Leviticus 25:16

Arabic Bible ERV 2009

كُلَّما كانَتِ السَّنَواتُ الباقِيَةُ أكثَرَ يَرتَفِعُ سِعرُ الأرْضِ، وَكُلَّما قَلَّ عَدَدُ السَّنَواتِ يَنخَفِضُ سِعرُ الأرْضِ، لِأنَّهُ يَبِيعُ عَدَدَ المَحاصِيلِ لَكَ.

What Does This Mean?

This verse from Leviticus explains how to set the price of land based on the number of years until the Jubilee year. The seller is essentially selling the future harvests, so the price should reflect the time left until the land reverts back. The more years left, the higher the price; fewer years, lower price.

Explained for Children

Imagine you're selling a lemonade stand. If you can keep the stand for many more days, it's worth more money. But if it's only for a few days, it's worth less. That's what this verse is saying about selling land.

Historical Background

The Book of Leviticus was compiled around the time of Moses, likely between 1446 and 1406 BC, and it was written for the Israelites as a guide to living a holy life. This verse is part of instructions given to regulate land ownership and ensure fairness among people.

Living It Out Today

Today, this principle can be applied when selling a business or a property where the time left before a contract expires or a significant event occurs should influence the price. For example, if you're selling a lease with many years left, you can ask for more than if it's almost over.

Topics

• land laws
• fairness
• Jubilee
• pricing
• property rights
• community

Related Verses

• Exodus 21:5-6
• Deuteronomy 15:12-18
• Leviticus 25:23
• Ezekiel 46:17
• Luke 19:12-27

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Jubilee year?

The Jubilee year is a special year in the Hebrew calendar, occurring every 50 years, during which land was to be returned to its original owners and debts were forgiven.

Why is the number of years important in pricing?

The number of years until the Jubilee affects the price because it determines how long the buyer can benefit from the land's produce before it reverts back to the original owner.

How does this verse relate to modern property laws?

This verse reflects principles of fairness and equity in valuing property based on its remaining productive years, which can still be relevant in real estate valuation today.

What was the purpose of these land laws?

These laws aimed to prevent permanent loss of land by any family and to ensure a more equitable distribution of wealth among the Israelite community.