ManyBibles

Leviticus 25

7 translations · read through 12 traditions.

NCB · New Consensus Bible

1The LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, 2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you, the land will rest a Sabbath to the LORD. 3Six years you will sow your field, and six years you will prune your vineyard, and gather its produce; 4but in the seventh year there will be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD. You will not sow your field and you will not prune your vineyard. 5The aftergrowth of your harvest you will not harvest, and you will not gather the grapes of your untended vine. It will be a year of solemn rest for the land. 6The Sabbath of the land will be food for you—for you, for your male slave, for your female slave, for your hired worker, and for your resident alien who lives as a foreigner with you, 7and for your livestock, and for the wild animals that are in your land. All its yield will be for food. 8“You will count off seven Sabbaths of years—seven years seven times; and the days of the seven Sabbaths of years will be to you forty-nine years. 9Then you will sound the loud ram's horn on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you will sound the ram's horn throughout all your land. 10You will consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty in the land to all its inhabitants. It will be a Jubilee for you; each man will return to his possession, and each man will return to his family. 11That fiftieth year will be a Jubilee for you. You will not sow, you will not harvest its aftergrowth, and you will not gather its untended vines. 12For it is a Jubilee; it will be holy to you. You will eat its produce from the field. 13“In this Year of Jubilee each man will return to his possession. 14“If you sell a sale to your neighbor, or buy from the hand of your neighbor, you will not oppress one another. 15According to the number of years after the Jubilee you will buy from your neighbor; according to the number of years of crops he will sell to you. 16According to the multitude of years you will multiply its price, and according to the fewness of years you will diminish its price; for he is selling you the number of crops. 17You will not oppress one another, but you will fear your God; for I am the LORD your God. 18“Therefore you will do my statutes and keep my judgments and do them, and you will dwell securely on the land. 19The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat to satisfaction and dwell securely upon it. 20If you say, ‘What will we eat in the seventh year? Look, we will not sow and we will not gather our produce,’ 21then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it will produce a crop for three years. 22You will sow the eighth year, and eat from the old crop; until the ninth year, until its crop comes in, you will eat the old. 23“The land must not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; for you are strangers and resident aliens with me. 24In all the land of your possession, you will grant a redemption for the land. 25“If your brother becomes poor and sells some of his possession, then his nearest redeemer will come and redeem what his brother has sold. 26If a man has no redeemer, but his hand attains the means and he finds enough for his redemption, 27then he will reckon the years of its sale, and restore the surplus to the man to whom he sold it; and he will return to his possession. 28But if his hand does not find sufficient means to restore it to him, then what he has sold will remain in the hand of the one who bought it until the Year of Jubilee; and it will go out in the Jubilee, and he will return to his possession. 29“If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, then his right of redemption will last until the end of the year of its sale; for a full year he will have the right of redemption. 30If it is not redeemed by the time a full year is complete for him, then the house that is in the walled city will be established in perpetuity to the buyer throughout his generations; it will not go out in the Jubilee. 31But the houses of the villages that have no wall around them will be reckoned with the fields of the land. They will have a right of redemption, and in the Jubilee they will go out. 32“Regarding the cities of the Levites, the houses in the cities of their possession, the Levites will have a perpetual right of redemption. 33And if anyone redeems from the Levites, then the sale of a house in the city of his possession will go out in the Jubilee; for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the Israelites. 34But the pasture fields of their cities may not be sold, for it is a perpetual possession for them. 35“If your brother becomes poor, and his hand fails beside you, then you will support him, as a stranger and a resident alien, and he will live with you. 36Do not take interest or profit from him, but you will fear your God, that your brother may live with you. 37Your money you will not give him at interest, and for profit you will not give your food. 38I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, to be your God. 39“If your brother becomes poor with you, and is sold to you, you will not make him serve the service of a slave. 40As a hired worker, as a resident alien he will be with you; until the Year of Jubilee he will serve with you. 41Then he will go out from you—he and his children with him—and he will return to his family, and to the possession of his fathers he will return. 42For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they must not be sold in a slave's sale. 43You will not rule over him with rigor, but you will fear your God. 44“As for your male slave and your female slave whom you may have—from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy a male slave and a female slave. 45Moreover, from the children of the resident aliens who sojourn among you, from them you may buy, and from their families that are with you, which they have fathered in your land; and they will be your possession. 46And you may leave them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit for a possession; you will serve yourselves with them forever; but over your brothers, the Israelites, one over another, you will not rule over him with rigor. 47“If a stranger or a resident alien with you attains wealth, and your brother becomes poor beside him and sells himself to the stranger, the resident alien with you, or to a branch of the stranger's family, 48after he is sold, there will be a redemption for him; one of his brothers will redeem him; 49or his uncle, or his uncle's son will redeem him, or any blood relative of his family will redeem him; or if his hand attains the means, he will be redeemed. 50He will reckon with his buyer from the year he sold himself to him until the Year of Jubilee; and the silver of his sale will be according to the number of years. Like the days of a hired worker he will be with him. 51If there are yet many years, according to them he will return his redemption out of the silver of his purchase. 52And if few remain in years until the Year of Jubilee, he will reckon with him; according to his years he will return his redemption. 53Like a worker hired year by year he will be with him. He will not rule him with rigor in your sight. 54And if he is not redeemed by these, then he will go out in the Year of Jubilee, he and his children with him. 55For to me the Israelites are slaves; they are my slaves whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”

AI-generated rendering, not a human translation. Read Leviticus 25 in the New Consensus Bible →

Disputed passages in this chapter

  • Slavery

    Christians and Jews have argued for centuries over whether the Bible's slave laws and household codes endorse slavery or merely regulate it. The dispute shaped abolition, denominational splits, and still frames debates about biblical ethics today.

