Leviticus 25 52

Leviticus 25:52 kjv

And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubilee, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption.

Leviticus 25:52 nkjv

And if there remain but a few years until the Year of Jubilee, then he shall reckon with him, and according to his years he shall repay him the price of his redemption.

Leviticus 25:52 niv

If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, they are to compute that and pay for their redemption accordingly.

Leviticus 25:52 esv

If there remain but a few years until the year of jubilee, he shall calculate and pay for his redemption in proportion to his years of service.

Leviticus 25:52 nlt

If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, they will repay a small amount for their redemption.

Leviticus 25 verses

Leviticus 25 52 Meaning

Leviticus 25:52 establishes the method for calculating the redemption price for a person who has sold themselves, or been sold, into indentured service to a non-Israelite, when the Jubilee year is near. It stipulates that if only a few years remain until the Jubilee, the price of their redemption must be proportional to the value of their remaining years of service, akin to a hired worker. This ensures fairness and prevents exorbitant costs when freedom is imminent, upholding the principle of release at the Jubilee.

Leviticus 25 52 Context

Leviticus chapter 25 details the laws concerning the Sabbath Year and the Year of Jubilee. The primary aim is to regulate the use of land and the status of people, emphasizing God's ultimate ownership over both. The chapter prevents permanent destitution and ensures social and economic restoration. Verses 47-55 specifically address an Israelite who has sold themselves (due to poverty) to a wealthy foreigner residing in Israel. This unique situation contrasts with the common law of Hebrew servitude (up to 6 years, then freedom in the 7th), as a sale to a non-Israelite meant being outside direct Israelite communal protection. This verse, Leviticus 25:52, provides the calculation for buying back such a person, focusing on proportionality to the remaining time until the great year of freedom – the Jubilee, which always restores everyone to their family and property. The entire system is designed to demonstrate God's sovereignty and prevent perpetual servitude among His people, reinforcing the idea that they are His servants, whom He brought out of Egypt.

Leviticus 25 52 Word Analysis

• And if there remain: v'im-nishma (וְאִם-נִשְׁמָה) - "And if it be lessened/subtracted." This directly refers back to the reckoning calculation in previous verses, emphasizing a deduction from the original price based on time served. It points to a decreasing cost.
• but few years: Implies a short duration remaining until the fixed date of the Jubilee. The lesser time directly correlates to a lesser price of redemption. This highlights the immediacy of the upcoming freedom.
• unto the year of jubilee: yōvēl (יוֹבֵל) - The Jubilee, literally referring to the ram's horn (shofar) blast that announced its arrival. It's the ultimate restoration point, mandated by God, when all debts were cancelled, property returned, and indentured servants freed. Its purpose was to prevent a permanent underclass and remind Israel of God's sovereignty and their status as His redeemed people.
• then he shall reckon with him: The phrase "he shall reckon" signifies a careful, calculated financial transaction. This points to the systematic fairness of the law, where the redemption value is not arbitrary but determined by clear parameters.
• according unto the years: The direct proportional relationship between time and value is emphasized. Each year of service has an inherent, fixed value within the total price.
• of the hire of him: kīmēsōw (כִּימֵי שָׂכִיר) - "as the days/value of a hired hand/labourer." This is crucial. The original "sale" was effectively seen as a prepayment for a specific number of years of service, treated as if they were a "hired servant" (שָׂכִיר - sakir), not property. The redemption price isn't a cost to "buy" the person, but to pay for the "unearned" portion of their "wage" or "labor value" until the Jubilee. This legal nuance distinguishes Hebrew servitude from chattel slavery prevalent in surrounding cultures.
• doth he give again: yašîv (יָשִׁיב) - "he shall give back/restore." This isn't just a payment; it implies a restoration or return of something. It is the action of tendering the money.
• the price of his redemption: gé'ullatô (גְּאֻלָּתוֹ) - "his redemption." This term comes from the root ga'al, meaning to redeem, ransom, or act as kinsman-redeemer (Go'el). It signifies regaining freedom by payment. The price is what facilitates this act of "buying back" their liberty and status.

Words-group Analysis

• "but few years unto the year of jubilee": This phrase stresses the proximity of ultimate freedom, which automatically reduces the financial burden of redemption. It highlights God's preordained timing for universal liberation and reset.
• "reckon with him, according unto the years of the hire of him": This delineates the exact economic principle: the "price of sale" for the servant was an advance for their "labor value" until the Jubilee. If released early, only the remaining, unearned "labor value" needs to be repaid. This ensures justice for both the master (compensated for unrendered service) and the servant (not overcharged for redemption). It signifies an equitable accounting process, not merely a punitive charge.

Leviticus 25 52 Bonus Section

The economic model presented here (proportional payment for remaining service value, rather than a fixed "human price") is revolutionary compared to contemporaneous cultures where enslaved people were often considered mere chattel, with fixed values. This Mosaic law, especially in a scenario involving a foreign master, highlights a foundational polemic against common Near Eastern slavery practices by asserting that Israelites fundamentally belong to God, not to human masters. This truth limits human ownership, safeguards dignity, and undergirds the entire Jubilee system. This earthly system of proportional redemption and guaranteed freedom serves as a powerful foreshadowing of spiritual redemption in Christ, where believers, once enslaved to sin, are bought "with a price" (1 Cor 6:20), not by their own efforts but by the blood of Christ, bringing about an ultimate, irreversible spiritual "Jubilee" and restoration.

Leviticus 25 52 Commentary

Leviticus 25:52 serves as a meticulous legal clause within the Jubilee laws, illustrating divine justice and compassion in action. It defines the redemption of an Israelite sold into indentured service to a foreigner, emphasizing that their servitude was never permanent. The valuation is strictly proportional: if few years remain until the Jubilee, the price for early release is minimal, precisely calculated as the remaining value of their anticipated "hired labor." This prevents exploitation by the master and makes redemption financially feasible, ensuring the person's right to freedom upon payment. The very foundation of this law rests on God's declaration that Israelites are His servants, whom He brought out of Egypt, and thus they are not to be held as permanent slaves by any human master. The law's fair and proportional calculation, down to the "hire" for "years," safeguards human dignity, limits the duration and nature of servitude, and underscores God's ultimate ownership and commitment to human freedom and restoration. It is a miniature reflection of the broader principles of the Jubilee: mercy, justice, and release, preventing economic oppression and societal stratification, all pointing to God's ultimate plan for redemption and freedom.