Leviticus 25:19

KJV

And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the land {H776} shall yield {H5414} her fruit {H6529}, and ye shall eat {H398} your fill {H7648}, and dwell {H3427} therein in safety {H983}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The land will yield its produce, you will eat until you have enough, and you will live there securely.

Berean Standard Bible

Then the land will yield its fruit, so that you can eat your fill and dwell in safety in the land.

American Standard Version

And the land shall yield its fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 25:19 articulates a profound divine promise of abundant provision and secure dwelling for the Israelites, contingent upon their faithful obedience to God's covenant stipulations, particularly the radical trust required by the Sabbath year and Year of Jubilee laws. This verse encapsulates the foundational principle that divine blessing, encompassing both material sustenance and holistic peace, flows directly from a posture of obedient reliance on God's sovereign care and His unique economic and social order, demonstrating that God's economy of grace far surpasses human ingenuity or effort.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is intricately woven into the broader fabric of [Leviticus chapter 25](/leviticus/25 "Leviticus 25 - The Laws of the Sabbath Year and Jubilee"), which details the unique agricultural and social laws of the Sabbath year (every seventh year, where the land was to lie fallow) and the Jubilee year (the fiftieth year, marking the return of inherited land to original families and the freeing of Israelite slaves). The preceding verses establish the divine command for these practices, emphasizing that the land belongs to God, and Israel's tenure within it is as "strangers and sojourners" ([Leviticus 25:23](/leviticus/25-23 "Leviticus 25:23 - The Land Belongs to God")). [Leviticus 25:18](/leviticus/25-18 "Leviticus 25:18 - The Condition for Safety") explicitly sets the condition for the promise of verse 19: "Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety." Thus, verse 19 functions as the direct promised outcome of this obedience, particularly addressing the Israelites' natural anxieties about sustenance during the years the land was not to be cultivated according to conventional methods.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel was primarily an agrarian society, with its economy and livelihood directly tied to the productivity of the land. The concept of allowing the land to lie fallow for an entire year (the Sabbath year, [Leviticus 25:4](/leviticus/25-4 "Leviticus 25:4 - The Sabbath Year")) and then for two consecutive years before the Jubilee (the 49th and 50th years, [Leviticus 25:20-22](/leviticus/25-20-22 "Leviticus 25:20-22 - Provision for the Sabbath and Jubilee Years")) represented an extraordinary act of faith. In a world where food security was paramount and often precarious, deliberately refraining from cultivation for such extended periods would have seemed economically suicidal to any other nation. This law directly challenged Israel's reliance on their own labor and foresight, demanding instead an absolute trust in Yahweh's supernatural provision. The promise of "the land shall yield her fruit" and "ye shall eat your fill" directly addresses the very real fear of famine that would naturally arise from such a command, assuring them that God Himself would supernaturally ensure their sustenance and security if they obeyed.