What the traditions agree on

Across all families, it is recognized that the text mandates a Sabbath rest for the land every seven years and a Jubilee year of liberty every fiftieth year, during which sold ancestral property must revert to its original family and impoverished indentured Israelites must be released. Universally, traditions affirm that God explicitly claims ultimate ownership over the land, declaring the Israelites to be merely His tenants and forbidding them from permanently enslaving one another since they… Sign in to read the full consensus →

Held by most, but not all

  • The Jubilee is initiated by the sounding of a trumpet on the Day of Atonement. (8 affirm)
  • The Jubilee legislation is interpreted as a divine mandate to prevent systemic poverty, land monopoly, and extreme wealth disparity. (7 affirm)
  • The Old Testament prohibition on usury establishes a permanent moral mandate against exploiting the poor and engaging in predatory lending. (8 affirm)

Where the traditions differ

  • The Jubilee mandate provides a biblical basis for modern structural interventions, such as the cancellation of international debts for developing nations.

    catholic: AFFIRM; anglican: AFFIRM; baptist: AFFIRM; anabaptist: AFFIRM; restorationist: DENY

  • The strict civil ban on charging interest belonged uniquely to Israel's agrarian economy and does not prohibit equitable commercial interest.

    orthodox: DENY; reformed: AFFIRM; anabaptist: DENY

  • The kinsman-redeemer provisions typologically foreshadow the Incarnation, wherein Christ becomes a human brother to redeem humanity.

    oriental-orthodox: AFFIRM; lutheran: AFFIRM; restorationist: QUALIFY

  • The Jubilee and Sabbath year regulations are unique civil laws of the Israelite state that do not legally bind the Christian church or modern societies.

    orthodox: QUALIFY; lutheran: AFFIRM; reformed: AFFIRM; methodist: DENY; anabaptist: DENY; restorationist: AFFIRM

  • The Jubilee provides a concrete, socioeconomic blueprint to be practiced by the visible Christian community, rather than being relegated to a spiritual metaphor.

    catholic: QUALIFY; orthodox: DENY; anglican: AFFIRM; lutheran: DENY; reformed: DENY; baptist: QUALIFY; methodist: AFFIRM; anabaptist: AFFIRM; restorationist: DENY

  • The Jubilee's holistic restoration forms the biblical basis for expecting immediate spiritual, physical, and socioeconomic deliverance through the Holy Spirit.

    pentecostal: AFFIRM; adventist: QUALIFY; restorationist: DENY

How each tradition reads it

Each reading was generated in isolation — no tradition sees another’s answer.

Catholic

The text dictates the agricultural, economic, and social legislation for Israel upon entering the Promised Land. It mandates a Sabbath rest for the land every seven years (vv. 2-7) and a grand Jubilee every fiftieth year (vv. 8-12), initiated by the sounding of the trumpet on the Day of Atonement (v. 9). During the Jubilee, ancestral land is to revert to its original families, and Israelite debt-slaves are to be released (vv. 10, 39-41). The foundational rationale is theological rather than merely economic: God is the sole absolute owner of the land, and the Israelites are His tenant-sojourners (v. 23). Similarly, Israelites cannot be permanently enslaved by one another because they are already God's indentured servants, redeemed from Egypt (vv. 42, 55). The chapter also details specific property distinctions for walled cities and Levite holdings (vv. 29-34), regulates the treatment of foreign slaves (vv. 44-46), and strictly prohibits charging interest to the poor (vv. 35-37). Reception: The Catholic communion reads Leviticus 25 typologically and socially, viewing the Jubilee as a prophetic type of the Messianic era. In Catholic theology, Christ’s proclamation of the 'acceptable year of the Lord' in the synagogue at Nazareth is the definitive fulfillment of this chapter's promise of liberation. Theologically, verse 23 ('the land is mine') serves as the biblical bedrock for Catholic Social Doctrine regarding the 'universal destination of goods.' The Magisterium teaches that because God gave the earth to the whole human race, the right to private property is not absolute but is strictly subordinated to the common good. Thomas Aquinas evaluated these judicial precepts as expressions of divine wisdom designed to prevent the perpetual alienation of family wealth and to forestall extreme economic inequality. The strictures against usury (vv. 35-37) were universally embraced by Latin, Greek, and Syriac Fathers, establishing a long-standing moral prohibition against exploiting the vulnerable through interest. In the Eastern Catholic tradition, the Jubilee's fulfillment is woven into the liturgical calendar; the Byzantine rite begins its ecclesiastical year on September 1 (the Indiction) by commemorating Christ's inauguration of the ultimate Jubilee—the arrival of the Kingdom and the remission of spiritual debts.

