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Book of Leviticus - Chapter 27 - Verse 21

27:21
But the field, when it goeth out in the jubilee, shall be holy unto the LORD, as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest's.

Meaning

When interpreting this verse, it is crucial to understand the significance of the concept of jubilee in the Bible. The jubilee, which occurs every 50 years, was a time when debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and land that had been sold was returned to its original owners. In this context, the verse emphasizes the holiness of the field that is returned to the Lord in the jubilee year. The field is considered to be devoted to the Lord, meaning it is set apart for his use and dedicated to him. By designating the field as holy unto the Lord, it becomes the possession of the priest, symbolizing the special relationship between God and his chosen people. This verse serves as a reminder of God's ownership over all things and the importance of honoring him with our possessions, especially during times of restoration and renewal like the jubilee.

Theological Overview

The theological interpretation of this verse centers around the concept of holiness and dedication to the Lord. In the context of the Jubilee, which was a time of restoration and liberty for the Israelites, the field that goes out in the Jubilee is considered holy unto the Lord. This indicates that the land is set apart for God's purposes and is consecrated to Him. The idea of a field being devoted to the Lord emphasizes the importance of stewardship and recognizing that all possessions ultimately belong to God. The portion of the field that is reserved for the priest symbolizes the priestly role of interceding for the people and representing them before God. This verse highlights the spiritual significance of the Jubilee year, where not only physical debts are forgiven and land is returned to its original owner, but also the spiritual dimension of consecrating all aspects of life to the service of the Lord.

American Standard Version

but the field, when it goeth out in the jubilee, shall be holy unto Jehovah, as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest's.
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