Leviticus 25:15

KJV

According to the number of years after the jubile thou shalt buy of thy neighbour, [and] according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee:

KJV (with Strong's)

According to the number {H4557} of years {H8141} after {H310} the jubile {H3104} thou shalt buy {H7069} of thy neighbour {H5997}, and according unto the number {H4557} of years {H8141} of the fruits {H8393} he shall sell {H4376} unto thee:

Complete Jewish Bible

Rather, you are to take into account the number of years after the yovel when you buy land from your neighbor, and he is to sell to you according to the number of years crops will be raised.

Berean Standard Bible

You are to buy from your neighbor according to the number of years since the last Jubilee; he is to sell to you according to the number of harvest years remaining.

American Standard Version

According to the number of years after the jubilee thou shalt buy of thy neighbor, and according unto the number of years of the crops he shall sell unto thee.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 25:15 articulates the precise economic framework for land transactions within ancient Israel, mandating that the purchase and sale price of land be determined by the number of years remaining until the next Jubilee. This divine ordinance underscored God's ultimate ownership of the land, preventing its permanent alienation and ensuring that its value was assessed based on its productive capacity for a finite period rather than perpetual possession. This system promoted economic equity, safeguarded family inheritances, and fostered social justice within the covenant community, reflecting a deep theological commitment to God's sovereignty and provision.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 25 is a foundational chapter within the Mosaic Law, situated after regulations concerning sacrifices, purity, and festivals, and preceding laws on vows and tithes. It introduces the profound social and economic legislation of the Sabbatical Year, where the land was to rest every seventh year ([Leviticus 25:1-7](/leviticus/25-1-7 "Leviticus 25:1-7 - The Sabbatical Year")), and the Jubilee Year, occurring every fiftieth year ([Leviticus 25:8-12](/leviticus/25-8-12 "Leviticus 25:8-12 - The Year of Jubilee")). The Jubilee was a radical societal reset, mandating the return of all ancestral land to its original families and the emancipation of Hebrew slaves. Leviticus 25:15 directly follows the general instruction for fair dealings in land sales in [Leviticus 25:14](/leviticus/25-14 "Leviticus 25:14 - Fair Dealings in Land Sales"), providing the specific, divinely ordained mechanism for pricing these transactions. This verse, therefore, is crucial for understanding how land was to be managed and exchanged *between* Jubilee cycles, ensuring that the spirit and practical implications of the Jubilee were consistently upheld in every sale or purchase.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel was fundamentally an agrarian society, where land served as the primary source of wealth, sustenance, and family identity. Upon entering Canaan, each Israelite family received an allotted inheritance in the land, establishing a foundational principle of equitable distribution ([Numbers 26:52-56](/numbers/26-52-56 "Numbers 26:52-56 - Land Distribution by Lot")). However, economic hardship, debt, or poor stewardship could necessitate the sale of land. The Jubilee system, unparalleled in the ancient Near East, functioned as a divinely instituted safeguard against the permanent disenfranchisement of families and the dangerous concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few. It reinforced the profound theological truth articulated in [Leviticus 25:23](/leviticus/25-23 "Leviticus 25:23 - God's Ownership of the Land"): "The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me." This meant that Israelites were not ultimate owners but temporary stewards of God's land. The cultural implication was a cyclical restoration of economic opportunity, preventing the emergence of a permanent landless class and fostering a deep sense of community, mutual dependence, and reliance on God's sovereign provision. The pricing mechanism in [Leviticus 25:15](/leviticus/25-15 "Leviticus 25:15 - Pricing Land by Remaining Years to Jubilee") directly reflects this understanding, valuing the land based on its remaining productive years until the grand reset, rather than its absolute or perpetual worth.

