Leviticus 25:52
And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubile, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption.
Leviticus 25:52
This verse continues the mechanics of redemption if “but few years” remain before the Year of Jubilee. The seller’s value is recalculated not by a fixed rate but proportionally to the remaining time, ensuring the debt or bondage does not overtake the person’s life expectancy. The surrounding verses articulate a compassionate approach to servitude and release, balancing order with mercy. In the ancient economy, precise reckonings prevented abuse and underscored that freedom remains the ultimate aim of God’s law. The instruction also reflects a pastoral concern for families who might otherwise stay bound for generations. By tying redemption to the calendar of Jubilee, God’s people are reminded that time is a gift from the Creator and should serve healing rather than perpetual subjugation.
The key theological theme here is restorative justice calibrated to human finitude. God’s law acknowledges mortality and seasons, ensuring redemption respects life’s arc. It preserves dignity and family continuity, preventing a life sentence of servitude. It also upholds provision and faithfulness: God remains the guardian who funds the release through fair calculation, signaling that the economy exists for human flourishing within covenantal faithfulness.
In today’s terms, think of systems that ensure proportional relief when someone has a few years left to recover: transitional support for those nearing release from financial bondage, reduced interest, or time-limited forgiveness. If you’re a workplace manager or lender, consider flexible repayment plans that honor the person’s timeline, avoiding predatory terms that swallow the remainder of someone’s career. For families, this could translate into prioritizing debt counseling, child-support accommodations during crises, or helping a family member re-enter housing with manageable terms. The core practice: treat people as persons with futures, not debts to be extracted.
Cross-References: Leviticus 25:51; Leviticus 25:53; Deuteronomy 15:12; Exodus 21:2-6; Nehemiah 5:1-13