Leviticus 25:28 kjv
But if he be not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubilee: and in the jubilee it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession.
Leviticus 25:28 nkjv
But if he is not able to have it restored to himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the Year of Jubilee; and in the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his possession.
Leviticus 25:28 niv
But if they do not acquire the means to repay, what was sold will remain in the possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. It will be returned in the Jubilee, and they can then go back to their property.
Leviticus 25:28 esv
But if he does not have sufficient means to recover it, then what he sold shall remain in the hand of the buyer until the year of jubilee. In the jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his property.
Leviticus 25:28 nlt
But if the original owner cannot afford to buy back the land, it will remain with the new owner until the next Year of Jubilee. In the jubilee year, the land must be returned to the original owners so they can return to their family land.
Leviticus 25 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 25:10 | And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty... | Proclamation of Jubilee liberty and return to property |
| Lev 25:13 | In this Year of Jubilee, everyone shall return to his possession. | Reinforces universal return in Jubilee |
| Lev 25:23 | The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine... | God's ultimate ownership of the land |
| Lev 25:24 | And in all the land of your possession you shall grant redemption for the land. | Principle of land redemption is established |
| Lev 25:25 | If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession... | Context of impoverished Israelite selling land |
| Lev 25:40 | he shall serve with you until the Year of Jubilee. | Application of Jubilee to indentured servants |
| Exod 23:10-11 | Six years you shall sow your land... but the seventh year you shall let it rest. | Foreshadows Sabbatical land rest |
| Deut 15:1 | At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts. | Establishes general principle of release (Shemitah) |
| Deut 15:7-8 | If there is among you a poor man of your brethren... you shall surely open your hand. | Call to care for the poor |
| Isa 61:1-2 | To proclaim liberty to the captives... the acceptable year of the LORD. | Prophecy of Messiah bringing spiritual Jubilee |
| Luke 4:18-19 | He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives... the acceptable year of the LORD. | Jesus identifies Himself as fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy |
| Jer 34:8-17 | concerning a proclamation of liberty to everyone... | Condemnation for failing to release slaves |
| Ezek 46:16-18 | if the prince gives a gift of his inheritance to any of his servants... it shall be his until the Year of Liberty. | Post-exilic law echoing Jubilee principles |
| Psa 24:1 | The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness... | Reinforces God's sovereignty over creation/land |
| Rom 8:21 | that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption. | Cosmic release from decay, like a grand Jubilee |
| Gal 5:1 | Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free... | Spiritual freedom from legal bondage in Christ |
| Heb 9:12 | With His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. | Christ's ultimate act of redemption |
| 1 Cor 7:22 | he who is called while a slave is the Lord’s freedman... | Spiritual freedom transcends earthly status |
| Rev 21:5 | Behold, I make all things new. | Divine restoration and renewal |
| Deut 32:8 | When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations... | God's design for nation's land division |
| Ruth 4:4-6 | Boaz as a kinsman-redeemer of land and family | Practical example of kinsman-redeemer role |
| Matt 19:28 | when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you also... shall regenerate. | Eschatological restoration ("regeneration") |
| Acts 3:21 | until the times of restoration of all things... | Anticipation of future cosmic restoration |
Leviticus 25 verses
Leviticus 25 28 Meaning
Leviticus 25:28 declares that if an Israelite who sold their inherited land is unable to buy it back (redeem it) for themselves, the land shall remain with the purchaser until the arrival of the divinely appointed Year of Jubilee. In the Jubilee, the land is unconditionally released from the buyer and automatically returns to its original owner, thereby restoring their ancestral possession.
Leviticus 25 28 Context
Leviticus 25 outlines the laws of the Sabbatical Year (every seventh year) and the Year of Jubilee (every fiftieth year). This chapter reveals God's economic and social design for the Israelites' land and their welfare. The verse 25:28 specifically addresses a scenario where an impoverished Israelite has sold a portion of their hereditary land but cannot afford to buy it back. The overarching context emphasizes God's ultimate ownership of the land of Israel (Lev 25:23), forbidding its permanent sale, and His provision for societal equity and the prevention of perpetual poverty or a landless class. The Jubilee year acts as a great "reset" for the nation's economic structure, ensuring every family returns to their original tribal land inheritance. Historically, this law was intended to maintain the divinely ordained tribal boundaries and prevent vast accumulation of wealth and property by a few at the expense of many, promoting social justice in an agrarian society. It provided a stark contrast to many ancient Near Eastern cultures where land sales could be permanent, often leading to increasing economic stratification and debt slavery.
Leviticus 25 28 Word analysis
- But if he is not able to recover it for himself: This phrase highlights the unfortunate circumstance of a family's deep poverty and inability to exercise the option of redemption through family means, which Leviticus 25:25-27 introduces. It emphasizes human limitations in the face of economic hardship.
- recover (Hebrew: ga'al, גָּאַל): To redeem, buy back, or act as a kinsman-redeemer. In this context, it means to reclaim ownership by paying the equivalent value. The inability to "ga'al" necessitates divine intervention through the Jubilee.
- then what he sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it: This clarifies the legal standing; the buyer legitimately holds the land, but this holding is temporary. It’s a usufruct arrangement rather than outright permanent ownership transfer.
- until the Year of Jubilee (Hebrew: Yovel, יוֹבֵל): This specifies the exact period. Yovel means "ram's horn" or "trumpet," referring to the instrument used to proclaim the year. It represents a specific, divinely mandated cycle that resets societal norms.
- and in the Jubilee it shall be released:
- Jubilee (Yovel): A unique economic, social, and religious institution commanded by God. Occurring every 50th year (after seven cycles of seven Sabbatical years), it was a time of freedom, land restoration, and return to family property.
- released (Hebrew: yatza, יָצָא): Lit. "to go out," "to come forth," "to be brought out." Here, it signifies a mandatory, automatic, and unconditional liberation. The land is not redeemed by human action but released by divine decree, regardless of human financial standing or contract. This reflects God's ultimate authority over all land.
- and he shall return to his possession:
- possession (Hebrew: ahuzzah, אֲחֻזָּה): Refers to the ancestral, hereditary property/inheritance within a tribal allotment. This word emphasizes a permanent, rightful family holding.
Leviticus 25 28 Bonus section
The concept of the Jubilee in Leviticus 25, including verse 28, represents a counter-cultural and counter-economic ideal in the ancient world. While other Near Eastern cultures dealt with debt and slavery, few if any had a periodic, unconditional release of land and debt on such a scale. This system reflects a divine challenge to human systems of permanent social stratification and exploitation. The land's return to its original owners served not just an economic function but also a sociological and spiritual one: it maintained tribal identity and integrity, prevented land hoarding, and periodically reminded Israel that their prosperity and very existence in the land were dependent on God's grace and their obedience to His laws, not solely on human effort or cunning.
Leviticus 25 28 Commentary
Leviticus 25:28 serves as a testament to God's benevolent legal framework designed for the welfare of His covenant people. It ensures that even when the mechanisms of personal and family redemption fail due to extreme poverty, a higher, divinely instituted "release" guarantees the preservation of hereditary land. This system prevented the permanent disinheritance of families and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few. It underscores the principle that the land belonged ultimately to God (Lev 25:23), and the Israelites were mere sojourners with Him. The Jubilee, therefore, wasn't merely a social welfare program but a theological statement about God's sovereignty, justice, and faithfulness to His promise of land inheritance. It foreshadows a greater, ultimate liberation and restoration, which is realized in Jesus Christ who proclaims freedom to captives and sets the oppressed free, ushering in the acceptable year of the Lord.