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Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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New Living Translation

Leviticus 25:33

And any property that is sold by the Levites—all houses within the Levitical towns—must be returned in the Year of Jubilee. After all, the houses in the towns reserved for the Levites are the only property they own in all Israel.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Debtor;   Homestead;   House;   Jubilee;   Land;   Levites;   Priest;   Property;   Redemption;   Thompson Chain Reference - Business Life;   Real Estate;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Cities;   Houses;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Debtor;   Jubilee;   Poor;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jubilee;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Jubilee, Year of;   Micah, Theology of;   Ruth, Theology of;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Wall;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Agriculture;   Jubilee;   King;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Festivals;   Levitical Cities;   Leviticus;   Number Systems and Number Symbolism;   Pentateuch;   Year of Jubilee;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Canon of the Old Testament;   Congregation, Assembly;   Crimes and Punishments;   Deuteronomy;   Hexateuch;   Holiness;   Law;   Leviticus;   Poverty;   Priests and Levites;   Sabbatical Year;   Sanctification, Sanctify;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jubilee;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Brother;   Feasts;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Jubilee;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Law of Moses;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Criticism (the Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis);   Inheritance;   Leviticus;   Oded;   Purchase;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - 'Arakin;   Sidra;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
If one of the Levites redeem, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the jubilee; for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Yisra'el.
King James Version
And 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.
Lexham English Bible
And whatever anyone redeems from the Levites then must go out of the buyer's hand in the Jubilee, including a house's selling in his city's property, because the houses in the cities of the Levites are their property in the midst of the Israelites.
New Century Version
If someone buys a house from a Levite, that house in the Levites' city will again belong to the Levites in the Jubilee. This is because houses in Levite cities belong to the people of Levi; the Israelites gave these cities to them.
New English Translation
Whatever someone among the Levites might redeem—the sale of a house which is his property in a city—must revert in the jubilee, because the houses of the cities of the Levites are their property in the midst of the Israelites.
Amplified Bible
'Therefore, what is [purchased] from the Levites may be redeemed [by a Levite], and the house that was sold in the city they possess reverts in the Year of Jubilee, for the houses in the Levite cities are their [ancestral] property among the Israelites.
New American Standard Bible
'What, therefore, belongs to the Levites may be redeemed, and a house sale in the city of this possession reverts in the jubilee, because the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the sons of Israel.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And if a man purchase of the Leuites, the house that was solde, and the citie of their possession shall goe out in the Iubile: for the houses of the cities of the Leuites are their possession among the children of Israel.
Legacy Standard Bible
What, therefore, belongs to the Levites may be redeemed, and a house sale in the city of their possession reverts in the jubilee, for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the sons of Israel.
Contemporary English Version
And any houses that they do not buy back will be returned to them in the Year of Celebration, because these homes are their permanent property among the people of Israel.
Complete Jewish Bible
If someone purchases a house from one of the L'vi'im, then the house he sold in the city where he owns property will still revert to him in the yovel; because the houses in the cities of the L'vi'im are their tribe's possession among the people of Isra'el.
Darby Translation
And if any one redeem from one of the Levites, then the house that was sold, in the city of his possession, shall go out in the jubilee; for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel.
Easy-to-Read Version
If someone buys a house from a Levite, that house in the Levites' city will again belong to the Levites at the time of Jubilee. This is because houses in Levite cities belong to those from the tribe of Levi. The Israelites gave these cities to the Levites.
English Standard Version
And if one of the Levites exercises his right of redemption, then the house that was sold in a city they possess shall be released in the jubilee. For the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the people of Israel.
George Lamsa Translation
And if a man purchases of the Levites, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall be released in the year of jubilee; for the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possessions among the children of Israel.
Good News Translation
If a house in one of these cities is sold by a Levite and is not bought back, it must be returned in the Year of Restoration, because the houses which the Levites own in their cities are their permanent property among the people of Israel.
Christian Standard Bible®
Whatever property one of the Levites can redeem—a house sold in a city they possess—is to be released at the Jubilee, because the houses in the Levitical cities are their possession among the Israelites.
Literal Translation
And that which one redeems from the Levites, both the sale of a house, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the jubilee. For the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession in the midst of the sons of Israel.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Who so purchaceth ought of the Leuites, shal leaue it in the yeare of Iubilye, whether it be house or cite that he hath had in possession. For the houses in the cities of the Leuites are their possession amonge the children of Israel.
American Standard Version
And if one of the Levites redeem, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the jubilee; for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel.
Bible in Basic English
And if a Levite does not give money to get back his property, his house in the town which was exchanged for money will come back to him in the year of Jubilee. For the houses of the towns of the Levites are their property among the children of Israel.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And yf a man purchase of the Leuites, the house that was solde, and the citie of their possession, shall go out in the yere of Iubilee: for the houses of the cities of the Leuites, are their possession among the children of Israel.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And if a man purchase of the Levites, then the house that was sold in the city of his possession, shall go out in the jubilee; for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel.
King James Version (1611)
And if a man purchase of the Leuites, then the house that was sold, and the citie of his possession shall goe out in the yeere of Iubile: for the houses of the cities of the Leuites are their possession among the children of Israel.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And if any one shall redeem a house of the Levites, then shall their sale of the houses of their possession go out in the release; because the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession in the midst of the children of Israel.
English Revised Version
And if one of the Levites redeem, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the jubile: for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
So whatever belongs to the Levites may be redeemed-a house sold in a city they possess-and must be released in the Jubilee, because the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the Israelites.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
tho schulen turne ayen in the iubilee `to the lordis; for the `howsis of the citees of dekenes ben for possessiouns among the sones of Israel;
Young's Literal Translation
as to him who redeemeth from the Levites, both the sale of a house and the city of his possession have gone out in the jubilee, for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession in the midst of the sons of Israel.
Update Bible Version
And when one of the Levites redeems, the house that was sold, in the the city of his possession, shall go out in the jubilee; for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the sons of Israel.
Webster's Bible Translation
And if a man shall purchase of the Levites, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession shall go out in the [year of] jubilee; for the houses of the cities of the Levites [are] their possession among the children of Israel.
World English Bible
If one of the Levites redeem, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the jubilee; for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel.
New King James Version
And if a man purchases a house from the Levites, then the house that was sold in the city of his possession shall be released in the Jubilee; for the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel.
New Life Bible
If a house is not bought again by a Levite, then the house that was sold in one of their cities will be returned to him in the Year of Jubilee. For the houses of the Levites belong to them among the people of Israel.
New Revised Standard
Such property as may be redeemed from the Levites—houses sold in a city belonging to them—shall be released in the jubilee; because the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the people of Israel.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, if one of the Levites should not redeem, then shall the sale of the house and the city of his possession go out in the jubilee; for, the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession, in the midst of the sons of Israel.
Douay-Rheims Bible
If they be not redeemed, in the jubilee they shall all return to the owners: because the houses of the cities of the Levites are for their possessions among the children of Israel.
Revised Standard Version
And if one of the Levites does not exercise his right of redemption, then the house that was sold in a city of their possession shall be released in the jubilee; for the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the people of Israel.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'What, therefore, belongs to the Levites may be redeemed and a house sale in the city of this possession reverts in the jubilee, for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the sons of Israel.

