Leviticus 25:4 in Hebrew
וּבַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗ת שַׁבַּ֤ת שַׁבָּתֹון֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָאָ֔רֶץ שַׁבָּ֖ת לַיהוָ֑ה שָֽׂדְךָ֙ לֹ֣א תִזְרָ֔ע וְכַרְמְךָ֖ לֹ֥א תִזְמֹֽר׃
Introduction to שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתֹון
Leviticus 25:4 introduces the Sabbatical Year (שְׁמִטָּה, Shemittah), in which the land is to rest every seven years. The key phrase in this verse is:
שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתֹון יִהְיֶה לָאָרֶץ – “A Sabbath of complete rest shall be for the land.”
The repetition of שַׁבַּת (Shabbat) and שַׁבָּתֹון (Shabbaton) emphasizes the sacred nature of this rest.
Understanding שַׁבַּת and שַׁבָּתֹון
1. שַׁבַּת (Shabbat) – “Sabbath”
– Derived from the root שׁ־ב־ת (sh-b-t), meaning “to cease, rest, or stop work.”
– Often refers to weekly Sabbath rest, but here it applies to the land itself.
2. שַׁבָּתֹון (Shabbaton) – “Complete Rest”
– A strengthened form of שַׁבַּת, adding emphasis.
– Used elsewhere for special Sabbaths, like Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16:31).
The Function of שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתֹון in Leviticus 25:4
1. Emphasizing the Holiness of the Sabbatical Year
– The doubling of שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתֹון underscores that this is not just a rest but a sacred observance.
– The land itself observes a “Sabbath”, showing that rest extends beyond human labor.
2. Connecting to the Weekly Sabbath
– Just as people must rest every seventh day, the land must rest every seventh year.
– The parallel suggests that creation itself follows a divine rhythm.
3. Significance of שַׁבָּת לַיהוָה
– שַׁבָּת לַיהוָה – “a Sabbath to the LORD”
– The rest is not merely agricultural but an act of obedience and trust in God.
The Meaning of שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתֹון in Leviticus 25:4
The phrase שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתֹון in Leviticus 25:4 conveys deep theological and agricultural significance. It reinforces the divine pattern of rest, showing that even the land is subject to God’s sacred order.
This verse teaches that true provision comes from God, and trusting in Him means allowing the land to rest as an act of faith.
