Leviticus 25:4 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 25:4 mean?

Leviticus 25:4 commands that every seventh year, the land itself must rest—a year called a "sabbath" for the LORD—during which people are not to plant crops or tend vineyards. This law is about giving the land a break from farming, not just people resting from work.

In this verse, God is speaking to the Israelites through Moses while they are at Mount Sinai, giving them detailed laws for life in the promised land. The instruction is part of a larger section about the "Sabbath year," where the land is treated with respect and allowed to recover. This rest is described as being "for the LORD," showing that it is an act of trust and obedience to God, not just an agricultural practice.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 25:4

• "Sabbath" (שַׁבָּת, shabbat): This word means "rest" or "ceasing." Here, it is applied to the land, not just to people, emphasizing that the principle of rest extends to creation itself.
• "Rest" (שַׁבָּתוֹן, shabbaton): This term often means a special or complete rest. Its use here highlights that this is not an ordinary pause, but a significant, set-apart time for the land.
• "Land" (אֶרֶץ, erets): This word refers to the physical ground or territory. The command is not just about individual fields, but the whole land occupied by the Israelites.
• "Sow" (זָרַע, zara): This verb means to plant seed. The command is specific: no planting is to be done during this year, making the rest total.
• "Prune" (זָמַר, zamar): This means to trim or tend vines. The instruction includes vineyards, showing that all agricultural activity is to stop, not just grain farming.

Why Leviticus 25:4 matters

• Leviticus 25:4 clarifies that the Sabbath principle is not just for people but also for the land, showing a broader view of rest in the Bible.
• The verse helps correct the idea that biblical rest is only about human relaxation; it includes stewardship and care for creation.
• This law sets up the context for the Year of Jubilee later in Leviticus 25, where even greater resets and releases happen, connecting cycles of rest with social and economic justice.