What is the meaning of Leviticus 25:6?

Whatever the land yields during the Sabbath year

God ordains a full year of rest for the fields (Leviticus 25:4). During that year the Israelites are neither to sow nor reap for profit, yet the land will still “yield” on its own. This spontaneous produce is His promise of provision—similar to how He supplied manna in Exodus 16:22–30 and multiplied oil and flour for the widow in 1 Kings 17:8–16. The earth belongs to the Lord (Psalm 24:1), so He reserves the right to let it grow without human effort and still feed His people.

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shall be food for you

The Sabbath year was not about starvation or waste; it was about trust. Whatever sprouted naturally was “food,” not forbidden fruit. God’s people could gather enough for their daily needs, echoing the principle of Exodus 16:4, “I may test them to see whether they will walk in My law.” Dependence on the Lord’s schedule, not their own, kept greed in check and fostered gratitude (Matthew 6:25–34).

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for yourself

Each household head first ensured his own family’s sustenance (1 Timothy 5:8). Yet “yourself” here never meant hoarding. Just as Proverbs 30:8–9 urges “daily bread,” the Sabbath year taught contentment: take what you need, leave the rest.

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your manservant and maidservant

Employees and servants were to share equally in God’s bounty. This safeguards the dignity of laborers, reflecting Deuteronomy 24:14–15, which forbids oppressing hired workers. In the Sabbath year all social tiers stand on level ground before their Provider.

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the hired hand or foreigner who stays with you

God’s compassion extends beyond Israel. Resident aliens and day-laborers were to eat freely from the fields, paralleling the gleaning laws in Leviticus 19:9–10 and Ruth 2:2–17. By opening the pantry of the land to outsiders, Israel displayed the character of the Lord who “shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34–35).

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summary

Leviticus 25:6 reassures that during the Sabbath year God Himself supplies food through the untended land. Every person—family, servant, worker, or stranger—is invited to partake equally. The verse calls believers to rest from striving, trust in divine provision, practice generosity, and bear witness to God’s inclusive care.