Leviticus 25:9

Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth [day] of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.

Then shalt thou cause the trumpet {H7782} of the jubile {H8643} to sound {H5674} on the tenth {H6218} day of the seventh {H7637} month {H2320}, in the day {H3117} of atonement {H3725} shall ye make the trumpet {H7782} sound {H5674} throughout all your land {H776}.

Then, on the tenth day of the seventh month, on Yom-Kippur, you are to sound a blast on the shofar; you are to sound the shofar all through your land;

Then you are to sound the horn far and wide on the tenth day of the seventh month, the Day of Atonement. You shall sound it throughout your land.

Then shalt thou send abroad the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month; in the day of atonement shall ye send abroad the trumpet throughout all your land.

Commentary

Leviticus 25:9 commands the sounding of the trumpet for the Year of Jubilee on the solemn Day of Atonement, signaling a profound period of release and restoration for ancient Israel. This verse is central to understanding God's design for social justice and spiritual renewal within the covenant community.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is pivotal in understanding the Year of Jubilee, a unique institution in Israelite law detailed in Leviticus chapter 25. It was to occur every 50th year, following seven cycles of sabbatical years. The command to sound the trumpet (a shofar, or ram's horn) on the tenth day of the seventh month places this joyful proclamation directly on the most solemn day of the Israelite calendar: the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This pairing underscored that true freedom and restoration could only flow from national repentance and God's divine forgiveness. The trumpet blast was a public, audible declaration, ensuring that the principles of the Jubilee were known and observed throughout all the land.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Mandate for Justice and Mercy: The Jubilee was a radical system designed to prevent extreme wealth disparity and perpetual poverty. It ensured that land returned to its original families and indentured servants were set free, echoing God's heart for social equity (see Leviticus 25:10).
  • Freedom and New Beginnings: The trumpet blast symbolized a universal declaration of liberty, a fresh start for individuals and the nation. This powerful sound signaled debt cancellation, the return of ancestral lands, and the release of those enslaved due to poverty.
  • Atonement as Foundation for Restoration: By linking the Jubilee's proclamation to the Day of Atonement, God taught that true societal and personal restoration is predicated on spiritual reconciliation with Him. Without atonement, genuine freedom and lasting peace are impossible.
  • God's Ownership of the Land: The Jubilee also reinforced the theological truth that all land belonged to God, and the Israelites were merely stewards (Leviticus 25:23). This perspective prevented permanent alienation of property and ensured that the tribal inheritances remained intact.

Linguistic Insights

The word "jubile" comes from the Hebrew yovel, which literally refers to the ram's horn or trumpet itself, highlighting the instrument used for this significant announcement. The "trumpet" mentioned is specifically the shofar. The "Day of Atonement" is Yom Kippur, meaning "Day of Covering" or "Day of Purification," emphasizing the propitiatory aspect of this holy day when sins were ritually covered before God.

Practical Application

This ancient law offers timeless principles for believers today. Spiritually, we experience a profound "jubilee" through Christ, who proclaims "liberty to the captives" (as prophesied in Isaiah 61:1 and quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:18). He frees us from the bondage of sin and spiritual debt, offering a true fresh start and an eternal inheritance.

The connection between atonement and release reminds us that genuine freedom begins with repentance and receiving God's forgiveness. It also calls us to consider our role in promoting justice, mercy, and opportunities for "fresh starts" in our communities, reflecting God's compassionate heart for the poor and oppressed. The trumpet blast of Jubilee serves as a powerful reminder of God's desire for all humanity to experience true freedom and restoration.

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Cross-References

  • Leviticus 23:24

    Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first [day] of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

  • Leviticus 23:27

    Also on the tenth [day] of this seventh month [there shall be] a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

  • Leviticus 27:24

    In the year of the jubile the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought, [even] to him to whom the possession of the land [did belong].

  • Numbers 10:10

    Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I [am] the LORD your God.

  • Leviticus 16:30

    For on that day shall [the priest] make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, [that] ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:8

    For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

  • Leviticus 27:17

    If he sanctify his field from the year of jubile, according to thy estimation it shall stand.