* **Key Themes:** Leviticus 25:19 contributes significantly to several key themes within the book of Leviticus and the broader Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Provision**, demonstrating God's absolute control over creation and His faithfulness to sustain His people even through unconventional means. It underscores the theme of **Covenantal Obedience and Blessing**, establishing a direct correlation between Israel's adherence to God's commands and the reception of His promised blessings, including peace and prosperity. The passage also highlights **Radical Trust and Dependence**, calling Israel to a faith that transcends human logic and economic prudence, placing ultimate reliance on God's word. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **The Land as God's Gift and Possession**, reminding Israel that their tenure in the land was conditional upon their stewardship and obedience to the divine owner, as seen in [Leviticus 25:23](/leviticus/25-23 "Leviticus 25:23 - The Land Belongs to God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Yield (Hebrew, _nâthan'_):** The verb נָתַן (H5414, _nâthan_) is a primitive root meaning "to give," used with great latitude of application. In this context, it signifies the land's active participation in God's provision, not merely a passive result of human effort. It implies a divine enablement or command for the land to spontaneously produce, often beyond its natural capacity, ensuring sustenance even when not cultivated according to human methods during the Sabbath and Jubilee years. This highlights God's direct agency in the natural world, as the land "gives" its fruit by His command.
* **Fill (Hebrew, _sôbaʻ'_):** The noun שׂוֹבַע (H7648, _sôbaʻ_) means "satisfaction (of food or figuratively joy); fill, full(-ness), satisfying, be satisfied." When the text says "ye shall eat your fill," it is not a promise of mere subsistence or survival, but of complete satisfaction and abundance. It speaks to a state of well-being where hunger is not just alleviated but fully appeased, indicating a generous and overflowing provision from God that goes beyond basic need to bring full contentment.
* **Safety (Hebrew, _beṭach'_):** The noun בֶּטַח (H983, _beṭach_) derives from a root meaning "to trust" and conveys a deep sense of security, confidence, and freedom from anxiety or danger. It properly refers to a "place of refuge" and abstractly to "safety," encompassing both the fact of security and the feeling of trust. In this verse, it implies a state of peace and protection, not just from physical threats like enemies or famine, but also from internal worries and fears. This holistic "safety" is a hallmark of God's covenant blessings, encompassing physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the land shall yield her fruit":** This clause directly addresses the primary concern regarding the Sabbath and Jubilee years: how would the people eat if they did not sow? God promises a supernatural yield from the land, implying that even without cultivation, the earth would spontaneously produce enough for their needs. This is a testament to God's power over creation and His ability to provide outside of conventional means, demonstrating His direct intervention in the natural order.
* **"and ye shall eat your fill":** This goes beyond mere survival. It promises not just enough to live, but an abundance that leads to complete satisfaction. It signifies God's generous nature, ensuring that His people would not experience scarcity or hunger, but rather a superabundant supply that fully meets and exceeds their needs, leading to a state of contentment and fullness.
* **"and dwell therein in safety":** This final clause broadens the scope of the blessing from mere sustenance to comprehensive well-being. "Safety" here encompasses not only protection from external threats (like hostile nations or wild animals) but also internal peace and security, free from anxiety about the future. It speaks to a settled, peaceful existence in the promised land, a direct result of their trust and obedience to God's unique covenant demands, ensuring a holistic sense of security.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 25:19 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Personification** is evident in "the land shall yield her fruit," attributing a volitional, almost maternal, action to the earth, as if it willingly gives forth its produce. This highlights the supernatural aspect of the promise, where the land itself is an active participant in God's provision. The entire verse functions as a **Conditional Promise**, where the blessings (yield, satisfaction, safety) are explicitly tied to the prior condition of obedience mentioned in [Leviticus 25:18](/leviticus/25-18 "Leviticus 25:18 - The Condition for Safety"). This rhetorical structure emphasizes the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, where divine favor is contingent upon human faithfulness. Furthermore, the phrase "eat your fill" can be seen as a form of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the extraordinary abundance God would provide, surpassing normal expectations of an uncultivated field. This serves to build confidence and trust in God's ability to provide supernaturally, alleviating anxieties about scarcity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 25:19 powerfully articulates the theological principle of divine provision and the covenantal link between obedience and blessing. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His faithfulness to sustain His people. The radical nature of the Sabbath and Jubilee laws, requiring Israel to forgo conventional agricultural practices, served as a profound test of their faith. By promising abundant yield and secure dwelling, God demonstrated that His economy of grace far surpasses human ingenuity or effort. This passage teaches that true security and prosperity are found not in self-reliance or accumulation, but in trusting God's wisdom and submitting to His commands, even when they seem counterintuitive to worldly logic. It prefigures a deeper spiritual truth: that God is the ultimate source of all good things, and a life lived in humble dependence on Him will never lack what is truly needed.

