Exodus 23:11 Meaning and Explanation
“But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →In the seventh year, leave your land fallow so the poor and animals can eat freely.
The Context of Exodus 23:11
Laws establishing the sabbath year and rest for the land.
What Does Exodus 23:11 Mean?
The sabbath year requires farmers to refrain from sowing and reaping, allowing the land to rest. Untilled ground produces wild growth, which becomes food for the poor and for livestock. This practice redistributes resources from accumulated wealth to the vulnerable.
God built generosity into the land cycle. By mandating rest, God ensures the poor have a year of free harvest and prevents landowners from accumulating endless wealth without constraint or sharing.
Exodus 23:11 in the Original Language
shabbat (שַׁבָּת), 'rest'—the root is the same as Sabbath, indicating a holy cessation of labor and productive activity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exodus 23:11
What does Exodus 23:11 mean?
In the seventh year, leave your land fallow so the poor and animals can eat freely.
What is the context of Exodus 23:11?
Laws establishing the sabbath year and rest for the land.