Leviticus 25:4,5 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

A sabbath of rest to the land They were neither to do any work about it, nor expect any harvest from it. All yearly labours were to be intermitted in the seventh year, as much as daily labours on the seventh day. Of its own accord From the grains that fell out of the ears the last reaping time. Thou shalt not reap That is, as thy own peculiarly, but only so as others may reap it with thee, for present food. Undressed Not cut off by thee, but suffered to grow for the use of the poor. Proselytes and servants, rich and poor, had all an equal privilege: one man's beast was to graze as freely as another's; all were to live at rest and enjoy the comforts of this law, the merciful appointment of Heaven. It is a year of rest unto the land This seems to have been one purpose of the institution, that the land might lie fallow, in order to recruit its strength.

Leviticus 25:4-5

4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.

5 That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land.