is a gracious gift from the LORD. This concept underpins all land-related laws.
• then the land (וְשָׁבְתָה הָאָרֶץ, v'shavtah ha'aretz): Emphasizes the land itself as the subject of the Sabbath. This is a profound shift from the human-centric Sabbath (weekly rest) to a land-centric rest, indicating an expansion of the Sabbath principle to all creation.
• shall keep a sabbath (שַׁבָּת לַיהוָה, shabbat la-YHWH): Shabbat (שַׁבָּת) means "rest, cessation," derived from shavat ("to cease, desist, rest"). It signifies a period of solemn cessation from agricultural labor. The phrase la-YHWH ("to the Lord") dedicates this rest exclusively to God, underscoring its theological purpose as an act of worship, trust, and acknowledgment of His lordship. This makes it a sacred cessation, not merely an agricultural break.

Leviticus 25 2 Bonus section

The concept of the Sabbatical Year for the land stands in stark polemic contrast to the pagan beliefs prevalent in ancient Near Eastern societies, which often involved rituals and continuous toil to appease fertility gods and ensure bountiful harvests. Israel’s observance of Shmita fundamentally rejected the notion that human effort or idol worship determined agricultural success. Instead, it declared Yahweh as the sole Provider, whose generosity required faith and obedience rather than incessant labor or propitiatory acts. This divine command fostered a holistic understanding of rest, extending the principle of Sabbath from human labor to the very earth, affirming God's cosmic lordship and setting a precedent for environmental stewardship rooted in theological principles. The consistent failure of Israel to observe the land Sabbaths ultimately contributed to their seventy-year exile in Babylon, fulfilling God's word that the land would finally enjoy its neglected rests.

Leviticus 25 2 Commentary

Leviticus 25:2 introduces a radical concept for an agrarian society: allowing the cultivated land to rest every seven years. This commandment goes beyond mere ecological practice, serving as a profound theological statement. By commanding the land itself to keep a Sabbath to the Lord, God underscores His supreme ownership over the earth, reminding Israel that their prosperity comes from His blessing, not solely from human toil or natural cycles. This Sabbatical rest was a test of faith, requiring the Israelites to trust God's provision for two years based on the previous harvest, demonstrating their dependence on divine grace. It also fostered social equity by allowing the poor and wild animals to eat from what grew of its own accord. Spiritually, it cultivated a discipline of restraint, detachment from materialistic anxiety, and reverence for God's creation.