Leviticus 25:15 Meaning and Explanation
“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:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The price of land reflects the years until the jubilee, because the land returns to the seller's family then.
The Context of Leviticus 25:15
Land is effectively leased until the jubilee; price depends on years remaining.
What Does Leviticus 25:15 Mean?
You are not buying the land permanently, but only the harvests until the jubilee. The sale price must decline as the jubilee approaches. This principle transforms land from a permanent commodity into a time-limited lease of its fruit-bearing capacity. The buyer's ownership is temporary; the seller retains the original claim.
This pricing mechanism enforces the jubilee principle in every transaction. A farmer who sells land in year 51 (just after jubilee) receives high payment because the buyer has 49 years of harvests. Sold in year 99, the payment drops dramatically because jubilee is one year away. Thus the law calculates fairness into every negotiation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 25:15
What does Leviticus 25:15 mean?
The price of land reflects the years until the jubilee, because the land returns to the seller's family then.
What is the context of Leviticus 25:15?
Land is effectively leased until the jubilee; price depends on years remaining.