Leviticus 25:6 - The Sabbath of the land shall be for food for you; for yourself, for your servant, for your maid, for your hired servant, and for your stranger, who lives as a foreigner with you.

Generated Verse: Leviticus 25:6

What does "Leviticus 25:6" mean?


Leviticus 25:6 is part of the laws regarding the Sabbatical Year, which occurs every seventh year. The verse describes how the land's produce during the Sabbatical Year should be used. Let's break it down:

"The Sabbath of the land shall be for food for you": During the Sabbatical Year, the land is not to be sown or reaped in the usual way. Whatever grows on its own is considered the "Sabbath of the land." This produce is not owned by anyone in particular, but is available for sustenance.

"for yourself": The landowner or the head of the household is allowed to eat from the produce.

"for your servant": The produce is also meant for the servants who work for the household, both male and female.

"for your maid": As above, female servants benefit from the land's produce during the sabbatical year.

"for your hired servant": Even those who are temporarily employed by the household (hired laborers) are entitled to share in the food.

"and for your stranger, who lives as a foreigner with you": This extends the right to eat from the land's spontaneous produce to non-Israelites who are residing among the Israelites. It emphasizes the community's responsibility to care for vulnerable populations.

In essence, the verse is about social equity and providing for everyone during the Sabbatical Year. The land's produce, which grows naturally without human labor, is meant to be shared among all who live in the community, regardless of social status (landowner, servant, hired worker) or nationality (native or foreigner). It emphasizes a community-based approach to sustenance, especially important when the usual agricultural activities are suspended.