* **Key Themes:** This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes within Leviticus and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Ownership**, particularly over the land of Israel, emphasizing that humans are merely stewards. This is foundational to the entire Jubilee system. Secondly, it powerfully illustrates God's commitment to **Economic Justice and Equity**, preventing the permanent accumulation of wealth and the creation of a disenfranchised underclass. The cyclical nature of the Jubilee, facilitated by the pricing mechanism in [Leviticus 25:15](/leviticus/25-15 "Leviticus 25:15 - Land Valuation in Jubilee"), ensured a periodic redistribution of resources and opportunity. Thirdly, it highlights the theme of **Redemption and Restoration**, offering a tangible pathway for families to recover their ancestral inheritance and for individuals to be freed from economic bondage. This anticipates the ultimate spiritual redemption offered through Christ. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **Covenant Faithfulness**, demonstrating how adherence to God's laws, even in economic matters, was integral to Israel's flourishing as God's chosen people and their unique relationship with Him. The land, its use, and its return were all woven into the fabric of their covenant identity.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Jubile (Hebrew, _yôwbêl'_):** (H3104) This term, derived from the word for "ram's horn" or "trumpet," refers specifically to the trumpet blast that signaled the commencement of the Jubilee Year. By extension, it came to denote the fiftieth year itself—a period of profound liberty, restoration, and return to ancestral property. In the context of [Leviticus 25:15](/leviticus/25-15 "Leviticus 25:15 - Pricing Land by Remaining Years to Jubilee"), "after the jubile" precisely indicates the number of years that have elapsed since the last Jubilee, thereby determining the remaining duration until the next. The value of the land was inversely proportional to this duration: the closer to the next Jubilee, the less the land was worth, as the period of its use was shorter.
* **Fruits (Hebrew, _tᵉbûwʼâh'_):** (H8393) This word signifies "income," "produce," or "revenue," referring to the agricultural yield of the land. The phrase "years of the fruits" (combining H8141 'years' and H8393 'fruits') is crucial for understanding the economic valuation in this verse. It means that the true value of the land in a transaction was not its inherent acreage or location in perpetuity, but rather the number of harvests or productive yields one could expect to receive from it before it reverted to its original owner in the Jubilee. This concept transformed land ownership from a permanent asset into a temporary lease based on its agricultural output, emphasizing its utility and God's provision through the land rather than human possession.
* **Buy (Hebrew, _qânâh'_):** (H7069) This primitive root means "to erect," "create," and by extension, "to procure, especially by purchase." In [Leviticus 25:15](/leviticus/25-15 "Leviticus 25:15 - Pricing Land by Remaining Years to Jubilee"), it highlights the act of acquiring the right to use the land. The purchase was not for permanent ownership but for the temporary usufruct, or the right to enjoy the fruits and profits of the land for a specified number of years until the Jubilee. This legal nuance underscores the temporary nature of human dominion over the land in Israel, aligning with God's ultimate ownership.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"According to the number of years after the jubile thou shalt buy of thy neighbour":** This clause establishes the foundational principle for the buyer's calculation of the land's price. The cost was to be directly proportional to the number of years that had passed since the most recent Jubilee. The more years that had elapsed, the more years remained until the *next* Jubilee, and consequently, the higher the price the buyer would pay. This is because the buyer would have access to the land's productive output for a longer duration. This stipulation ensured that the buyer was purchasing the *use* of the land, not its permanent title, reinforcing the temporary nature of human tenure.
* **"and according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee":** This clause completes the pricing formula from the seller's perspective, mirroring the buyer's calculation and emphasizing the productive value of the land. The seller would determine the price based on the number of productive years, or harvests, remaining until the next Jubilee. If only a few years remained until the Jubilee, the land would naturally command a lower price because its productive value to the purchaser was limited to that shorter period. This mechanism ensured fairness in transactions, preventing exploitation of either party and reinforcing the temporary, usufruct nature of land tenure in Israel, aligning with God's ultimate ownership.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 25:15 demonstrates remarkable **Legal Precision**, characteristic of the Mosaic Law. The language is meticulously exact and unambiguous, leaving no room for misinterpretation regarding the calculation of land value. This precision underscores the divine origin of the law and its intent to establish clear, equitable economic practices that are universally applicable within the covenant community. Furthermore, the verse employs profound **Economic Symbolism**, where the land itself symbolizes God's covenant faithfulness, provision, and the temporary nature of human possessions. The valuation based on "years of the fruits" rather than permanent ownership highlights an agrarian society's absolute dependence on God for sustenance and the transient nature of all earthly acquisitions. There is also an underlying **Antithesis** between the human desire for permanent ownership and accumulation, and God's unwavering assertion of ultimate, eternal ownership. The Jubilee system, meticulously detailed in this chapter and practically applied in this verse, serves as the concrete outworking of this profound theological truth, ensuring that earthly systems align with divine principles.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 25:15 is deeply rooted in the theological conviction that God is the ultimate owner of all creation, particularly the land of Israel, which He graciously bestowed upon His people as an inheritance. This verse, by dictating a price based on temporary use rather than perpetual ownership, powerfully reinforces the concept of divine sovereignty and human stewardship. It demonstrates God's profound concern for economic justice and equity, actively preventing the permanent accumulation of wealth and the creation of a landless underclass. The Jubilee system, of which this verse is an integral part, served as a tangible expression of God's redemptive plan, offering regular resets that restored families to their inheritance and freed the enslaved, echoing themes of liberation and restoration found throughout Scripture. It was a practical outworking of the covenant, ensuring that the blessings of the land were broadly shared and that no family was permanently dispossessed, thereby maintaining the social and economic fabric of the nation in accordance with divine will.