Eastern Orthodox

In Leviticus 25, God issues socio-economic and religious legislation to Moses on Mount Sinai concerning the Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee. Every seventh year, the land is to enjoy a 'sabbath of solemn rest' (verses 2-7), during which sowing and reaping are forbidden. After seven cycles of seven years, the fiftieth year is proclaimed as a Jubilee (verses 8-12), initiated by the sounding of a trumpet on the Day of Atonement. During the Jubilee, liberty is proclaimed, ancestral property reverts to its original family (verses 13-28), and Israelites who have sold themselves into servitude due to poverty are released (verses 39-41). The foundational theological principle governing these laws is God's absolute sovereignty: the Israelites cannot sell the land in perpetuity because it belongs to God, with the people acting as 'strangers and sojourners' (verse 23), and they cannot be held as permanent slaves because they are God's own servants, redeemed from Egypt (verses 42, 55). Reception: The Eastern Orthodox tradition reads Leviticus 25 largely through the lens of the Septuagint (LXX), which translates the Hebrew term for 'Jubilee' in verse 10 as 'aphesis' (remission, release, or forgiveness). This lexical choice deeply informs patristic exegesis. Church Fathers, such as Cyril of Alexandria, understand the Jubilee typologically: Christ is the true Jubilee who brings ultimate 'aphesis'—the remission of sins and the release of humanity from the bondage of death, restoring humanity to its lost inheritance. The numerology of the Jubilee also holds profound significance. Gregory of Nazianzus reflects on the fifty years (seven weeks of years plus one, verses 8-10) as a symbol of Pentecost and the eschatological 'eighth day,' representing the perfection of spiritual rest and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, the chapter's ethical mandates—particularly the command to support the poor and the strict prohibition of usury (verses 35-37)—were thoroughly integrated into Orthodox canonical and moral tradition. The First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea explicitly forbade clergy from practicing usury, rooting its canonical discipline in the moral expectations established here.

Oriental Orthodox

The text establishes the seventh-year Sabbath for the land and the fiftieth-year Jubilee. It mandates the return of ancestral property, the redemption of the poor by kin, and the release of Israelite bondservants, explicitly grounding these social and economic laws in God's absolute ownership of the land and His historical redemption of Israel from Egyptian slavery. Reception: Oriental Orthodox tradition reads the Jubilee through a profound typological and Christological lens. Cyril of Alexandria identifies the fiftieth year as a direct prefiguration of the Incarnation and the arrival of the eschatological kingdom. When Christ announces the acceptable year of the Lord, He acts as the fulfillment of the Jubilee, bringing true remission of sins and restoring human nature to its lost inheritance in paradise. Additionally, Cyril interprets the kinsman-redeemer law as a type of the divine economy: the eternal Word takes on human flesh to become our brother, thereby securing the legal and ontological right to redeem humanity from the bondage of corruption. Syriac fathers like Aphrahat read the Sabbath of the land as pointing toward the eternal rest prepared for the faithful, where spiritual toil ceases.

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Every translation

The same chapter in 7 public-domain translations.

WEB · World English Bible

1Yahweh said to Moses on Mount Sinai, 2“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a Sabbath to Yahweh. 3You shall sow your field six years, and you shall prune your vineyard six years, and gather in its fruits; 4but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to Yahweh. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. 5What grows of itself in your harvest you shall not reap, and you shall not gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land. 6The Sabbath of the land shall be for food for you; for yourself, for your servant, for your maid, for your hired servant, and for your stranger, who lives as a foreigner with you. 7For your livestock also, and for the animals that are in your land, shall all its increase be for food. 8“‘You shall count off seven Sabbaths of years, seven times seven years; and there shall be to you the days of seven Sabbaths of years, even forty-nine years. 9Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land. 10You 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. 11That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee to you. In it you shall not sow, neither reap that which grows of itself, nor gather from the undressed vines. 12For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you. You shall eat of its increase out of the field. 13“‘In this Year of Jubilee each of you shall return to his property. 14“‘If you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another. 15According to the number of years after the Jubilee you shall buy from your neighbor. According to the number of years of the crops he shall sell to you. 16According to the length of the years you shall increase its price, and according to the shortness of the years you shall diminish its price; for he is selling the number of the crops to you. 17You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am Yahweh your God. 18“‘Therefore you shall do my statutes, and keep my ordinances and do them; and you shall dwell in the land in safety. 19The land shall yield its fruit, and you shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. 20If you said, “What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase;” 21then I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, and it shall bear fruit for the three years. 22You shall sow the eighth year, and eat of the fruits from the old store until the ninth year. Until its fruits come in, you shall eat the old store. 23“‘The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; for you are strangers and live as foreigners with me. 24In all the land of your possession you shall grant a redemption for the land. 25“‘If your brother becomes poor, and sells some of his possessions, then his kinsman who is next to him shall come, and redeem that which his brother has sold. 26If a man has no one to redeem it, and he becomes prosperous and finds sufficient means to redeem it, 27then let him reckon the years since its sale, and restore the surplus to the man to whom he sold it; and he shall return to his property. 28But if he isn’t able to get it back for himself, then what he has sold shall remain in the hand of him who has bought it until the Year of Jubilee. In the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his property. 29“‘If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it has been sold. For a full year he shall have the right of redemption. 30If it isn’t redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be made sure in perpetuity to him who bought it, throughout his generations. It shall not be released in the Jubilee. 31But the houses of the villages which have no wall around them shall be accounted for with the fields of the country: they may be redeemed, and they shall be released in the Jubilee. 32“‘Nevertheless, in the cities of the Levites, the Levites may redeem the houses in the cities of their possession at any time. 33The Levites may redeem the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, and it shall be released in the Jubilee; for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel. 34But the field of the pasture lands of their cities may not be sold, for it is their perpetual possession. 35“‘If your brother has become poor, and his hand can’t support himself among you, then you shall uphold him. He shall live with you like an alien and a temporary resident. 36Take no interest from him or profit; but fear your God, that your brother may live among you. 37You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. 38I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. 39“‘If your brother has grown poor among you, and sells himself to you, you shall not make him to serve as a slave. 40As a hired servant, and as a temporary resident, he shall be with you; he shall serve with you until the Year of Jubilee. 41Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and shall return to his own family, and to the possession of his fathers. 42For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. They shall not be sold as slaves. 43You shall not rule over him with harshness, but shall fear your God. 44“‘As for your male and your female slaves, whom you may have from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves. 45Moreover, of the children of the aliens who live among you, of them you may buy, and of their families who are with you, which they have conceived in your land; and they will be your property. 46You may make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession. Of them you may take your slaves forever, but over your brothers the children of Israel you shall not rule, one over another, with harshness. 47“‘If an alien or temporary resident with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him has grown poor, and sells himself to the stranger or foreigner living among you, or to a member of the stranger’s family, 48after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him; 49or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any who is a close relative to him of his family may redeem him; or if he has grown rich, he may redeem himself. 50He shall reckon with him who bought him from the year that he sold himself to him to the Year of Jubilee. The price of his sale shall be according to the number of years; he shall be with him according to the time of a hired servant. 51If there are yet many years, according to them he shall give back the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. 52If there remain but a few years to the year of jubilee, then he shall reckon with him; according to his years of service he shall give back the price of his redemption. 53As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him. He shall not rule with harshness over him in your sight. 54If he isn’t redeemed by these means, then he shall be released in the Year of Jubilee: he and his children with him. 55For to me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.

