Leviticus 25:23 Meaning and Explanation
“The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Land cannot be sold permanently because God owns the land; Israelites are guests and tenants, not absolute owners.
The Context of Leviticus 25:23
God's eternal ownership of the land undergirds all jubilee laws.
What Does Leviticus 25:23 Mean?
This verse gives the theological foundation for the entire jubilee system. The land belongs to God; human possession is conditional and temporary. Israelites are 'strangers and sojourners'—resident aliens in their own homeland, holding land as a trust. This status fundamentally changes the meaning of property.
The phrase 'strangers and sojourners with me' includes a covenant intimacy: they dwell 'with' God, not as conquered subjects but as covenanted people under divine care. Their tenancy is honored, their families are protected, but ultimate ownership remains with the Creator.
Leviticus 25:23 in the Original Language
tôšābîm (תוֹשָׁבִים), 'strangers and sojourners' — emphasizing the conditional, temporary nature of human tenure on the land.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 25:23
What does Leviticus 25:23 mean?
Land cannot be sold permanently because God owns the land; Israelites are guests and tenants, not absolute owners.
What is the context of Leviticus 25:23?
God's eternal ownership of the land undergirds all jubilee laws.