Leviticus 25:52 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 25:52 mean?

Leviticus 25:52 explains that if only a few years remain until the year of jubilee, a person who sold himself into servitude must pay a smaller amount to buy back his freedom, calculated according to the number of years left. The price for redemption is adjusted based on how close it is to the jubilee, when all such servants would be set free anyway.

In this passage, God is giving Moses instructions for the Israelites about how to treat fellow Israelites who become poor and sell themselves as servants. The law ensures fairness by requiring the redemption price to be proportional to the remaining years until the jubilee, a special year when debts are forgiven and people return to their families. This system protected vulnerable people from being exploited and kept the community’s relationships just.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 25:52

• יָבֵן (yāvēn, "count"): This word means to calculate or reckon. Here, it emphasizes that the price must be carefully figured out, not guessed or set arbitrarily.
• פִּי (pî, "according"): This word means "according to" or "by the mouth of." It highlights that the calculation is to be done precisely based on the number of years left.
• גְּאֻלָּה (ge'ullāh, "redemption"): This word refers to the act of buying back or redeeming someone or something. In this context, it stresses the right and process of regaining freedom, not just a transaction.

Why Leviticus 25:52 matters

• Leviticus 25:52 clarifies that redemption from servitude was not a fixed price but was always fair, based on how much time was left until the jubilee.
• This verse shows the law’s concern for justice and compassion, making sure no one was overcharged or kept in bondage longer than necessary.
• The verse connects to the wider passage about the year of jubilee, highlighting God’s intent for restoration, freedom, and the protection of the vulnerable in Israelite society.