Leviticus 25 29

Leviticus 25:29 kjv

And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year may he redeem it.

Leviticus 25:29 nkjv

'If a man sells a house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year he may redeem it.

Leviticus 25:29 niv

"?'Anyone who sells a house in a walled city retains the right of redemption a full year after its sale. During that time the seller may redeem it.

Leviticus 25:29 esv

"If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, he may redeem it within a year of its sale. For a full year he shall have the right of redemption.

Leviticus 25:29 nlt

"Anyone who sells a house inside a walled town has the right to buy it back for a full year after its sale. During that year, the seller retains the right to buy it back.

Leviticus 25 verses

Leviticus 25 29 Meaning

Leviticus 25:29 outlines a specific provision within Israel's land and property laws for the redemption of a dwelling house sold in a walled city. It stipulates that if such a house is sold, the original owner has the right to buy it back within exactly one year from the date of the sale. This distinct timeframe differentiates urban house sales from other forms of property transactions under the Jubilee laws, highlighting the unique legal status of dwellings within fortified cities.

Leviticus 25 29 Context

Leviticus chapter 25 details God's laws concerning the Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee for the Israelites once they possessed the land of Canaan. These laws reveal God's ultimate ownership of the land and His design for justice, mercy, and stability within the community, especially regarding property and poverty. The chapter outlines rules for resting the land every seventh year (Sabbath year) and for a grand reset every fiftieth year (Jubilee), during which all inherited land reverts to its original family owner and all Israelites sold into servitude are freed.

Verse 29 is embedded within the section that specifically addresses property transactions (Lev 25:23-34). While the general rule for land (fields) allowed for redemption at any time and ensured its return in the Jubilee (Lev 25:28), and houses in unwalled villages were treated like open fields (Lev 25:31), houses within walled cities were subject to a different rule. This distinction is crucial and reflects an understanding of the different economic and social roles of urban dwellings versus agricultural land within Israelite society.

Historically, walled cities in the ancient Near East served as centers of commerce, craftsmanship, and administration, rather than purely agricultural production. Property within them was considered more a personal asset or business premise than an inseparable part of a family's foundational agricultural inheritance from God. The Mosaic Law reflects this distinction, indicating God's wisdom in legislating for both agrarian life and the practicalities of urban development, while still offering a degree of protection for the poor within city limits.

Leviticus 25 29 Word analysis

• (ul)
  • And if a man (וְאִישׁ - ve'ish): The introductory conjunction "and" links this specific case to the broader redemption laws. "Man" refers to the male head of a household or any individual acting in a transaction.
  • sell (יִמְכֹּר - yimkor): Standard Hebrew verb for "to sell."
  • a dwelling house (בֵּית מוֹשָׁב - beit moshav): Literally, "house of dwelling" or "house of settlement." It refers to a residential structure. This term distinguishes it from agricultural fields (sadeh) or simple huts. It signifies a permanent abode.
  • in a walled city (בְּעִיר חוֹמָה - be'ir chomah): Crucial defining characteristic. "City" (ir) refers to an urban center. "Walled" (chomah) implies a fortified settlement, indicating permanence, security, and a potentially commercial character, differentiating it from rural dwellings. This emphasizes that the rule applies only to cities with established defensive walls, setting them apart legally and structurally from unwalled villages.
  • then he may redeem it (וְהָיְתָה גְאֻלָּתוֹ - ve·hayetah ge'ullato): Literally, "and its redemption shall be his." "Redeem" (from the root ga'al) refers to the act of regaining ownership or possession, usually through payment of a ransom or repurchase. This highlights the inherent right to buy back.
  • within a whole year (עַד תֹּם שְׁנַת - ad tom shnat): "Until the completion/end of a year." This sets a strict and limited time frame. "Whole" emphasizes the precision of the one-year period.
  • after it is sold (מִמְכָּרוֹ - mimkarov): Literally, "from its sale" or "from its being sold." It marks the beginning of the one-year countdown.
  • within a full year (יָמִים תִּהְיֶה גְאֻלָּתוֹ - yamim tihye ge'ullato): This phrase, literally "days its redemption shall be," reiterates and emphasizes the previous time limit. The repetition reinforces the strictness and finality of the one-year redemption window, distinguishing it sharply from other property laws.
• (ul)
  • "If a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city": This clause sets the precise conditions under which this specific law applies. It singles out urban residential property, indicating its different status compared to agricultural land or dwellings in less developed areas.
  • "then he may redeem it within a whole year... within a full year he may redeem it": The immediate grant of redemption right, combined with the emphatic repetition of the one-year timeframe, highlights both the privilege and the strict limitation. Unlike land, which had the perpetual guarantee of return in the Jubilee and flexible redemption terms, urban houses were subject to a much narrower window. This ensures clarity for both buyer and seller and prevents ongoing disputes or uncertainty over property rights in cities, which were increasingly centers of commerce.

Leviticus 25 29 Bonus section

• Distinct Legal Status: The law explicitly categorizes Israelite property into three distinct types with different redemption rules:
  1. Agricultural land and houses in unwalled villages (Lev 25:23-28, 31): Could be redeemed anytime, reverted automatically in the Jubilee if not redeemed. This protected ancestral inheritance.
  2. Houses in walled cities (Lev 25:29-30): One-year redemption window; if not redeemed, ownership was permanent until next sale. No Jubilee reversion. This encouraged urban development and clearer property titles.
  3. Houses in Levitical cities (Lev 25:32-34): Could always be redeemed and always reverted in the Jubilee. This reflected their unique sacred purpose and God's ongoing provision for His priests.
• Theological Implication: The different rules demonstrate the practical wisdom of God's laws, balancing ideal theological principles (God's ultimate ownership, social justice, provision for the poor) with pragmatic considerations for different societal structures and needs. It highlights that God cares for both the sacred agricultural economy and the functional aspects of urban living.
• Preventing Uncertainty: The one-year limit for walled-city houses served a crucial practical purpose: it provided certainty for buyers. Imagine purchasing a home in a busy city and constantly fearing its potential redemption years later. This specific rule allowed for quick finality in urban real estate transactions.

Leviticus 25 29 Commentary

Leviticus 25:29 provides a unique and nuanced regulation within the broader Jubilee and redemption laws, distinguishing houses in walled cities from all other types of property. While ancestral land allotments were foundational to Israelite identity and sustenance, representing God's irrevocable gift, urban dwellings were treated differently. They were not seen as inherently tied to the tribal land inheritance or a family's direct agricultural livelihood. The strict one-year redemption window, rather than an automatic return in the Jubilee (Lev 25:30), reflects a more commercial approach to these properties. This allowed for greater stability and clearer property rights in bustling city centers, preventing continuous uncertainty that a lengthy redemption period or Jubilee reversion would introduce. God's law thus provided both protection for the vulnerable (allowing a short period for repurchase) and practical considerations for the orderly function and economic stability of urban life.