Leviticus 25:24 - In all the land of your possession you shall grant a redemption for the land.

Generated Verse: Leviticus 25:24

What does "Leviticus 25:24" mean?


Leviticus 25:24, "In all the land of your possession you shall grant a redemption for the land," is a key verse within the broader context of the Jubilee year regulations. To understand its meaning, we need to break it down and consider its context:

"In all the land of your possession..." This emphasizes that the regulation applies across the entire territory God had given to the Israelites as their inheritance. It's not a regional or optional thing.

"...you shall grant a redemption for the land." This is the core concept. "Redemption" (Hebrew: ge'ullah) refers to the right and ability to buy back something that has been sold, especially due to economic hardship. In this case, it's the land itself that can be redeemed.

Contextual Understanding:

Leviticus 25 and the Jubilee Year: Chapter 25 deals with sabbatical and Jubilee years. The Jubilee, observed every 50 years, involved releasing slaves, returning land to its original family owners, and forgiving debts.

Land as Inheritance: The Israelites believed their land was a gift from God, allocated to specific families and tribes. It wasn't meant to be permanently alienated from them.

Economic Hardship: If an Israelite faced poverty and had to sell their land, this verse provided a mechanism for them or their relatives to buy it back (redeem it). This prevented families from becoming permanently landless and impoverished.

The Redeemer (Goel): Often, a close relative served as the "redeemer" (goel) who had the right and responsibility to buy back the land. This familial obligation ensured the land stayed within the family lineage.

Meaning and Implications:

The verse is instructing the Israelites to incorporate the concept of redemption into their land ownership practices. This means:

1. Opportunity for Return: When someone had to sell their land due to economic hardship, there was always a way for the land to return to the original family, either through their own efforts or through the help of a relative.
2. Protection Against Perpetual Poverty: The Jubilee and the redemption laws prevented a situation where a family could be permanently dispossessed of their inheritance. This helped maintain a more equitable society.
3. Theological Significance: The verse points to God's ultimate ownership of the land and the limitations on human ownership. The Israelites were stewards of the land, not absolute owners. The Jubilee year and the redemption laws acknowledged this.
4. Social Justice: The redemption of land was an act of social justice, protecting vulnerable members of society from permanent destitution.

In summary, Leviticus 25:24 mandates that the Israelites provide a mechanism for land that has been sold due to hardship to be redeemed and returned to the original family. This system reflects a commitment to social justice, a recognition of God's ownership of the land, and a desire to prevent permanent economic disparity.