Themes

The year of Jubilee

Every fiftieth year, Israel was to proclaim liberty: land went back to its original family and Israelite slaves went free.

Key verse

You shall make the fiftieth year holy, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee to you; and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family.

Leviticus 25:10

World English Bible (public domain)

“The land is mine”

Land could not be sold forever, because it belonged to God; Israel held it as tenants and sojourners (Leviticus 25:23). The Jubilee reset the map every fifty years so no family lost its inheritance for good.

Jubilee and Jesus

In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus reads from Isaiah 61, “to proclaim release to the captives,” Jubilee language, and says it is fulfilled in him.

The culture behind the text

JubileeEvery fiftieth year, land returned to the original family and Israelite slaves went free. Land was God's; Israel only held it as tenants. Jesus' first sermon in Luke uses Jubilee language for his mission.Leviticus 25:10, 25:23; Luke 4:18-19

Nazareth synagogueSynagogue services included readings from the Law and Prophets, and a visiting teacher could be invited to read and preach. The crowd turns when Jesus mentions God helping Gentiles, the widow of Sidon and Naaman the Syrian.Luke 4:16-30

Study notes

Jubilee · Leviticus 25:10Every 50th year land returned to original families and slaves went free. "Proclaim liberty" is inscribed on the Liberty Bell. Jesus' first sermon echoes Jubilee language.The land is mine · Leviticus 25:23Israelites are tenants and sojourners with God, so land cannot be sold permanently.

Key passages

Leviticus 25:8-17The fiftieth year Leviticus 25:23“The land is mine”Luke 4:16-21Jesus’ first sermon

How the Bible connects it

Every cross-reference in Lampstead says why it’s linked. A few from this page:

Leviticus 25:10 → Jeremiah 34:8Why: Zedekiah proclaimed liberty to slaves in Jerusalem, the release this law commandedThe word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty to them…Leviticus 25:10 → Leviticus 25:13Why: In the Jubilee each one returns to his property“‘In this Year of Jubilee each of you shall return to his property.”Leviticus 25:10 → Isaiah 61:1-3Why: Isaiah's "proclaim liberty" echoes the year of JubileeThe Lord Yahweh’s Spirit is on me, because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.Leviticus 25:10 → Isaiah 63:4Why: Isaiah's year of redemption echoes the JubileeFor the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come.

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Sources behind these notes: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), "Jubilee"; Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament (1866–91); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706). Bible text: World English Bible (public domain).