Jubilee Year
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Jubilee Year in the Bible?
The Jubilee Year functioned as a periodic economic reset occurring every fiftieth year, following seven cycles of seven years. During this period, ancestral lands reverted to their original families to prevent permanent alienation of property, and Hebrew slaves were granted immediate freedom without compensation.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the Jubilee Year clarifies the biblical emphasis on land as a divine trust rather than absolute private property, revealing how the text balances social equity with agricultural sustainability and underscores the theological concept of ultimate restoration.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Jubilee Year in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Jubilee Year clarify?
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.