Leviticus 25:1

¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying,

And the LORD {H3068} spake {H1696} unto Moses {H4872} in mount {H2022} Sinai {H5514}, saying {H559},

ADONAI spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai; he said,

Then the LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai,

And Jehovah spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying,

Commentary

Leviticus 25:1 serves as a foundational verse, setting the authoritative stage for the significant laws that follow in chapter 25 concerning the Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee. It highlights the divine origin and sacred context of these commandments, crucial for understanding their weight and purpose within the Israelite covenant.

Context

This verse immediately places the subsequent divine instructions within the sacred historical setting of Mount Sinai. This is the same mountain where God had previously delivered the Ten Commandments and much of the Law to the newly liberated Israelites. The phrase "the LORD spake unto Moses" underscores that these are not human ordinances but direct divine revelation, given through God's chosen mediator, Moses. The commands detailed in this chapter were intended to prepare the Israelites for their future life in the Promised Land, establishing principles of rest, stewardship, and social justice.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority: The opening phrase "And the LORD spake" immediately establishes that the laws of the Sabbath year and Jubilee are not human inventions but commands directly from God, carrying ultimate authority.
  • Covenant Instruction: This verse signals a continuation of God's direct instruction to His covenant people, Israel, guiding them on how to live in their unique relationship with Him and manage the land He was giving them.
  • Sacred Setting: The mention of "Mount Sinai" reinforces the holiness and solemnity of the commands, linking them to the profound experiences of God's presence and law-giving at that location.
  • Introduction to Chapter 25: Functionally, this verse serves as a heading, introducing the detailed regulations concerning the Sabbatical Year (Leviticus 25:2-7) and the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-55), which are central to the chapter's focus.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "the LORD" is Yahweh (often rendered as Jehovah), God's personal covenant name, emphasizing His relational and faithful character. The phrase "spake unto Moses" (Hebrew: vaydabber Adonai el Moshe) highlights the direct and intentional communication from God to His servant, Moses, affirming his role as the primary recipient and conveyer of divine law to the people.

Practical Application

While the specific laws of the Sabbath year and Jubilee may not be directly applicable to Christians today in the same ceremonial way, Leviticus 25:1 reminds believers of the enduring principle of divine authority and the importance of receiving God's word. It teaches us that God's instructions are always given with purpose, often to foster justice, rest, and right relationship with Him and others. Understanding the source of God's commands helps us to approach all scripture with reverence and a desire to discern its eternal principles for our lives.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 10:11 (2 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass on the twentieth [day] of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.

  • Numbers 10:12 (2 votes)

    And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.

  • Exodus 19:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they [into] the wilderness of Sinai.

  • Galatians 4:24 (2 votes)

    Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

  • Galatians 4:25 (2 votes)

    For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

  • Numbers 1:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first [day] of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,