* [Leviticus 25:23](/leviticus/25-23 "Leviticus 25:23 - God's Ownership of the Land")
* [Deuteronomy 15:1-2](/deuteronomy/15-1-2 "Deuteronomy 15:1-2 - The Sabbatical Year of Release")
* [Isaiah 61:1-2](/isaiah/61-1-2 "Isaiah 61:1-2 - The Proclamation of Liberty")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific economic system of the Jubilee is not directly observed today, the profound principles embedded in Leviticus 25:15 remain timeless and highly relevant for believers. This verse calls us to a radical re-evaluation of our relationship with material possessions, reminding us that all we "own" is ultimately on loan from God. We are not proprietors but stewards, entrusted with resources to manage wisely for His glory and the good of others. This perspective challenges the modern tendency towards unlimited accumulation and encourages generosity, ethical dealings, and a commitment to justice. It prompts us to consider how our economic decisions impact the vulnerable and whether our practices align with God's heart for equity and compassion. We are called to embody fairness in our transactions, to resist exploitative practices, and to seek systems that provide opportunities for all, reflecting God's desire for a just and flourishing society where the blessings of creation are shared and the dignity of every person is upheld.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the principle of God's ultimate ownership of all things (including our possessions) shape your view of wealth and stewardship?**
* **In what ways can we apply the spirit of economic justice and fairness, as seen in the Jubilee laws, to our contemporary financial dealings and societal structures?**
* **What practical steps can you take to live more consciously as a steward of God's resources, rather than an owner, in your daily life, recognizing the temporary nature of earthly possessions?**

### FAQ

**What was the primary purpose of the Jubilee system, and how does Leviticus 25:15 contribute to it?**

Answer: The primary purpose of the Jubilee system was to prevent the permanent concentration of wealth and land, ensure economic equity, and provide a regular reset for the Israelite society, reflecting God's ultimate ownership of the land and His desire for justice and mercy. It also served as a constant reminder that the Israelites were sojourners in the land, entirely dependent on God's provision and not its ultimate owners ([Leviticus 25:23](/leviticus/25-23 "Leviticus 25:23 - God's Ownership of the Land")). Leviticus 25:15 contributes by providing the specific, divinely ordained mechanism for valuing land transactions *between* Jubilee years. By tying the price to the "number of years of the fruits" remaining until the next Jubilee, it ensured that no land was ever sold "forever" or at a price that implied permanent ownership. This prevented perpetual debt, allowed families who had fallen on hard times to eventually regain their ancestral inheritance, and maintained the original, equitable distribution of land, thus upholding the core principles of the Jubilee and preventing the formation of a permanent landless class.

**Why did the price of land depend on the "number of years of the fruits" rather than its size or quality?**

Answer: The valuation based on "years of the fruits" (שְׁנֵי תְבוּאָה, _sh'ney t'vu'ah'_) was a practical and profound theological necessity within the Jubilee system. Theologically, it reinforced the truth that the land itself was not truly "owned" in perpetuity by any human, but only leased from God, who is the ultimate proprietor. Practically, it meant that what was being bought or sold was not the land's permanent title, but rather the right to its agricultural produce for a finite number of years until the next Jubilee. This ensured fairness in transactions, as the value was directly tied to the actual productive potential a buyer could extract from the land before it reverted to its original owner. A shorter period until the next Jubilee meant fewer potential harvests, hence a lower price, and vice-versa. This prevented speculative pricing, ensured transactions were based on actual utility, and constantly reminded the Israelites of the temporary nature of human possession, aligning with the overarching principle that "the land is mine" ([Leviticus 25:23](/leviticus/25-23 "Leviticus 25:23 - God's Ownership of the Land")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The Jubilee laws, including the economic principles of Leviticus 25:15, are a profound Old Testament foreshadowing of the ultimate redemption and restoration found in Jesus Christ. The earthly Jubilee proclaimed liberty to captives, release from debt, and a return to one's inheritance, all pointing to a greater spiritual reality. Jesus, in His inaugural sermon, explicitly declared Himself the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, proclaiming "the acceptable year of the Lord" ([Luke 4:18-19](/luke/4-18-19 "Luke 4:18-19 - Jesus Proclaims His Mission")), which directly echoes the language and spirit of the Jubilee. Through Christ, we experience true liberation from the bondage of sin and death ([John 8:36](/john/8-36 "John 8:36 - The Son Sets You Free")), our spiritual debt is fully paid and canceled ([Colossians 2:13-14](/colossians/2-13-14 "Colossians 2:13-14 - Forgiveness of Sins")), and we are restored to our true spiritual inheritance as children of God and co-heirs with Christ ([Romans 8:17](/romans/8-17 "Romans 8:17 - Heirs with Christ")). Just as the Jubilee ensured a return to one's land, Christ's work ensures our return to a right relationship with God and grants us an eternal inheritance that can never be sold, lost, or corrupted ([1 Peter 1:3-4](/1_peter/1-3-4 "1 Peter 1:3-4 - An Inheritance Imperishable")). The temporary nature of land ownership in Leviticus 25:15 highlights the transient nature of all earthly possessions, reminding us that our true and lasting inheritance is in Christ, who purchased our freedom and eternal possession with His own precious blood ([Hebrews 9:11-12](/hebrews/9-11-12 "Hebrews 9:11-12 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). He is our ultimate Jubilee, bringing perfect freedom, rest, and eternal restoration to all who believe.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Leviticus 27:18

But if he sanctify his field after the jubile, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of the jubile, and it shall be abated from thy estimation.

Leviticus 27:23

Then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy estimation, [even] unto the year of the jubile: and he shall give thine estimation in that day, [as] a holy thing unto the LORD.

Philippians 4:5

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand.