Leviticus 25:20 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 25:20 mean?

Leviticus 25:20 shows the Israelites’ concern about what they would eat during the seventh year, when God commanded them not to plant or gather crops. The verse records their question about survival when they are not allowed to farm or harvest as usual.

In this verse, God is speaking to the Israelites through Moses, explaining the rules for the sabbatical year—a year of rest for the land every seventh year. The people are worried about food because the command is to neither sow (plant) nor gather (harvest) during that year. This question sets up God’s promise in the following verses that He will provide for them if they trust and obey.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 25:20

• "Say" (אָמַר, ’amar): This word means to speak or ask. Here, it shows the Israelites voicing a real, practical concern to God about their needs.
• "Eat" (אָכַל, ’akal): This word means to consume food. The focus is on daily survival, not luxury.
• "Seventh" (שְּׁבִיעִי, shevi‘i): This word marks the specific year of rest, highlighting the cycle God set for the land.
• "Sow" (זָרַע, zara‘): This means to plant seeds. The command not to sow emphasizes complete rest for the land.
• "Gather" (אָסַף, ’asaf): This means to collect or bring in crops. The Israelites are not to gather any harvest, even what grows on its own.
• "Increase" (תְּבוּאָה, tevu’ah): This word refers to the produce or yield of the land. The concern is about the usual harvest that sustains them.

Why Leviticus 25:20 matters

• Leviticus 25:20 highlights the Israelites’ natural anxiety about obeying a command that seems risky, showing that God anticipates their fears and addresses them directly.
• The verse connects to the larger context of trusting God’s provision, especially when obedience means giving up control over basic needs like food.
• This question sets up the reassurance in the following verses, where God promises a special blessing to cover their needs during the sabbatical year, making the command not just a rule but a test of faith and dependence.