Exodus 25
Leviticus 25 establishes the sabbatical year and the Jubilee as distinctive institutions for Israel. These laws teach that the land ultimately belongs to God, that His people must practice mercy and restraint, and that economic life should include rhythms of rest, release, and restoration.
1verseThe LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2verse“Speak to the children of Israel, that they take an offering for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering.
3verseThis is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, bronze,
4verseblue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
5verserams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
6verseoil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,
7verseonyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.
8verseLet them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
9verseAccording to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all of its furniture, even so you shall make it.
10verse“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height.
11verseYou shall overlay it with pure gold. You shall overlay it inside and outside, and you shall make a gold molding around it.
12verseYou shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four feet. Two rings shall be on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.
13verseYou shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.
14verseYou shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.
15verseThe poles shall be in the rings of the ark. They shall not be taken from it.
16verseYou shall put the covenant which I shall give you into the ark.
17verseYou shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two and a half cubits shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its width.
18verseYou shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.
19verseMake one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end. You shall make the cherubim on its two ends of one piece with the mercy seat.
20verseThe cherubim shall spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat.
21verseYou shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I will give you.
22verseThere I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the covenant, all that I command you for the children of Israel.
23verse“You shall make a table of acacia wood. Its length shall be two cubits, and its width a cubit, and its height one and a half cubits.
24verseYou shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it.
25verseYou shall make a rim of a hand width around it. You shall make a golden molding on its rim around it.
26verseYou shall make four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that are on its four feet.
27verseThe rings shall be close to the rim, for places for the poles to carry the table.
28verseYou shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.
29verseYou shall make its dishes, its spoons, its ladles, and its bowls with which to pour out offerings. You shall make them of pure gold.
30verseYou shall set bread of the presence on the table before me always.
31verse“You shall make a lamp stand of pure gold. The lamp stand shall be made of hammered work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it.
32verseThere shall be six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lamp stand out of its one side, and three branches of the lamp stand out of its other side;
33versethree cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower; and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a flower, so for the six branches going out of the lamp stand;
34verseand in the lamp stand four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers;
35verseand a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of the lamp stand.
36verseTheir buds and their branches shall be of one piece with it, all of it one beaten work of pure gold.
37verseYou shall make its lamps seven, and they shall light its lamps to give light to the space in front of it.
38verseIts snuffers and its snuff dishes shall be of pure gold.
39verseIt shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these accessories.
40verseSee that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain.
The Meaning of the Sabbatical Year (Verses 1–7)
The sabbatical year commands that the land rest every seventh year. Israel must not sow fields or prune vineyards in the normal way. What grows of itself may provide food for the people, servants, hired workers, resident foreigners, livestock, and wild animals. The law teaches trust in God’s provision and respect for the land as God’s possession.
Proclaiming the Jubilee (Verses 8–22)
The Jubilee is proclaimed in the fiftieth year, after seven cycles of seven years. Liberty is proclaimed, Israelite debt-servants are released, and ancestral land that had been sold returns to the family line. This system prevents permanent loss of inheritance and reminds Israel that they live as tenants under God, the true owner of the land.
Regulations Concerning Land and Property (Verses 23–34)
Land may be sold, but not as a permanent possession, because the land belongs to the LORD. The price of land is calculated according to the number of harvest years until the Jubilee. The chapter also distinguishes rules for houses, villages, walled cities, and Levitical property.
Caring for the Poor and Those in Servitude (Verses 35–55)
Israel is commanded to support an impoverished brother, not to charge him interest, and not to treat fellow Israelites as permanent slaves. If an Israelite becomes poor and sells himself as a servant, he is to be treated with dignity and released according to the Jubilee principle. The chapter grounds economic mercy in the memory that God redeemed Israel from Egypt.
Reflection Points
- God’s rule extends to land, work, money, debt, rest, and social relationships.
- Consider how restoration, protection of the vulnerable, and freedom from oppressive systems might be practiced today.
- The Jubilee points to grace, release, and a new beginning for those who cannot restore themselves.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Reflect on whether I recognize my time, possessions, work, and abilities as entrusted by God rather than owned absolutely by me.
- Look for practical ways to help marginalized neighbors and participate in restoration rather than exploitation.
- Practice rhythms of rest and renewal instead of living only by accumulation and competition.
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