Bible Strands

Leviticus 25:32

As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the cities they possess.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The text records divine instruction regarding land distribution and property regulations given to Moses. It addresses the permanent status of Levitical urban holdings within the broader allotment system.

The words — גְּאֻלַּ֥ת (ge.'u.Lat) translates as a right of redemption, and עוֹלָ֖ם (o.Lam) denotes perpetuity or constant duration. Together they establish an unending legal claim.

The thread — This regulation connects to the broader allocation of Levitical settlements in Numbers 35:1 and Joshua 21:1. The same cities and their housing rights are later distributed and confirmed in the land allotments.

Why it lands — The verse mandates that Levitical housing remains permanently redeemable, preventing permanent loss of their urban property. It requires readers to recognize that tribal provision and land tenure operate under fixed, non-negotiable boundaries.

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

וְעָרֵי֙ve./'a.Reiand/ [the] cities ofהַלְוִיִּ֔םha/l.vi.Yimthe/ Levitesבָּתֵּ֖יba.Tei[the] houses ofעָרֵ֣י'a.Rei[the] cities ofאֲחֻזָּתָ֑ם'a.chu.za.Ta/mpossession/ theirגְּאֻלַּ֥תge.'u.Lata right of redemption ofעוֹלָ֖םo.Lamperpetuityתִּהְיֶ֥הtih.Yehit will belongלַלְוִיִּֽם׃la/l.vi.Yimto the/ Levites

King James Version

Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time.

Cross-references