Leviticus 25 51

Leviticus 25:51 kjv

If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for.

Leviticus 25:51 nkjv

If there are still many years remaining, according to them he shall repay the price of his redemption from the money with which he was bought.

Leviticus 25:51 niv

If many years remain, they must pay for their redemption a larger share of the price paid for them.

Leviticus 25:51 esv

If there are still many years left, he shall pay proportionately for his redemption some of his sale price.

Leviticus 25:51 nlt

If many years still remain until the jubilee, they will repay the proper proportion of what they received when they sold themselves.

Leviticus 25 verses

Leviticus 25 51 Meaning

Leviticus 25:51 details the method for calculating the redemption price of an Israelite who has sold himself into servitude to a non-Israelite resident in the land. This verse specifically addresses scenarios where a significant number of years remain until the next Jubilee year. It mandates that the redemption cost be directly proportional to the remaining years of service. This cost is derived from the initial amount for which he was 'bought,' implying that the payment covered anticipated labor over time, not absolute ownership of the individual.

Leviticus 25 51 Context

Leviticus Chapter 25 is primarily concerned with the laws of the Sabbatical Year (every seventh year, a year of rest for the land) and the Jubilee Year (every fiftieth year, marking universal liberation and restoration of land to original owners). These laws highlight Israel's reliance on God, His ultimate ownership of the land and its people, and His provisions for economic justice and human dignity. Verses 47-55 specifically address the difficult situation of an Israelite who becomes poor and sells himself to a non-Israelite resident (a sojourner or alien) in the land. While such a sale was permissible due to poverty, the Mosaic Law, in a polemic against common Near Eastern chattel slavery, meticulously laid out provisions for his redemption and eventual freedom, ensuring he would not remain permanently enslaved to a foreigner. Verse 51 details one specific condition for the calculation of this redemption price, ensuring proportionality and fairness in the transaction based on the time remaining until his obligatory release at the Jubilee.

Leviticus 25 51 Word analysis

• And if there remain many years (וְאִם עוֹד רַבּוֹת שָׁנִים - w’im ‘ōd rabbōṯ shānîm):
  • And if: Hebrew 'w'im' (וְאִם). Introduces a conditional clause, establishing a specific scenario for the rule to apply.
  • there remain: Hebrew 'od' (עוֹד). Signifies 'still' or 'yet,' emphasizing the duration of service left.
  • many years: Hebrew 'rabbōṯ shānîm' (רַבּוֹת שָׁנִים). 'Rabbōṯ' means 'many' or 'numerous,' implying a significant period of time until the Jubilee. This directly links the redemption cost to the amount of remaining service, underscoring the "labor-for-payment" nature of the servitude rather than outright ownership of the person. This condition would be in contrast to if few years remained (v. 52).
• according to them (כָּהֵן - kāhēn):
  • This Hebrew term directly refers to "according to these" or "proportionately to them" (i.e., the many years). It signifies that the value of the remaining labor is to be assessed proportionally based on the total service duration from the time of sale until the Jubilee. It's an economic formula, not an arbitrary payment.
• he shall restore (יָשִׁיב - yāshîḇ):
  • From the root 'shuv' (שׁוּב), meaning "to return," "to bring back," or "to repay." Here, it carries the sense of repaying or restoring the calculated amount to the "master" in exchange for the release of the servant. This implies that the initial "purchase" was a kind of loan or advance payment for service, and the redemption is a repayment of the unused portion of that loan.
• the price of his redemption (אֵת מְחִיר גְּאֻלָּתוֹ - ’ēṯ məḥîr gə’ullāṯô):
  • price: Hebrew 'məḥîr' (מְחִיר). Standard word for cost or selling price.
  • his redemption: Hebrew 'gə’ullāṯô' (גְּאֻלָּתוֹ). From the verb 'gā’al' (גָּאַל), which is foundational to the concept of 'kinsman-redeemer' (Goel). It implies the act of releasing or purchasing someone (or something) from bondage or another's possession, often by payment, by a qualified redeemer (usually a family member). Here, it's the cost specifically for his release. This concept is vital for understanding Israelite law and its foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate redemption.
• out of the money that he was bought for (מִמֶּקַח קִנְיָתוֹ - mimmeqaḥ qinyāṯô):
  • More literally: "from the purchase price of his acquisition."
  • out of the money: Hebrew 'mimmeḳaḥ' (מִמֶּקַח). From 'meqaḥ', meaning 'purchase' or 'that which is bought'. It denotes the original monetary amount of the transaction.
  • that he was bought for: Hebrew 'qinyāṯô' (קִנְיָתוֹ). 'Qinyato' signifies "his acquisition" or "that by which he was acquired." This phrase links the current redemption calculation directly back to the initial transaction, affirming that the value for release is determined by how much was originally paid for his service, depreciated over the time served.

Leviticus 25 51 Bonus section

The calculation method presented in Leviticus 25:51 (and also in verse 16 for land) functions as an ancient "depreciation" or "amortization" schedule. The initial payment made for the Israelite servant was not for ownership, but effectively for the right to his labor for a specific duration (until the Jubilee). As time passed, the value of that future labor diminished, similar to an asset losing value over its lifespan. Therefore, the redemption price was the outstanding, unworked portion of that initial labor agreement. This mathematical approach to justice underscored that no Israelite could ever be truly or permanently "owned" by anyone but God. It was a built-in safety net, a divinely ordained economic mechanism designed to maintain the integrity of the covenant community and safeguard the fundamental freedom that stemmed from their redemption out of Egyptian slavery by Yahweh. This economic detail foreshadows how redemption is a proportional payment that reconciles an outstanding debt or obligation.

Leviticus 25 51 Commentary

Leviticus 25:51 encapsulates a profound principle of economic justice and divine ownership within Israelite society. It mandates a calculated, pro-rata restitution for the redemption of a fellow Israelite from foreign servitude. This precise method, based on the remaining years of service until the Jubilee, transforms the concept of "slavery" into a system of advanced payment for labor. The payment received by the enslaved Israelite at the outset was an anticipation of their work until Jubilee; thus, the redemption involves repaying the value of the unearned portion. This provision explicitly denied the foreigner true, perpetual ownership over an Israelite, as human beings ultimately belong to God (Lev 25:42, 55). It showcases God's compassionate concern for His people, preventing exploitation and ensuring the eventual return of every Israelite to their family and heritage, reflecting a heavenly economic model that prioritizes human dignity and divine covenant over perpetual bondage. This served as a tangible example of the greater spiritual redemption, bought with a price, by a divine Kinsman-Redeemer, freeing humanity from the ultimate bondage of sin and death.