Contextual Overview

23 "The land must never be sold on a permanent basis, for the land belongs to me. You are only foreigners and tenant farmers working for me. 24 "With every purchase of land you must grant the seller the right to buy it back. 25 If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and is forced to sell some family land, then a close relative should buy it back for him. 26 If there is no close relative to buy the land, but the person who sold it gets enough money to buy it back, 27 he then has the right to redeem it from the one who bought it. The price of the land will be discounted according to the number of years until the next Year of Jubilee. In this way the original owner can then return to the land. 28 But if the original owner cannot afford to buy back the land, it will remain with the new owner until the next Year of Jubilee. In the jubilee year, the land must be returned to the original owners so they can return to their family land. 29 "Anyone who sells a house inside a walled town has the right to buy it back for a full year after its sale. During that year, the seller retains the right to buy it back. 30 But if it is not bought back within a year, the sale of the house within the walled town cannot be reversed. It will become the permanent property of the buyer. It will not be returned to the original owner in the Year of Jubilee. 31 But a house in a village—a settlement without fortified walls—will be treated like property in the countryside. Such a house may be bought back at any time, and it must be returned to the original owner in the Year of Jubilee. 32 "The Levites always have the right to buy back a house they have sold within the towns allotted to them.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a man purchase of the Levites: or, one of the Levites redeem them

shall go: Leviticus 25:28

for the houses: Numbers 18:20-24, Deuteronomy 18:1, Deuteronomy 18:2

Reciprocal: Leviticus 25:10 - every man Numbers 35:2 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 14:22
Abram replied to the king of Sodom, "I solemnly swear to the Lord , God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,
Genesis 24:3
Swear by the Lord , the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women.
Genesis 25:6
But before he died, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them off to a land in the east, away from Isaac.
Genesis 25:7
Abraham lived for 175 years,
Genesis 27:36
Esau exclaimed, "No wonder his name is Jacob, for now he has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh, haven't you saved even one blessing for me?"
Mark 6:23
He even vowed, "I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!"
Hebrews 6:16
Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding.
Hebrews 12:16
Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And if a man purchase of the Levites,.... An house or city, as Jarchi, and which the following clause confirms, that is, if a common Israelite made such a purchase, then it was redeemable, but if a Levite purchased of a Levite, then, as the same writer observes, it was absolutely irredeemable:

then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in [the year of] jubilee; to the original owner of it, as fields and houses in villages sold by the Israelites

for the houses of the cities of the Levites [are] their possession among the children of Israel; and their only possession, and therefore if those, when sold, were irredeemable, they would entirely be without any; and hence care is taken they should not; so Jarchi observes, that the Levites had no possession of fields and vineyards, only cities to dwell in, and their suburbs; wherefore cities were to them instead of fields, and their redemption was as that of fields, that so their inheritance might not be broken off from them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Rather, And concerning the cities of the Levites, the houses in the cities of their possession, etc. If one of the Levites redeems a house in the city, etc. The meaning appears to be, if a Levite redeemed a house which had been sold to a person of a different tribe by another Levite, it was to revert in the Jubilee to the latter Levite as its original possessor. The purchaser of a Levite’s house was in fact only in the condition of a tenant at will, while the fields attached to the Levitical cities could never be alienated, even for a time.

For the application of the law of Jubilee to lands dedicated to the service of the sanctuary, see Leviticus 27:16-25.


 
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