Leviticus 25:27 kjv

Then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession.

Leviticus 25:27 nkjv

then let him count the years since its sale, and restore the remainder to the man to whom he sold it, that he may return to his possession.

Leviticus 25:27 niv

they are to determine the value for the years since they sold it and refund the balance to the one to whom they sold it; they can then go back to their own property.

Leviticus 25:27 esv

let him calculate the years since he sold it and pay back the balance to the man to whom he sold it, and then return to his property.

Leviticus 25:27 nlt

he then has the right to redeem it from the one who bought it. The price of the land will be discounted according to the number of years until the next Year of Jubilee. In this way the original owner can then return to the land.

Leviticus 25 verses

Leviticus 25 27 Meaning

Leviticus 25:27 describes the process for redeeming a piece of land that had been sold by a poor Israelite. The verse mandates that upon redemption, the number of years remaining until the next Jubilee (or until the original owner is able to redeem it) must be counted. Based on this remaining period, the buyer is to restore to the original seller the "overpayment," which refers to the calculated value of the remaining harvest years until the Jubilee. The land is then returned to the original owner and his ancestral property.

Leviticus 25 27 Context

Leviticus chapter 25 details God's laws concerning the Sabbatical Year (Shemitah) and the Jubilee Year (Yovel), which governed Israel's land, time, and socio-economic life. These laws established a rhythmic cycle of rest and redemption, asserting God's ultimate ownership over the land of Israel (Lev 25:23). Land was seen not as a commodity for permanent sale but as a divine inheritance, to be held in stewardship by the tribes and families.

Verse 27 specifically addresses a scenario where an Israelite, having fallen into poverty, was compelled to sell part of his ancestral property. The law allows for its early redemption before the full Jubilee year arrives, emphasizing the temporary nature of the sale. This system prevented permanent loss of tribal inheritance, massive accumulation of wealth by a few, and perpetuated a relatively egalitarian society, contrasting sharply with contemporary Near Eastern societies where land often became permanently alienated or concentrated in the hands of the elite. The Jubilee and its interim redemption provisions were a divinely instituted polemic against systemic injustice and the enslavement of people through unpayable debt.

Leviticus 25 27 Word analysis

• then: Indicates a sequence, following the potential readiness for redemption by the seller or a close relative (kinsman-redeemer, go'el) mentioned in the preceding verses (Lev 25:26).
• he shall count: This "he" refers either to the seller if he has found the means to redeem, or the go'el (redeemer). The act of "counting" (Hebrew: וְחִשַּׁב ve-khishshav) denotes a precise calculation, an accounting, not merely an estimation. It underscores the fairness and systematic nature of God's law.
• the years: (Hebrew: שָׁנִים shanım) Refers specifically to the remaining years until the next Jubilee, as the original "sale" was only a lease for the number of years until the Jubilee (Lev 25:15-16). The longer the remaining period, the higher the redemption price; the shorter, the lower. This means land was always sold based on the value of its harvest yield, not as permanent possession.
• since its sale: This phrase grounds the calculation in the original transaction, which was a "sale" (מִמְכָּרוֹ mimkaro), or rather, a lease agreement for a specific duration of time, never truly a transfer of ultimate ownership.
• and restore: (וְהֵשִׁיב veheshiv) Implies giving back, but more strongly, causing to return. This word choice emphasizes restitution and the re-establishment of original conditions, reflecting divine justice and the ultimate goal of the land returning to its original owner. It's a key term used for restoring what was rightfully another's.
• the overpayment: (אֶת יִתְרַת et yitrat) This is a crucial concept. It's not about giving back profit the buyer made, but about returning the portion of the original purchase price that represented years the buyer would no longer use after the redemption. Since the land was "sold" (leased) for a price representing its produce until the Jubilee, if redeemed early, the buyer has been "overpaid" for the actual years of usage. It means the initial "sale" amount was based on the total remaining years until the Jubilee, and upon early redemption, the buyer keeps a prorated amount for the years they did possess the land, refunding the rest.
• to the man to whom he sold it: Clarifies the recipient of the returned amount – the initial purchaser of the land lease. This confirms a bilateral agreement in the redemption process, ensuring fair dealings for both parties.
• and return to his property: (וְשָׁב לַאֲחֻזָּתוֹ v’shav la’achuzzato) This signifies the physical reintegration of the land into the ancestral inheritance (achuzzato), restoring the family's portion of the land. This restoration was vital for maintaining tribal identity, economic stability, and fulfilling God's original allotment of the land. It represents a physical manifestation of God's ongoing commitment to Israel's foundational societal structure.
• "he shall count the years... and restore the overpayment": This phrase encapsulates the detailed mechanism of justice. It’s not just a general command to be fair, but provides a precise economic principle rooted in valuing a temporal lease rather than a permanent asset. It demonstrates the sophisticated nature of God's law regarding property.
• "restore the overpayment... and return to his property": These two linked phrases highlight the dual aspect of redemption: financial rectitude for the current holder and full physical restoration of the inheritance to the original owner. The "property" (achuzzato) is a sacred trust, given by God, not merely an economic asset.

Leviticus 25 27 Bonus section

The laws regarding land redemption and the Jubilee serve as a powerful economic counter-system to common ancient Near Eastern practices, which often led to land consolidation, debtor slavery, and entrenched class systems. By divinely preventing permanent land sales and providing a structured means of redemption, God ensured a more egalitarian and compassionate society for Israel. The term go'el (redeemer) often linked to land redemption, also extends to personal redemption (from slavery) and blood vengeance, showing God's holistic approach to restoring justice and preserving life and property. The requirement to count years not crops also emphasizes the inherent value of time and its relation to ownership and resource use. This precise calculation reflects the Lord's meticulousness in setting standards for righteous living, both economically and socially.

Leviticus 25 27 Commentary

Leviticus 25:27 demonstrates the meticulously just and merciful character of God embedded in the Mosaic Law concerning land. The system ensured that land, the primary means of subsistence and family legacy in ancient Israel, could never be permanently alienated from its original tribal and familial owners. This verse, therefore, highlights several profound theological truths.

Firstly, it reiterates God's ultimate ownership of the land (Lev 25:23). Humans are but sojourners and stewards, preventing absolute individualistic claims and promoting dependence on God's provision. The "sale" was never permanent but a lease agreement, calculated based on the number of harvests until the next Jubilee.

Secondly, it established a mechanism for socio-economic justice. The requirement to "count the years" and "restore the overpayment" ensures that if the land is redeemed early, the price is prorated fairly based on the unutilized remaining years of the lease. This prevents either party from taking unfair advantage and promotes equitable dealings even in difficult circumstances of poverty and distress. This divine safeguard prevented the long-term accumulation of land and wealth by a few, mitigating economic disparity and systemic poverty within Israelite society.

Thirdly, the verse protects family inheritance. The land, called achuzzah, was not merely a possession but a tangible link to one's tribal identity, ancestral roots, and future generations. Its return ensured the continuity of family lines and their portion within the covenant land, reflecting God’s commitment to stable, God-ordained societal structures.

Finally, this system foreshadows spiritual redemption. Just as Israelite property could be bought back and returned to its rightful owner, humanity, alienated from God due to sin, can be redeemed by Christ's sacrifice. He is the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer (Go'el), paying the ultimate "price" (His blood) to restore humanity to its rightful inheritance in Him. The Jubilee, in its grand scheme, serves as a divine paradigm for ultimate liberty and restoration in God's eternal Kingdom, where all things are made new and return to their original, God-ordained purpose.