Leviticus 25:10

And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout [all] the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.

And ye shall hallow {H6942} the fiftieth {H2572}{H8141} year {H8141}, and proclaim {H7121} liberty {H1865} throughout all the land {H776} unto all the inhabitants {H3427} thereof: it shall be a jubile {H3104} unto you; and ye shall return {H7725} every man {H376} unto his possession {H272}, and ye shall return {H7725} every man {H376} unto his family {H4940}.

and you are to consecrate the fiftieth year, proclaiming freedom throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It will be a yovel for you; you will return everyone to the land he owns, and everyone is to return to his family.

So you are to consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be your Jubilee, when each of you is to return to his property and to his clan.

And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.

Commentary

Context of the Jubilee Year

Leviticus 25:10 introduces the central command for the Year of Jubilee, a unique and foundational institution within Israelite law, decreed by God after their exodus from Egypt. This fiftieth year followed seven cycles of seven Sabbatical Years (Leviticus 25:4). It was designed by God to prevent the permanent accumulation of wealth and the perpetual enslavement of individuals, ensuring that the land and its people remained ultimately under His ownership (Leviticus 25:23). The Jubilee served as a powerful social and economic reset, reflecting God's desire for justice and equity among His people.

Key Themes and Significance

  • Proclamation of Liberty: The most striking command is to "proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." This was a sweeping release from all forms of indebtedness and servitude. It ensured that no Israelite could be permanently enslaved due to poverty, and no family could be permanently dispossessed of their ancestral land.
  • Restoration and Return: The verse explicitly states, "ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family." This meant a return to their original tribal land allotments, which were considered God's gifts, and a reunion with their families, restoring social and economic balance.
  • Sanctification and Holiness: To "hallow the fiftieth year" means to set it apart as sacred, dedicated to God. This year was not merely a legal decree but a spiritual observance, reminding the Israelites of God's sovereignty and their dependence on Him.
  • Divine Justice and Equity: The Jubilee system was a profound expression of God's concern for social justice, preventing the formation of a permanent underclass and ensuring that the blessings of the Promised Land were periodically redistributed.

Linguistic Insights: The Meaning of 'Jubile' and 'Liberty'

The KJV term "jubile" comes from the Hebrew word yobel (ื™ื•ึนื‘ึตืœ), which literally refers to the ram's horn trumpet (shofar) that was blown to announce the beginning of this holy year. This sound signaled a fresh start for everyone. The phrase "proclaim liberty" uses the Hebrew word d'ror (ื“ึผึฐืจื•ึนืจ), which signifies a release, emancipation, or freedom, specifically from debt or servitude. It's a powerful term indicating a comprehensive liberation.

Spiritual Application and Christ

While the specific laws of the Jubilee are not literally observed today, the principles behind them hold profound spiritual significance. The Jubilee foreshadows the ultimate spiritual freedom and restoration offered through Jesus Christ. Just as the Jubilee released people from physical and economic bondage, Christ offers freedom from the bondage of sin and death.

Jesus Himself alluded to the Year of Jubilee when He read from Isaiah 61:1-2 in the synagogue, declaring, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18). In Him, there is a spiritual Jubilee, a permanent release from the debt of sin and a restoration to our true inheritance as children of God.

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Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 34:8

    ยถ [This is] the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which [were] at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;

  • Isaiah 63:4

    For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

  • 1 Peter 2:16

    As free, and not using [your] liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

  • Leviticus 25:13

    In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession.

  • Galatians 5:13

    ยถ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

  • Isaiah 61:1

    ยถ The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;

  • Isaiah 61:3

    To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.