* [Deuteronomy 28:12](/deuteronomy/28-12 "Deuteronomy 28:12 - The Lord will open His good treasure")
* [Psalm 37:3](/psalm/37-3 "Psalm 37:3 - Trust in the Lord and do good")
* [Matthew 6:33](/matthew/6-33 "Matthew 6:33 - Seek first the kingdom of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Leviticus 25:19, while rooted in specific Old Testament agricultural laws, resonates with timeless principles for believers today. It challenges us to examine where our ultimate trust lies: in our own efforts, our accumulated resources, or in the unfailing provision of God. In a world that constantly pressures us to strive, accumulate, and worry about the future, this verse calls us to a radical faith that embraces rest and dependence. It reminds us that true security is not found in the size of our bank account or the stability of our job, but in the steadfast character of our Provider. When we honor God with our time, resources, and obedience, even when it feels like a sacrifice or seems economically illogical, we open ourselves to His supernatural blessings. These blessings often manifest not just materially, but in a profound sense of peace, contentment, and spiritual "safety" that transcends circumstances, demonstrating God's ability to provide for His own in ways that defy human understanding.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What areas of your life are you holding onto out of fear, rather than trusting God's provision?**
* **How does the concept of "resting" from your own efforts (like the Sabbath year) apply to your modern life and work, especially in terms of financial or career anxieties?**
* **In what ways can you practically demonstrate greater trust in God's ability to "yield her fruit" in your life, even when circumstances seem uncertain or demand a counter-cultural response?**

### FAQ

**What was the primary purpose of the Sabbath year and Jubilee laws?**

Answer: The primary purpose was multifaceted: to teach Israel radical trust in God's provision, to ensure social and economic justice (preventing perpetual poverty and land accumulation), to remind them that the land belonged to God (not them), and to allow the land itself to rest and regenerate. These laws were designed to create a distinct society that operated on divine principles rather than human economic models, fostering dependence on God and reflecting His character of justice and mercy. They were a tangible expression of Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh, demonstrating that true prosperity came from His hand, not solely from human labor.

**Does this promise of "eating your fill" and "safety" apply to Christians today?**

Answer: While the specific agricultural commands of the Sabbath and Jubilee years are not literally binding on New Testament believers, the underlying principles of God's faithfulness, provision, and the blessing that flows from obedience certainly apply. Christians are called to trust God for their needs ([Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God will supply all your need")), to seek His kingdom first ([Matthew 6:33](/matthew/6-33 "Matthew 6:33 - Seek first the kingdom of God")), and to find their ultimate security and peace in Him ([John 14:27](/john/14-27 "John 14:27 - My peace I give to you")). The promise shifts from purely physical land and produce to spiritual and holistic well-being in Christ, though God often blesses materially as well, demonstrating His continued care for His children in every aspect of their lives.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 25:19, with its promise of abundant provision and secure dwelling, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament promise was tied to physical land and agricultural cycles, Christ embodies the true "land" and the source of all spiritual fruit. He is the [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), from whom we "eat our fill" not just of physical sustenance, but of eternal life and spiritual satisfaction ([John 6:51](/john/6-51 "John 6:51 - Jesus, the living bread")). He is our ultimate Sabbath rest, providing true cessation from the striving of human effort and the burden of sin ([Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28-30 "Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden")). In Christ, we find not merely temporary safety within a physical land, but eternal security and a dwelling place in God Himself ([John 14:2-3](/john/14-2-3 "John 14:2-3 - In my Father's house are many rooms")). The obedience that unlocked blessings in Leviticus is perfectly fulfilled in Christ's perfect obedience, and through faith in Him, we inherit all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ")). He is the ultimate provision, the source of our deepest satisfaction, and the guarantor of our eternal safety, fulfilling the spirit of this ancient promise in a far grander, more enduring way that transcends the temporal and points to the eternal reality of God's kingdom.

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 26:5

And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

Joel 2:26

And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Psalms 85:12

Yea, the LORD shall give [that which is] good; and our land shall yield her increase.

Isaiah 30:23

Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.

Ezekiel 36:30

And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

Joel 2:24

And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

Psalms 67:6

[Then] shall the earth yield her increase; [and] God, [even] our own God, shall bless us.