### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term שְׁמִטָּה (shᵉmiṭṭâh, `{{H8059}}`) is derived from the verbal root שָׁמַט (shamáṭ, `{{H8058}}`), which fundamentally means "to let drop," "to let lie," "to release," or "to remit." Consequently, shᵉmiṭṭâh encapsulates the concept of a "release" or "remission." Its semantic range specifically applies to two primary contexts within ancient Israelite law: the remission of debts and the suspension of agricultural labor, particularly concerning the land lying fallow. It signifies a mandated cessation, a letting go of claims or efforts, leading to a state of rest or restoration. This core meaning underscores a divine imperative for relinquishment and renewal, challenging human tendencies towards perpetual acquisition and exploitation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term shᵉmiṭṭâh, or the concept it embodies, is central to the Mosaic Law's provisions for the seventh year, often referred to as the "Sabbatical year" or "year of release." Its most explicit occurrences and detailed regulations are found in the Pentateuch:
* **Exodus 23:10-11**: Here, the shᵉmiṭṭâh is presented as a year for the land to lie fallow. "For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, but in the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the wild animals may eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard and with your olive orchard." [[Exodus 23:10-11]] This passage highlights the ecological and social dimensions, ensuring both the land's rejuvenation and provision for the poor and wild animals.
* **Deuteronomy 15:1-11**: This passage details the remission of debts during the shᵉmiṭṭâh. "At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the Lord's release has been proclaimed." [[Deuteronomy 15:1-2]] This law aimed to prevent perpetual indebtedness among Israelites, fostering economic equality and demonstrating compassion for the less fortunate. It explicitly states that this release is "the Lord's release," underscoring its divine origin and purpose. While a challenge to human economic instincts, it was presented as a test of faith in God's provision.
* **Nehemiah 10:31**: Following the return from exile, the people make a covenant to observe the shᵉmiṭṭâh, indicating their renewed commitment to God's laws: "And if the peoples of the land bring in wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt." [[Nehemiah 10:31]] This verse demonstrates the enduring significance of the shᵉmiṭṭâh as a marker of covenant faithfulness.
The contextual analysis reveals shᵉmiṭṭâh as a multifaceted institution designed to uphold principles of divine sovereignty, social justice, and ecological stewardship within Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of shᵉmiṭṭâh is deeply interwoven with other foundational biblical principles of rest, release, and restoration:
* **שָׁמַט (shamáṭ, `{{H8058}}`)**: As the root verb, it directly informs the meaning of shᵉmiṭṭâh, emphasizing the act of "letting go" or "releasing." This connection is critical for understanding the passive and active dimensions of the "release."
* **שַׁבָּת (shabbath, `{{H7676}}`)**: The Sabbath day is the most fundamental expression of rest and cessation in Israelite life. The shᵉmiṭṭâh year can be understood as an extension of the Sabbath principle to the land and economic life, creating a "Sabbath for the land" and a "Sabbath for debts." Both demand trust in God's provision and a recognition of His ultimate ownership.
* **יוֹבֵל (yobel, `{{H3104}}`)**: The Jubilee year, occurring every 50th year (after seven cycles of seven years), builds upon and amplifies the principles of shᵉmiṭṭâh. The Jubilee involves not only debt remission and land rest but also the return of ancestral lands to their original families and the freeing of Israelite slaves. It is the ultimate "release" that resets the social and economic order.
* **דְּרוֹר (dror, `{{H1865}}`)**: This term signifies "freedom" or "liberty," particularly in the context of the Jubilee year (e.g., [[Leviticus 25:10]]). While dror is a broader concept, the shᵉmiṭṭâh is a specific mechanism through which dror is enacted for debts and the land.
* **נָשָׁא (nāshā', `{{H5378}}`)**: This verb means "to lend on interest" or "to exact a debt." The shᵉmiṭṭâh directly addresses the cessation of this action, commanding creditors not to exact what they have lent.
### Theological Significance
The institution of shᵉmiṭṭâh holds profound theological significance, reflecting core aspects of God's character and His covenant relationship with Israel:
* **Divine Sovereignty and Ownership**: The shᵉmiṭṭâh emphatically declares that the land belongs to God, not to humanity (cf. [[Leviticus 25:23]]). Israel was merely a steward. Observing the shᵉmiṭṭâh was an act of acknowledging God's ultimate ownership and authority over all resources.
* **Trust in God's Provision**: The command to let the land lie fallow and to remit debts required immense faith. Israel had to trust that God would provide sufficient yield in the sixth year to sustain them through the seventh, and that releasing debts would not lead to destitution but to divine blessing (cf. [[Leviticus 25:20-22]]). It was a test of reliance on God over human economic security.
* **Social Justice and Compassion**: The shᵉmiṭṭâh served as a vital mechanism for social equity. It prevented the perpetual accumulation of wealth and land by a few, ensuring that the poor were not permanently enslaved by debt and had access to food. It demonstrated God's heart for the vulnerable and His desire for a just society.
* **Ecological Stewardship**: The rest for the land was not merely symbolic; it was a practical measure for maintaining the land's fertility and productivity. It reflects a divine wisdom regarding sustainable agriculture and humanity's responsibility to care for creation.
* **Remembrance of Deliverance**: The freedom from debt and the rest from labor could serve as a reminder of Israel's own deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Just as God released them from bondage, so they were to release others from economic hardship.
* **A Model for Forgiveness and Grace**: While not directly related to the atonement for sin, the principle of "release" and "remission" inherent in shᵉmiṭṭâh provides a socio-economic analogue to God's gracious forgiveness and release from the burden of sin. It models divine generosity and the breaking of oppressive cycles.
### Summary
The Hebrew term שְׁמִטָּה (shᵉmiṭṭâh, `{{H8059}}`) designates the "year of release" within ancient Israelite law, a divinely mandated seventh year of both agricultural rest for the land and the remission of debts among Israelites. Derived from the root שָׁמַט (shamáṭ, `{{H8058}}`) meaning "to let drop" or "to release," shᵉmiṭṭâh embodies a profound theological framework. It underscores God's ultimate sovereignty and ownership over creation, demanding that His people live by faith in His provision rather than solely by human effort or economic gain. Furthermore, it served as a crucial institution for promoting social justice, preventing perpetual indebtedness, and ensuring the well-being of the poor, while also demonstrating a deep ecological wisdom through the resting of the land. As an extension of the Sabbath principle, shᵉmiṭṭâh was a critical component of Israel's covenant faithfulness, designed to foster a society marked by trust in God, compassion for one's neighbor, and responsible stewardship of the earth.
TRV