KJV · King James Version

1And the Lord spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, 2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the Lord. 3Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; 4But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. 5That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land. 6And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee, 7And for thy cattle, and for the beast that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat. 8And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. 9Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. 10And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. 11A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed. 12For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field. 13In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession. 14And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour’s hand, ye shall not oppress one another: 15According to the number of years after the jubile thou shalt buy of thy neighbour, and according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee: 16According to the multitude of years thou shalt increase the price thereof, and according to the fewness of years thou shalt diminish the price of it: for according to the number of the years of the fruits doth he sell unto thee. 17Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the Lord your God. 18Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. 19And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. 20And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: 21Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. 22And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store. 23The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. 24And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land. 25If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. 26And if the man have none to redeem it, and himself be able to redeem it; 27Then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession. 28But if he be not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubile: and in the jubile it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession. 29And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year may he redeem it. 30And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be established for ever to him that bought it throughout his generations: it shall not go out in the jubile. 31But the houses of the villages which have no wall round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country: they may be redeemed, and they shall go out in the jubile. 32Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time. 33And if a man purchase of the Levites, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the year of jubile: for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel. 34But the field of the suburbs of their cities may not be sold; for it is their perpetual possession. 35And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. 36Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. 37Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. 38I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. 39And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: 40But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile: 41And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. 42For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen. 43Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God. 44Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. 45Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. 46And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour. 47And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger’s family: 48After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: 49Either his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. 50And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him. 51If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. 52And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubile, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption. 53And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in thy sight. 54And if he be not redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubile, both he, and his children with him. 55For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

