Leviticus 25:23 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 25:23 mean?

Leviticus 25:23 says that the land in Israel must not be sold permanently, because God claims ownership of the land and the Israelites are considered guests or temporary residents with Him. This verse sets a limit on land sales, reminding the people that their hold on the land is not absolute.

In this verse, God is speaking to the Israelites through Moses, giving instructions about the land during the Year of Jubilee. The context is a set of laws about property and land ownership, where God tells the people that they are "strangers and sojourners" (temporary residents) with Him. The verse emphasizes that the land ultimately belongs to God, and any sale of land is really just a long-term lease, not a permanent transfer.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 25:23

• The word for "land" is אֶרֶץ (ʾerets), which refers to the physical territory of Israel. This word grounds the command in the actual, tangible land the people live on.
• "Sold" is מָכַר (makhar), meaning to sell or transfer ownership. Here, it clarifies that any transaction involving the land is not a total or final sale.
• "Ever" is צְמִיתוּת (tsemithuth), which means perpetuity or forever. This word shows that the restriction is about permanent, not temporary, sales.
• "Strangers" is גֵּרִים (gerim), meaning foreigners or resident aliens. God uses this word to remind the Israelites that, even in their own land, they are like guests.
• "Sojourners" is תּוֹשָׁבִים (toshavim), meaning temporary dwellers. This reinforces the idea that their stay in the land is not permanent or absolute.

Why Leviticus 25:23 matters

• This verse clears up any idea that land ownership in ancient Israel was like modern private property; instead, it was always subject to God's higher claim.
• It connects to the wider passage about the Year of Jubilee, where land was to be returned to original families, preventing permanent loss of inheritance.
• The verse highlights a key theme in Leviticus: the relationship between God, the people, and the land, showing that all three are connected by covenant and not by human ownership.