Leviticus 25 41

Leviticus 25:41 kjv

And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.

Leviticus 25:41 nkjv

And then he shall depart from you?he and his children with him?and shall return to his own family. He shall return to the possession of his fathers.

Leviticus 25:41 niv

Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors.

Leviticus 25:41 esv

Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and go back to his own clan and return to the possession of his fathers.

Leviticus 25:41 nlt

At that time he and his children will no longer be obligated to you, and they will return to their clans and go back to the land originally allotted to their ancestors.

Leviticus 25 verses

Leviticus 25 41 Meaning

Leviticus 25:41 outlines a key provision of the Year of Jubilee: an Israelite who had sold himself into temporary servitude due to poverty was to be released along with his children and would return to his ancestral clan and land inheritance. This command signifies a divinely mandated restoration of liberty, family unity, and economic stability, rooted in God's ownership of all land and people. It prevents permanent debt slavery and maintains the original distribution of tribal land, ensuring dignity and a fresh start within the covenant community.

Leviticus 25 41 Context

Leviticus chapter 25 provides foundational laws for the Sabbatical Year (every seventh year) and, crucially, the Year of Jubilee (every fiftieth year). These laws govern land usage, debt, and human relationships, emphasizing God's ownership of all land and people in Israel. Verses 39-55 specifically detail the rules concerning Israelites who, due to poverty, sell themselves into temporary servitude to another Israelite or to a resident foreigner. The core principle established is that no Israelite could be permanently enslaved, as they are "My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt" (Lev 25:42).

Leviticus 25:41 fits directly into this framework. It describes the mandated outcome for an Israelite servant when the Jubilee year arrives: immediate release. This divine ordinance prevented extreme economic stratification and ensured that all tribal land allotments, originally given by God (Josh 14-19), would eventually revert to their original families every fifty years. It reinforced the covenant concept that every Israelite's true identity and security was ultimately tied to their relationship with Yahweh, who had redeemed them from bondage in Egypt. Historically and culturally, such debt slavery was common in the Ancient Near East, but the Jubilee laws set Israel apart by placing clear, compassionate limits on its duration and implications, particularly concerning the family unit and inherited property.

Leviticus 25 41 Word analysis

• Then he shall depart: The Hebrew verb for "depart" (יָצָא, yatza) means "to go out" or "come forth." This implies a definitive liberation, a physical exit from the state of servitude and the dwelling of the temporary master. It signifies a transition from constraint to freedom.
• from you: This specifies the master, emphasizing the separation of the servant from the one to whom he was indentured. It is a commanded separation initiated by divine law, not the master's discretion.
• he and his children with him: This is a crucial and compassionate detail. The Hebrew phrase (hu uvanav immo) emphasizes the collective liberation of the entire immediate family unit. This distinguishes Jubilee release from the rule in Exodus 21:4, where if a master gave a male servant a wife during his servitude, the wife and any children born to them would remain with the master if the servant chose to leave after six years. Under Jubilee, the full family unit is restored, regardless of when children were born or family formed. This underlines the Jubilee's complete and unconditional restoration.
• and shall return: The Hebrew verb for "return" (וְשָׁב, v'shav) signifies a reversal or a going back to an original state. It implies a restoration to a previous status of freedom, family connection, and ownership.
• to his own clan: The Hebrew word for "clan" or "family" (מִשְׁפַּחְתּוֹ, mishpachto) denotes the larger familial group or tribal subdivision. This highlights the socio-cultural reintegration of the freed individual and his family back into their primary community structure. It restores identity and belonging.
• and to the possession: The Hebrew term for "possession" (אֲחֻזַּת, ahuzzat) refers to the inherited land, property, or real estate. This signifies the economic foundation of the family's livelihood and long-term security. The land was considered God's gift to each tribal family, an inalienable inheritance.
• of his fathers: The Hebrew term (avotav) refers to his ancestors or forefathers. This emphasizes that the returned "possession" is the very inheritance allocated by God from the initial division of the land among the tribes of Israel. It links the current generation to God's ancient promises and faithfulness to their lineage.

Words-group analysis:

• "he shall depart from you, he and his children with him": This phrase encapsulates the core of the Jubilee's personal liberation aspect. It highlights the divine emphasis on not just individual freedom, but the integral preservation and reunification of the family unit, distinct from other temporary servitude laws that could split families.
• "and shall return to his own clan and to the possession of his fathers": This phrase outlines the comprehensive nature of the restoration. It points to both social re-integration (into the clan/family) and economic re-establishment (through the ancestral land). This dual return ensures that the individual regains not only personal freedom but also their original societal status and means of livelihood within God's covenant structure.

Leviticus 25 41 Bonus section

• Divine Sovereignty and Redemption: The principles behind Leviticus 25:41, particularly the command that "the land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me" (Lev 25:23), underscore God's ultimate ownership and the temporary nature of human possessions and societal arrangements. The release of servants and return of land served as an annual, then quinquennial, re-enactment of the Exodus—God’s redemption of Israel from slavery in Egypt.
• Type of Spiritual Jubilee: This verse, and the entire Jubilee law, functions as a powerful foreshadowing or type of the spiritual liberation brought by Jesus Christ. As Messiah, Jesus came to proclaim "the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18-19), which offers true freedom from the bondage of sin and death, restoring individuals to their spiritual inheritance as sons and daughters in God's eternal family.
• Social and Economic Stability: The enforcement of such laws was critical for the long-term social and economic stability of Israel. It provided a built-in mechanism to prevent wealth concentration, rampant debt, and the creation of a permanent landless or impoverished class, thus upholding God's covenant with all families.

Leviticus 25 41 Commentary

Leviticus 25:41 vividly illustrates God's radical design for justice and mercy within the covenant community of Israel. Far from sanctioning permanent servitude, it institutes a compulsory, divinely ordained release every fiftieth year for an Israelite who had fallen into economic bondage. The most profound aspect is the absolute nature of this release: the servant, along with his entire family, is set free and returned to their ancestral clan and land. This stood in stark contrast to practices in surrounding cultures and even other Mosaic laws concerning temporary servitude. This unique provision prevented the emergence of a permanently dispossessed underclass and periodically reset the nation's socio-economic landscape. It served as a potent reminder that all Israelites were fundamentally servants of Yahweh, and that the land belonged ultimately to Him. Thus, freedom, family integrity, and the sacredness of inherited land were profoundly upheld, reflecting God's compassion and commitment to equitable restoration for His people.