What is the meaning of Leviticus 25:16? You shall increase the price “You shall increase the price…” (Leviticus 25:16) brings us straight into God’s instructions for land transactions among Israelites. The land itself never truly changed ownership; God declared, “The land is Mine, for you are strangers and sojourners with Me” (Leviticus 25:23). So when someone “sold” land, he was really leasing its produce until the next Jubilee. • The command prevents taking advantage of a neighbor. It aligns with “You are not to oppress one another” (Leviticus 25:17) and echoes the broader call to honesty in commerce seen in Proverbs 11:1 and Deuteronomy 25:13–15. • By tying price to time, God protected both parties: the seller received fair value, and the buyer avoided overpaying for what would eventually revert. In proportion to a greater number of years “…in proportion to a greater number of years…” clarifies how to calculate that fair value. The longer the span until the Jubilee, the more harvests the buyer will enjoy, so the higher the cost. • This built-in sliding scale reflects justice similar to the daily-wage principle in Matthew 20:1-15: compensation matches opportunity. • It also teaches stewardship—recognizing future yield, planning ahead (Proverbs 21:5), and honoring God’s timetable rather than personal gain. Or decrease it in proportion to a lesser number of years “…or decrease it in proportion to a lesser number of years…” balances the previous statement. As Jubilee approaches, fewer harvests remain, so the price must drop. • This mirrors God’s concern for the poor; a seller under financial strain would not be further burdened by an inflated price (see Leviticus 25:35-37). • It embodies the “love your neighbor as yourself” ethic established in Leviticus 19:18 and reaffirmed by Jesus in Mark 12:31. For he is selling you a given number of harvests “…for he is selling you a given number of harvests.” Here God explains the rationale: what is changing hands is not permanent land ownership but the right to reap its produce until Jubilee. • The phrase keeps the arrangement agricultural and practical, tying worth to tangible yields (compare Deuteronomy 15:1-3 on debt release cycles). • It underscores God’s sovereignty over creation. Just as manna fell daily (Exodus 16:4), harvests belong to Him, and people manage them temporarily (Psalm 24:1). summary Leviticus 25:16 anchors land deals to Jubilee, ensuring righteous transactions. Price rises with more years and drops with fewer because only the upcoming harvests—not the land itself—are being transferred. The verse blends fairness, compassion, and acknowledgment that ultimate ownership rests with God, guiding His people to reflect His justice in every economic decision. |
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