Leviticus 25:3
For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about farming; it’s about a rhythm of work and rest that applies to all the land's cultivation, not just fields and vineyards. The Hebrew word for "field" here is broad, encompassing all agricultural endeavors, reminding us that God's instructions for rest extend to every part of our work and provision. This deepens the command beyond simple crop cycles to a holistic approach to living off the land.
This passage kicks off a discussion about a special year of rest for the land, following six years of normal farming and harvesting. It's setting the stage for the Sabbatical Year, a time when the land itself is to cease producing and its produce is to be freely available to all. This command is part of a larger framework God is giving Israel about how to live in and manage the Promised Land.
Did you know God built cycles of work and rest into the very fabric of creation? Leviticus reveals a divine pattern for how we should engage with the land and our labor.
This passage isn't just about farming; it's about understanding God's design for work. For six years, the Israelites were to diligently sow, prune, and harvest. This speaks to our call to be fruitful and productive in our lives, using our skills and resources wisely. God commanded hard work, not idleness. But this work was always to be within a framework that acknowledged His ultimate sovereignty over the land and its bounty.
The commands about sowing and harvesting aren't just agricultural rules. They point to a deeper principle of trust and reliance on God's provision.
While the verse details the six years of diligent work, it's crucial to remember this is the preface to the Sabbath Year (the seventh year). The intense labor of the six years was meant to produce enough to sustain the people through the mandated rest of the seventh year, when the land would lie fallow. This teaches a profound lesson in faith: God's people are called to work hard, but also to trust that He will provide, even when the normal rhythms of production cease. It’s about living as 'tenants' of His land, not absolute owners.
Understand the original words
zamar · Hebrew Verb
To cut back or trim branches of vines or trees to encourage growth and fruitfulness, representing the active, productive labor of humanity in stewarding God's creation.
zara · Hebrew Verb
To plant seed or scatter grain in the ground for crops, representing the human effort required to cooperate with God's design for earth's productivity.
This passage is directly referenced by commentators and speaks to the practice of letting the land rest every seventh year, similar to the principle outlined in Leviticus 25:3.
Matthew 6:25-33This teaching from Jesus encourages believers not to worry about earthly provisions, aligning with the trust in God's provision that the Sabbatical year system in Leviticus presupposed.
Hebrews 4:3-10This passage explains the concept of entering God's rest, drawing a parallel between the Old Testament Sabbath and the spiritual rest believers find in Christ, echoing the rest commanded in Leviticus 25.
2 Corinthians 9:6This verse speaks about sowing and reaping in a spiritual context, reminding us that God provides abundantly for those who give generously, connecting to the agricultural themes of provision and faithful stewardship.
ellicottLeviticus 25:3: "Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;"
(3) Six years thou shalt sow. —See Exodus 23:10 . The fruit thereof.—That is, of the land which is mentioned in the preceding verse, and which includes fields, vineyards, olive-gardens, &c. (See Exodus 23:11.)
gillLeviticus 25:3: "Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;"
Six years thou shalt sow thy field,.... Under which is comprehended everything relating to agriculture, both before and after sowing, as dunging the land, ploughing and harrowing it, treading the corn, reaping and gathering it in; see Exodus 23:10 , and six years thou shall prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; which is not to be restrained to vineya…
This verse isn't just about farming; it’s about a rhythm of work and rest that applies to all the land's cultivation, not just fields and vineyards. The Hebrew word for "field" here is broad, encompassing all agricultural endeavors, reminding us that God's instructions for rest extend to every part of our work and provision. This deepens the command beyond simple crop cycles to a holistic approach to living off the land.
This passage kicks off a discussion about a special year of rest for the land, following six years of normal farming and harvesting. It's setting the stage for the Sabbatical Year, a time when the land itself is to cease producing and its produce is to be freely available to all. This command is part of a larger framework God is giving Israel about how to live in and manage the Promised Land.
This passage kicks off a discussion about a special year of rest for the land, following six years of normal farming and harvesting. It's setting the stage for the Sabbatical Year, a time when the land itself is to cease producing and its produce is to be freely available to all. This command is part of a larger framework God is giving Israel about how to live in and manage the Promised Land.
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"For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits," — This verse isn't just about farming; it’s about a rhythm of work and rest that applies to all the land's cultivation, not just fields and vineyards. The Hebrew word for "field" here is broad, encom…
