Leviticus 25:28

But if he cannot obtain enough to repay him, what he sold will remain in possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. In the Jubilee, however, it is to be released, so that he may return to his property.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites in the wilderness, outlining procedures for land redemption as the fiftieth year approaches.

The words — לֹא־מָצְאָה יָדוֹ דֵי (lo'- matze'ah yado dei) literally translates to "his hand has not found sufficiency," specifying the seller's lack of funds to buy back the land.

The thread — The verse directly implements the Jubilee release mandated in Leviticus 25:10 and Leviticus 25:13, while its theme of property restoration aligns with the redeemed walking their land in Isaiah 35:9.

Why it lands — The text states that unsold property remains with the buyer until the Jubilee, after which it must be released to the original owner. This requires readers to accept temporary loss of possession as a fixed period rather than a permanent forfeiture, demanding compliance with a divinely timed economic reset.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאִ֨םve./'Imand/ if לֹֽא־lo'-not מָֽצְאָ֜הma.tze.'Ahit has found יָד֗וֹya.D/ohand/ his דֵּי֮deisufficiency הָשִׁ֣יבha.Shiv<of> to repayלוֹ֒l/oto <the>/ himוְהָיָ֣הve./ha.Yahand/ it will be מִמְכָּר֗וֹmi.ka.R/othing sold/ his בְּיַד֙be./Yadin/ [the] hand of הַקֹּנֶ֣הha./ko.Nehthe/ [one who] bought אֹת֔וֹ'o.T/o<obj.>/ it עַ֖ד'aduntil שְׁנַ֣תshe.Nat[the] year of הַיּוֹבֵ֑לhai./yo.Velthe/ jubilee וְיָצָא֙ve./ya.Tza'and/ it will go out בַּיֹּבֵ֔לba/i.yo.Velin the/ jubilee וְשָׁ֖בve./Shavand/ he will return לַאֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ׃la./'a.chu.za.T/oto/ possession/ his

King James Version

But 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.

Cross-references

Leviticus 25:10 So you are to consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be your Jubilee, when each of you is to return to his property and to his clan.
Leviticus 25:13 In this Year of Jubilee, each of you shall return to his own property.
Isaiah 35:9 No lion will be there, and no vicious beast will go up on it. Such will not be found there, but the redeemed will walk upon it.
Jeremiah 32:15 For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”
1 Corinthians 15:52 in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.
1 Peter 1:4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,