Leviticus 25:21 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 25:21 mean?

Leviticus 25:21 says that God promises to give a special blessing in the sixth year so that the land will produce enough food to last for three years. This means the people would have enough to eat during the Sabbath year, when they were not to plant or harvest, and until the next harvest came in.

In this verse, God is speaking to the Israelites through Moses, explaining how the Sabbath year (every seventh year) should work. The people were commanded to let their farmland rest every seventh year, which would naturally raise concerns about food supply. God reassures them that He will "command" (צָוָה, tsavah) His "blessing" (בְּרָכָה, berakhah) so that the sixth year’s harvest would be so abundant it would cover their needs for three years—during the Sabbath year, the following year, and until the next crop was ready.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 25:21

• צָוָה (tsavah, "command"): This word means to give an order or direct something to happen. Here, it highlights that the blessing is not random; it is a deliberate act from God.
• בְּרָכָה (berakhah, "blessing"): This word refers to a gift or favor from God that brings prosperity or well-being. In this context, it is a practical, material blessing—enough food to last through a long period.
• שָׁלִישִׁי (shishshi, "sixth"): The mention of the sixth year is important because it pinpoints when the extra abundance would come, not spread out over time.
• תְּבוּאָה (tevuah, "fruit"): This word often means produce or yield. The verse promises a specific, measurable result: the land will yield enough to last three years, not just a vague sense of blessing.

Why Leviticus 25:21 matters

• Leviticus 25:21 addresses a practical fear: what would happen if the people stopped farming for a whole year? The verse directly answers this concern by promising a concrete solution.
• The verse shows that the Sabbath year was not just a spiritual idea but had real-world implications, and God’s promise covered those needs.
• This verse connects to the larger theme of Leviticus 25, where God calls the people to trust Him enough to rest and rely on His provision, even when it seems risky.