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Differences that change the meaning (81)
  • v1 [grammatical]: "in" vs "on" — “in” (KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “on” (WEB)
  • v2 [lexical]: varies between "say to", "tell", and similar expressions — “say unto” (KJV, ASV, DARBY) vs “tell” (WEB) vs “thou hast said” (YLT) vs “to” (WEBSTER) vs “thou shalt to” (DRC)
  • v2 [grammatical]: translates the action of entering the land with different tenses or phrasings — “ye come into” (KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “you” (WEB) vs “in unto” (YLT) vs “you shall have entered” (DRC)
  • v2 [grammatical]: varies the tense of the verb "give" (present, future, or continuous) — “give” (WEB, KJV, ASV, WEBSTER) vs “will” (DARBY, DRC) vs “am giving to” (YLT)
  • v2 [lexical]: varies the expression for observing the sabbath (e.g., "keep", "celebrate", "observe the rest of") — “land keep a” (KJV, ASV, WEBSTER) vs “shall” (WEB) vs “kept” (YLT) vs “shall celebrate” (DARBY) vs “rest of the” (DRC)
  • v2 [lexical]: uses different translations for the divine name (Lord, Yahweh, Jehovah) with minor preposition variations — “to Jehovah” (YLT, DARBY) vs “to” (WEBSTER, DRC) vs “to Yahweh” (WEB) vs “unto the Lord” (KJV) vs “Jehovah” (ASV)
  • v3 [stylistic]: varies between archaic and modern second-person pronouns and verb forms — “Six years thou shalt” (KJV, ASV, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “You shall” (WEB) vs “dost” (YLT) vs “thou” (DARBY)
  • v3 [grammatical]: variations in pronoun/verb phrasing and the presence of a conjunction — “thou shalt” (KJV, ASV, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “and you shall” (WEB) vs “dost” (YLT) vs “thou” (DARBY)
  • v4 [lexical]: variations in describing the Sabbath rest and the prepositions used — “solemn for” (WEB, ASV) vs “to” (WEBSTER, DRC) vs “of rest unto” (KJV) vs “is to” (YLT) vs “for” (DARBY)
  • v5 [grammatical]: variations in the construction of the negative command — “and” (ASV, YLT, DARBY) vs “neither gather” (KJV, WEBSTER) vs “and you shall not” (WEB) vs “shalt thou” (DRC)
  • v5 [grammatical]: variations in prepositions and the presence of linking verbs — “for” (WEB, ASV) vs “to” (WEBSTER, DRC) vs “unto” (KJV) vs “it is to” (YLT) vs “shall it be for” (DARBY)
  • v6 [grammatical]: variations in second-person pronouns and the placement of the phrase concerning cattle — “thee” (KJV, ASV, YLT, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “you” (WEB) vs “and for thy cattle” (DARBY)
  • v8 [lexical]: varies between "number" and "count" — “And thou shalt number” (KJV, ASV, WEBSTER) vs “You shall count off” (WEB) vs “hast numbered to thee” (YLT) vs “count” (DARBY) vs “also to thee” (DRC)
  • v8 [lexical]: translates the period as "sabbaths" versus "weeks" — “sabbaths” (WEB, KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “weeks” (DRC)
  • v9 [grammatical]: varies between "in" and "on" for the timing — “in” (KJV, ASV, YLT, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “On” (WEB, DARBY)
  • v9 [lexical]: translates the temporal word as "day" or "time" — “day” (WEB, KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “time” (DRC)
  • v10 [lexical]: varies between "hallow", "make [holy]", and "sanctify" — “And ye shall hallow” (KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “You make” (WEB) vs “have hallowed” (YLT) vs “thou shalt sanctify” (DRC)
  • v10 [grammatical]: uses a definite article or a possessive pronoun for the inhabitants — “the” (KJV, ASV, DARBY, DRC) vs “its” (WEB, YLT, WEBSTER)
  • v11 [grammatical]: variation in the negative correlative conjunction — “neither” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “not nor” (YLT) vs “nor” (DRC)
  • v13 [grammatical]: varies between "the" and "this" to modify the year — “the” (KJV, YLT, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “this” (WEB, ASV, DARBY)
  • v13 [grammatical]: Third-person number differs: WEB, KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER use the singular ("him"/"his") where DRC use the plural ("them"/"their").
  • v15 [lexical]: uses "number of years" versus "computation" — “number of years” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “the” (YLT) vs “computation” (DRC)
  • v16 [lexical]: varies expressions indicating a larger number of years — “multitude of” (KJV, WEBSTER) vs “the” (ASV, YLT) vs “length the” (WEB) vs “greater number the” (DARBY) vs “more” (DRC)
  • v17 [grammatical]: varies the presence of conjunctions and verb mood for the command — “Ye shall” (KJV, WEBSTER) vs “And” (ASV, DARBY) vs “You” (WEB) vs “and do” (YLT) vs “Do” (DRC)
  • v17 [grammatical]: (vv 17, 34) varies the causal conjunction — “for” (WEB, KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “because” (DRC)
  • v17 [lexical]: (vv 17, 38) uses different translations for the divine name (Lord, Yahweh, Jehovah) — “the Lord” (KJV, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “Jehovah” (ASV, YLT, DARBY) vs “Yahweh” (WEB)
  • v18 [lexical]: varies between "statutes" and "precepts" — “statutes” (WEB, KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “precepts” (DRC)
  • v18 [lexical]: varies between "judgments" and "ordinances" and their corresponding verbs — “keep my judgments” (KJV, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “ordinances” (WEB) vs “mine ordinances” (ASV) vs “ye keep” (YLT) vs “observe mine ordinances” (DARBY)
  • v18 [lexical]: varies between "do" and "fulfill" for carrying out the commands — “do” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “have done” (YLT) vs “fulfill” (DRC)
  • v18 [lexical]: translates the state of dwelling securely in varying phrases — “in safety” (WEB, KJV, ASV, WEBSTER) vs “confidently” (YLT) vs “securely” (DARBY) vs “without any fear” (DRC)
  • v20 [lexical]: varies between exclamations and conditional particles — “behold” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “lo” (YLT) vs “if” (DRC)
  • v20 [lexical]: translates the agricultural yield differently — “increase” (WEB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEBSTER) vs “produce” (DARBY) vs “fruits” (DRC)
  • v21 [lexical]: varies between "command" (a blessing) and "give" — “will command” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “have commanded” (YLT) vs “give you” (DRC)
  • v21 [grammatical]: varies the conjunction linking the clauses — “and” (WEB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “that” (DARBY)
  • v22 [lexical]: refers to the old harvest with different terms — “fruit” (KJV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “store” (WEB, ASV) vs “increase” (YLT) vs “fruits” (DRC)
  • v23 [grammatical]: varies verbal auxiliaries indicating future or general prohibition — “shall” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “is” (YLT) vs “also” (DRC)
  • v24 [lexical]: translates the region as "land" or "country" — “land” (WEB, KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “country” (DRC)
  • v24 [interpretive]: interprets the requirement to redeem the land with a specific structural phrase — “land” (WEB, KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “condition of redemption” (DRC)
  • v25 [grammatical]: variation in the conditional conjunction and pronoun — “If thy” (KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “your” (WEB) vs “When” (YLT)
  • v27 [lexical]: translates the term for holding as "possession" or "property", or implies it with "again" — “possession” (KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “property” (WEB) vs “again” (DRC)
  • v28 [grammatical]: uses different conjunctions to introduce the contrast — “But” (WEB, KJV, ASV, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “And” (YLT, DARBY)
