Leviticus 25:4 kjv

But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.

Leviticus 25:4 nkjv

but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the LORD. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard.

Leviticus 25:4 niv

But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.

Leviticus 25:4 esv

but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.

Leviticus 25:4 nlt

but during the seventh year the land must have a Sabbath year of complete rest. It is the LORD's Sabbath. Do not plant your fields or prune your vineyards during that year.

Leviticus 25 verses

Leviticus 25 4 Meaning

Leviticus 25:4 outlines the primary command for the seventh, Sabbatical year for the land of Israel. It mandates that no agricultural work, such as sowing fields or pruning vineyards, is to be performed during this year. This is declared a "sabbath of solemn rest" for the land itself, reflecting the sacred principle of resting from labor that also applies to humanity.

Leviticus 25 4 Context

Leviticus 25 inaugurates the laws concerning the Sabbatical Year (Shemitah) and the Year of Jubilee (Yovel), which are pivotal for maintaining social, economic, and ecological balance in Israel, all under God's sovereignty. These laws follow directly from the previous chapters' focus on holy living and moral statutes, grounding them in the covenant with Yahweh who gave them the land. Verse 4 specifically introduces the agricultural prohibitions for the Sabbatical year, establishing the land's own divinely commanded rest. Historically, Israel was an agrarian society, making reliance on the land's yield central to their survival. This law profoundly tested their faith, demanding radical trust in God to provide without typical human labor. It also served as a unique marker, differentiating Israel from surrounding pagan nations who relentlessly exploited their land, often associating agricultural fertility with deities rather than the one true God who commanded the land's rest.

Leviticus 25 4 Word analysis

• But: Introduces a contrast or a specific focus after the general introduction of the Sabbatical year.
• in the seventh year: Indicates a precise temporal cycle (six years of work, one year of rest), central to the Sabbath principle embedded throughout Israel's law (weekly Sabbath, Feast of Weeks, Sabbatical Year, Jubilee). This periodicity emphasizes God's ordered creation and His design for rest and renewal.
• a sabbath of solemn rest:
  • sabbath (שַׁבָּת - shabbat): Meaning "cessation," "rest." This term explicitly connects the land's rest to the weekly Sabbath observance for humans and animals. It's a fundamental principle of creation and covenant.
  • of solemn rest (שַׁבָּתוֹן - shabbaton): An intensive form of shabbat, signifying a complete, holy, and compulsory cessation of activity, often translated as a "solemn sabbath" or "complete rest." It conveys the idea that this is not just a break but a hallowed period, emphasizing its sacred nature and divine command. It suggests an active, deliberate devotion to rest.
• for the land: (לָאָרֶץ - la'aretz) - "to the land," or "for the land." The land itself is personified as participating in the Sabbath. This highlights God's ownership of the land (Lev 25:23) and His desire for its ecological welfare, challenging human impulses for limitless exploitation. The land itself observes the Sabbath to the Lord.
• you shall not sow: (לֹא תִזְרָע - lo tizra') - A clear prohibition on planting seeds. This requires a profound trust in God for the previous year's yield or natural growth.
• your field: (שָׂדְךָ - sadekah) - The specific plot of land under the individual's cultivation. It personalizes the command.
• or prune: (וְכַרְמְךָ לֹא תִזְמוֹר - ve-charm'cha lo tizmor) - "and your vineyard you shall not prune." This prohibition specifically includes a major viticultural task, indicating the breadth of the agricultural cessation. It extends beyond field crops to specialized farming, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of the land's rest.
• your vineyard: (כַּרְמְךָ - kar'm'cha) - A specific type of cultivated land, vital to the ancient economy. Its inclusion underscores the totality of the agricultural rest commanded.

Leviticus 25 4 Bonus section

The Sabbatical year laws, including the prohibition in Leviticus 25:4, are a profound lesson in radical trust. It wasn't just about resting the land, but about actively choosing to depend on God's supernatural provision. The test was, "Will you believe that I can sustain you, even if you do not sow for a year, and that I will provide enough in the sixth year for three years' needs (the sixth, the seventh, and the eighth until the harvest)?" (Lev 25:20-22). This required the entire nation to shift from a mindset of self-reliance and continuous production to one of active faith and submission to divine order. It was also an act of humility, recognizing that humanity is not ultimately in control, but is a steward of God's creation.

Leviticus 25 4 Commentary

Leviticus 25:4 lays the foundational command for the Sabbatical year by strictly prohibiting major agricultural activities such as sowing and pruning. This law extended the principle of the weekly Sabbath rest to the entire agricultural cycle, demanding that the land itself experience a "sabbath of solemn rest to the Lord." This command served multiple critical purposes. Theologically, it was a radical expression of God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His ownership of the land. It compelled the Israelites to depend entirely on God's provision for six years' worth of crops and for the spontaneous growth of the seventh year (Lev 25:6-7), rather than on their own labor and ingenuity. This was a direct counter-cultural statement to surrounding pagan nations who often worked their land continuously, reflecting their view of controlling nature. Ecologically, it provided a necessary period for the land to lie fallow, allowing it to recover nutrients and maintain its fertility naturally, preventing depletion. Socially, it ensured that the poor, strangers, and wild animals could freely partake of what the land produced naturally during that year (Ex 23:10-11). It was a profound act of faith and obedience, underscoring that their prosperity came not from incessant toil, but from their covenant relationship with the Provider. The failure to observe these Sabbatical years eventually contributed to Israel's exile, serving as a solemn reminder of the consequences of disobeying God's designed rhythms of rest and stewardship (2 Chr 36:21).