King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And for thy cattle, and for the beast that [are] in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat.
Complete Jewish Bible:
your livestock and the wild animals on your land; everything the land produces may be used for food.
Berean Standard Bible:
and for your livestock and the wild animals in your land. All its growth may serve as food.
American Standard Version:
And for thy cattle, and for the beasts that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be for food.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And for thy cattle{H929}, and for the beast{H2416} that are in thy land{H776}, shall all the increase{H8393} thereof be meat{H398}.
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Leviticus 25:7
Leviticus 25:7 is part of the broader context of the Holiness Code in the Book of Leviticus, which outlines various laws and regulations for the Israelites to maintain ritual purity and social justice. The verse specifically pertains to the Year of Jubilee, which occurs every fifty years following seven cycles of the Sabbatical year (seven times seven years).
**Themes:**
1. **Sabbath Rest for the Land:** The Year of Jubilee is a time when the land is to lie fallow, just as it does every seventh year, to allow it to rest and recover. This practice reflects the theme of ecological stewardship and recognizes the land's need for rejuvenation.
2. **Economic Equity:** The Jubilee year also serves as a social and economic reset, where debts are forgiven, and land that has been sold is returned to its original owners. This ensures that wealth does not become overly concentrated and that every family has an opportunity to start afresh.
3. **Provision for Animals:** The verse emphasizes that during the Jubilee year, not only are the people to observe the Sabbath rest, but they must also consider the well-being of their animals. The increase of the land is to be used to feed the cattle and beasts, indicating a responsibility to care for all living creatures.
4. **Trust in God:** By not farming and relying on the previous year's growth, the Israelites demonstrate trust in God's provision, acknowledging that He is the ultimate source of their sustenance.
**Historical Context:**
The Book of Leviticus is traditionally attributed to Moses and is set during the time of the Israelites' wanderings in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. The laws were given to a newly formed nation establishing their identity, worship practices, and societal structure.
The Year of Jubilee reflects an agrarian society's concerns and the need for a balanced ecosystem. It also addresses the risk of permanent debt slavery and land loss, which were common in the ancient world. By instituting the Jubilee, the Israelite society was to be characterized by periodic redistribution of wealth and resources, aiming to prevent the entrenchment of socio-economic disparities.
In practice, it is unclear how consistently the Jubilee was observed throughout Israel's history. Some scholars suggest that the Jubilee may have been more of an ideal than a regularly practiced institution, especially in the face of economic complexities and foreign domination during various periods.
In summary, Leviticus 25:7 reflects themes of ecological care, economic justice, compassion for animals, and trust in God, within the historical context of early Israelite society establishing its religious and social identity.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H929
There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּהֵמָה
Transliteration: bᵉhêmâh
Pronunciation: be-hay-maw'
Description: from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective); beast, cattle. - Strong's Number: H2416
There are 452 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַי
Transliteration: chay
Pronunciation: khah'-ee
Description: from חָיָה; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H8393
There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תְּבוּאָה
Transliteration: tᵉbûwʼâh
Pronunciation: teb-oo-aw'
Description: from בּוֹא; income, i.e. produce (literally or figuratively); fruit, gain, increase, revenue. - Strong's Number: H398
There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָכַל
Transliteration: ʼâkal
Pronunciation: aw-kal'
Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.