  • v29 [grammatical]: rephrases "in a walled city" as "within the walls of a city" — “dwelling-house” (ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “dwelling house in” (WEB, KJV) vs “within the walls of” (DRC)
  • v30 [grammatical]: uses different prepositions or conjunctions connecting to the buyer's generations — “throughout” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “to” (YLT) vs “and” (DRC)
  • v30 [lexical]: translates the descendants as "generations" or "posterity" — “generations” (WEB, KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “posterity for ever and” (DRC)
  • v30 [interpretive]: translates the phrase regarding not returning in the Jubilee either literally or interpretively as "cannot be redeemed" — “shall” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “goeth” (YLT) vs “cannot be redeemed” (DRC)
  • v32 [grammatical]: uses different prepositions for the houses of or in the cities — “of the” (KJV, ASV, YLT, WEBSTER) vs “in” (WEB, DARBY) vs “Levites which are in” (DRC)
  • v33 [interpretive]: expands the phrase to clarify to whom the house returns in the Jubilee — “Jubilee” (WEB, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “year of jubile for” (KJV) vs “owners because” (DRC)
  • v33 [grammatical]: minor grammatical variations regarding the possession of the Levites — “possession among” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “in” (YLT) vs “possessions” (DRC)
  • v34 [lexical]: varies between a definite possessive and an indefinite article for the possession — “their perpetual possession” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “to them” (YLT) vs “a” (DRC)
  • v35 [lexical]: varies the expression for becoming poor — “has become” (WEB) vs “be waxen poor” (KJV) vs “waxed” (ASV) vs “is become” (YLT) vs “grow” (DARBY) vs “shall have become” (WEBSTER) vs “impoverished” (DRC)
  • v36 [grammatical]: uses different conjunctions and pronouns — “that thy” (KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “your” (WEB) vs “and” (YLT)
  • v36 [lexical]: varies the preposition describing where the brother lives — “may live with thee” (KJV, ASV, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “among you” (WEB) vs “hath lived” (YLT) vs “beside” (DARBY)
  • v37 [grammatical]: uses different word order and second-person pronouns — “Thou shalt” (KJV, ASV, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “You shall” (WEB) vs “thy money givest” (YLT) vs “Thy money thou” (DARBY)
  • v37 [lexical]: translates the action as "give" or "lend" — “give” (KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “lend” (WEB) vs “to” (YLT)
  • v38 [grammatical]: choice of relative pronoun — “who” (WEB, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “which” (KJV) vs “who hath” (YLT)
  • v38 [grammatical]: uses an infinitive or a purpose clause — “to” (WEB, KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “that I might” (DRC)
  • v39 [lexical]: translates the command against forcing servile labor with different verbs — “compel” (KJV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “make” (WEB, ASV) vs “lay on” (YLT) vs “oppress” (DRC)
  • v40 [lexical]: translates the term for a resident alien in various ways — “sojourner he shall be” (KJV, ASV, WEBSTER) vs “temporary resident” (WEB) vs “settler is” (YLT) vs “he” (DARBY) vs “work” (DRC)
  • v41 [grammatical]: varies whether the verb phrase is repeated for clarity — “and” (WEB, KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “shall go out with” (DRC)
  • v41 [grammatical]: repeats the verb "return" or implies it with a preposition — “to” (WEB, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “shall return unto” (KJV, ASV, DARBY) vs “hath turned back” (YLT)
  • v41 [lexical]: varies between "family" and "kindred" and their connecting prepositions — “own family and unto” (KJV, ASV, DARBY) vs “to” (WEB, WEBSTER) vs “even” (YLT) vs “kindred to” (DRC)
  • v42 [grammatical]: choice of relative pronoun or conjunction — “whom” (WEB, ASV, YLT) vs “servants which” (KJV, WEBSTER) vs “bondmen whom” (DARBY) vs “and” (DRC)
  • v42 [grammatical]: varies the modal auxiliary expressing the prohibition — “they shall” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “are” (YLT) vs “let them” (DRC)
  • v44 [grammatical]: varied structures for introducing the rule about slaves — “Both thy bondmen” (KJV, WEBSTER) vs “As for your male” (WEB) vs “And as for” (ASV) vs “And man-servant” (YLT) vs “And as for bondman” (DARBY) vs “Let your” (DRC)
  • v44 [lexical]: translates the surrounding peoples as "nations" or "heathen" — “nations” (WEB, ASV, DARBY, DRC) vs “heathen that” (KJV, WEBSTER) vs “nations who” (YLT)
  • v44 [stylistic]: varies between "round about" and "around" — “round about” (KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, DRC) vs “around” (WEB, WEBSTER)
  • v45 [lexical]: uses different conjunctions and introductory words — “Moreover of the children” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “and also sons” (YLT) vs “And” (DRC)
  • v46 [grammatical]: varies the preposition or verb structure to denote ruling over someone — “over” (WEB, KJV, ASV, WEBSTER) vs “upon” (YLT) vs “as for” (DARBY) vs “oppress not” (DRC)
  • v46 [lexical]: uses different plural forms of brother — “brethren” (KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “brothers” (WEB)
  • v47 [lexical]: translates the term indicating a branch/member of the family in various ways — “the stock” (KJV, ASV, WEBSTER) vs “a member” (WEB) vs “root” (YLT) vs “a scion” (DARBY) vs “any” (DRC)
  • v47 [lexical]: translates the group as "family" or "race" — “the stranger’s family” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “of a sojourner” (YLT) vs “his race” (DRC)
  • v48 [grammatical]: varies between "brothers" and "brethren" and differing modal verbs — “brethren may” (KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “brothers” (WEB) vs “doth” (YLT) vs “shall” (DRC)
  • v49 [stylistic]: uses "either" or "or" to start the list of relatives — “Either” (KJV, DARBY, WEBSTER, DRC) vs “or” (WEB, ASV, YLT)
  • v49 [lexical]: translates the concept of close relative with varying levels of literalness — “family may redeem him” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “flesh of his doth” (YLT) vs “kinsman by blood” (DRC)
  • v49 [grammatical]: uses active or passive voice regarding self-redemption — “may redeem himself” (WEB, KJV, ASV, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “hath been redeemed” (YLT) vs “shall” (DRC)
  • v50 [grammatical]: adds transitional words when describing the calculation — “Jubilee” (WEB, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “jubile and” (KJV) vs “the jubilee counting” (DRC)
  • v50 [lexical]: translates the period of service differently — “time” (WEB, KJV, ASV, WEBSTER) vs “days” (YLT, DARBY) vs “reckoning” (DRC)
  • v52 [lexical]: uses different verbs for calculating the remaining years — “reckon” (WEB, ASV, DARBY) vs “shall count” (KJV, WEBSTER) vs “hath reckoned” (YLT) vs “make the reckoning” (DRC)
  • v54 [grammatical]: grammatical variation in how the negative condition is expressed — “be not” (KJV, ASV, DARBY) vs “isn’t” (WEB) vs “is” (YLT) vs “shall be” (WEBSTER) vs “cannot” (DRC)
  • v54 [grammatical]: varying conjunctions connecting the release to the person and his family — “Jubilee” (WEB, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “jubile both” (KJV) vs “the jubilee” (DRC)
  • v54 [grammatical]: choice between repeating the verb phrase or relying on a conjunction — “and” (WEB, KJV, ASV, YLT, DARBY, WEBSTER) vs “shall go out with” (DRC)

Behind this page

Source text. Hebrew/Aramaic (Westminster Leningrad Codex tradition, via STEPBible TAHOT). Westminster Leningrad Codex

Divine names: YHWH (the LORD), Elohim (God) — render YHWH and Elohim distinguishably.

Also consulted, but not counted in the consensus

Academic textual-historical analysis

Academic analysis of Leviticus 25 focuses on its socio-economic legislation—the Sabbatical year (vv. 1-7) and the Jubilee year (vv. 8-55)—situating it within the broader Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) context of debt cancellation. The Hebrew term for 'liberty' (deror, v. 10) is cognate with the Akkadian 'andurarum'. While Mesopotamian kings periodically issued 'misharum' (justice) and 'andurarum' edicts to cancel agrarian debts and free debt-servants in order to prevent economic collapse, Leviticus transforms this arbitrary royal prerogative into a fixed, calendrical cycle ordained by Yahweh. This shift reflects the text's underlying theology: Yahweh is the true sovereign and landowner, while the Israelites are his 'strangers and sojourners' (v. 23) and his 'servants' (v. 55). Consequently, land cannot be sold in perpetuity (v. 23), and Israelites cannot be permanently reduced to chattel slavery (vv. 39-42). Source-critically, the chapter is universally assigned to the Holiness Code (H). Philologically, the English word 'Jubilee' traces back to the Hebrew 'yobel', meaning 'ram's horn', which was sounded on the Day of Atonement to inaugurate the fiftieth year (v. 9). The chapter establishes a kinship-based safety net, outlining the duties of the 'go'el' (kinsman-redeemer) to buy back alienated land or impoverished family members (vv. 25-54).

Jewish interpretation

Leviticus 25 establishes a comprehensive agricultural and socioeconomic system for the Israelites upon entering Canaan. The chapter dictates a seven-year cycle culminating in the Shmita (Sabbatical) year, during which the land must lie fallow and its spontaneous produce is left for all to eat (vv. 1-7). After seven cycles of seven years, the fiftieth year is proclaimed as the Yovel (Jubilee) year (vv. 8-12). During the Yovel, ancestral land holdings revert to their original owners (vv. 13-28, with exceptions for walled cities in vv. 29-34), debts are managed, and Israelite indentured servants are unconditionally freed (vv. 39-55). The immediate rationale anchors this system in divine sovereignty: God owns the land and the Israelites are merely tenants and sojourners (v. 23), and because God redeemed the Israelites from Egypt, they are exclusively His servants and cannot be subjected to perpetual slavery (vv. 42, 55).

Latter-day Saint

Leviticus 25 establishes the economic and agricultural rhythms for Israel in the promised land, primarily through the Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee. Every seventh year, the land is to rest, and its spontaneous produce is to be shared equally among owners, servants, and foreigners (verses 1-7). After seven Sabbath years (forty-nine years), the fiftieth year is proclaimed a Jubilee, marked by the sounding of the trumpet on the Day of Atonement (verses 8-12). During the Jubilee, all leased or sold ancestral property reverts to its original family, and Israelite servants who sold themselves due to poverty are released (verses 10, 13, 39-41). The foundational rationale for these laws is the divine ownership of the earth: 'the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me' (verse 23), meaning the Israelites are God's tenants. The chapter also mandates the compassionate treatment of the poor, prohibiting usury and the permanent enslavement of fellow Israelites (verses 35-43).

Jehovah's Witnesses

In its immediate context, Leviticus 25 outlines Jehovah's laws regarding the Sabbath year and the Jubilee for the nation of Israel. The chapter establishes a rhythm of agricultural rest every seventh year, and a major societal reset every fiftieth year. During the Jubilee, liberty is proclaimed throughout the land, ancestral properties are returned to their original families, and Israelites who have sold themselves into servitude due to debt are released. The foundational rationale for these laws is explicitly theological: Jehovah declares that the land belongs to Him and the Israelites are merely alien residents (Leviticus 25:23), and that the people are His servants whom He liberated from Egypt (Leviticus 25:42, 55). Therefore, the economy and social structure must reflect His justice, ownership, and mercy.

Translation choices the NCB made (27)
  • v1: on — Follows standard modern English idiom for geographical heights.
  • v2: say to — Modernizes direct address formula.
  • v2: you enter — Translates the imperfect verb in an active, contemporary temporal clause.
  • v2: am giving — Accurately represents the active participle expressing an ongoing process.
  • v2: rest a — Preserves the cognate figure of speech between the verb and noun.
  • v2: to the LORD — Adheres to the mandated divine-name map.
  • v3: Six years you will — Updates archaic 'shall' and 'thou' to contemporary instruction using 'will'.
  • v4: solemn rest for — Translates the intensive doubled Sabbath construction idiomatically while conveying its strict nature.
  • v5: you will not... and you will not — Preserves the Hebrew repetition of the negative structure.
  • v5: harvest — Preserves the cognate root connection between 'harvest' as a noun and a verb.
  • v8: count off — Captures the active, temporal calculation implied by the context.
  • v8: Sabbaths — Maintains the continuous thematic thread of Sabbath terminology.
  • v9: on — Uses standard English temporal prepositions for exact calendar days.
  • v10: consecrate — Accurately represents the intensive setting apart of the year without using archaic phrasing.
  • v11: you will not... and you will not — Highlights the distinct number shift by repeating the verbs actively.
  • v13: this — Reflects the explicit demonstrative pronoun haz-zot.
  • v14: sell a sale — Preserves the Hebrew cognate expression for transacting property.
  • v16: multitude of — Retains the antonymic parallelism with 'fewness'.
  • v17: for — Standardizing the logical causal link without over-interpreting.
  • v17: fear your God — Matches the divine name map for Elohim.
  • v20: Look — Replaces the archaic 'behold' with a modern equivalent interjection.
  • v21: command — Reflects the authoritative nature of the verbal root for 'command'.
  • v24: grant a redemption — Maintains the literal vocabulary instead of applying an interpretive socioeconomic framework.
  • v25: becomes poor — Retains the straightforward refrain repeated throughout the chapter detailing structural descent into poverty.
  • v30: established in perpetuity — Translates the permanent alienation of property literally without assuming a specific legal limitation on Jubilee practice.
  • v36: interest — Uses standard modern terminology representing the prohibition against exploiting the vulnerable, which is a broad reception across traditions.
  • v42: sold in a slave's sale — Preserves the cognate structure defining the transaction type rather than simply naming the class of slave.
Limits worth knowing
  • This is AI-generated and source-grounded, and it is approved by no community that holds these traditions.
  • The readings were produced in isolated calls that do not see one another. Isolation prevents anchoring; it does not make them independent witnesses.
  • The Nicene-Trinitarian boundary, and the decision not to seat non-denominational Evangelicalism separately (it is a cross-traditional movement already present within several voting profiles), are editorial choices.
  • The roster, the grouping into three families, and the rule that families (not seat counts) carry consensus all shape the result. A different roster would produce a different synthesis.
  • One profile cannot exhaust a tradition; the synthesis reflects what the profiles said, not everything the traditions hold.
  • The non-voting panels (Academic, Jewish) never vote; LDS and Jehovah's Witness readings are a comparative appendix only.
  • Any profiles excluded for this chapter after failing the audit are named on the page and removed from the eligible roster for it.
  • The rendering is unreviewed by any tradition, and every contested wording it settled is listed in Choices Made — where the text forced a decision, the decision is documented rather than hidden behind a claim of preserved ambiguity.

See the full step-by-step working → · AI-generated Oct 11, 2026, gemini-3.1-pro-preview (high thinking) — every stage, v4 spec + Addendum B (claim-audited, cross-stage-checked)