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Leviticus 25:20 - Trusting Hashem's Sabbatical provision?

Leviticus 25:20 - ויקרא 25:20

Hebrew Text

וְכִי תֹאמְרוּ מַה־נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת הֵן לֹא נִזְרָע וְלֹא נֶאֱסֹף אֶת־תְּבוּאָתֵנוּ׃

English Translation

And if you shall say, What shall we eat in the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase:

Transliteration

Vechi tomru ma nochal bashana hashvi'it hen lo nizra velo ne'esof et tevu'ateinu.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְכִ֣י תֹאמְר֔וּ מַה־נֹּאכַ֖ל בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑ת הֵ֚ן לֹ֣א נִזְרָ֔ע וְלֹ֥א נֶאֱסֹ֖ף אֶת־תְּבוּאָתֵֽנוּ׃
וְכִ֣י תֹאמְר֔וּ מַה־נֹּאכַ֖ל בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑ת הֵ֚ן לֹ֣א נִזְרָ֔ע וְלֹ֥א נֶאֱסֹ֖ף אֶת־תְּבוּאָתֵֽנוּ׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

The verse (Vayikra 25:20) appears in the context of the mitzvah of Shemittah (the Sabbatical year), during which the Torah commands the Jewish people to refrain from agricultural work in the Land of Israel. This includes not sowing, pruning, or harvesting crops in a typical manner. The verse addresses a natural concern: how will the people sustain themselves if they cannot work the land?

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Vayikra 25:20) explains that this question reflects a lack of trust in Hashem's promise. The Torah anticipates this doubt and reassures the people that the sixth year’s harvest will be so abundant (ברכת השנה השישית—"the blessing of the sixth year") that it will suffice for three years—the sixth, seventh, and eighth years—until new crops can be planted and harvested after Shemittah.

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (Hilchot Shemittah v’Yovel 4:1) emphasizes that observing Shemittah is a test of faith. He notes that those who keep the mitzvah properly will not lack sustenance, as Hashem guarantees their needs. This aligns with the broader principle of bitachon (trust in Divine providence).

Midrashic Insights

  • The Torat Kohanim (Sifra, Behar 1:7) teaches that this verse highlights human nature to worry about material needs, even when commanded by Hashem. The response—that the sixth year will provide abundantly—demonstrates that mitzvot are not burdens but opportunities for Divine blessing.
  • The Midrash Tanchuma (Behar 4) compares this to a king who assures his servant that if he follows orders, his needs will be met, reinforcing the idea that obedience to Hashem brings sustenance.

Halachic Implications

The Chazon Ish (Shevi’it 18:4) discusses the practical trust required in observing Shemittah, noting that historically, those who kept it faithfully experienced miraculous provisions. This serves as a lesson in prioritizing spiritual commitments over material anxieties.

Spiritual Lesson

The verse teaches that emunah (faith) and bitachon are central to Jewish life. By relinquishing control over the land, one acknowledges that sustenance ultimately comes from Hashem. This idea is echoed in Tehillim (37:25): "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor their children begging for bread."

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Arachin 29a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the Sabbatical year (Shemittah) and the concerns people might have about sustenance during that year.
📖 Sifra Behar, Chapter 1
The verse is cited in the context of discussing the laws of the Sabbatical year and God's promise to provide for those who observe it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Leviticus 25:20 mean?
A: Leviticus 25:20 addresses the concern people might have about what they will eat during the Shemitah (Sabbatical) year, when farming is forbidden. The Torah reassures that God will provide sustenance even when they cannot plant or harvest.
Q: Why is the Shemitah year important in Judaism?
A: The Shemitah year is a commandment from the Torah (Leviticus 25) that teaches trust in God, social equality (by letting the poor eat from the land), and ecological sustainability by letting the land rest. Rashi explains that observing Shemitah demonstrates faith that God provides our needs.
Q: How did people survive during the Shemitah year if they couldn't farm?
A: The Torah promises (Leviticus 25:21) that God will bless the sixth year’s harvest to provide enough for three years—until the eighth year’s crops grow. The Talmud (Taanit 25a) recounts stories of miracles where stored grain lasted miraculously long during Shemitah.
Q: Does Shemitah apply today?
A: Yes, Orthodox Jews in Israel observe Shemitah today based on Torah law. The Mishnah (Shevi'it) and later halachic authorities (Rambam, Hilchot Shemitah) detail modern applications, including special leniencies (heter mechirah) for certain agricultural situations.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Leviticus 25:20?
A: This verse teaches bitachon (trust in God)—that material success comes from divine blessing, not just human effort. The Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 1:1) compares this to a worker who trusts their employer to provide wages, showing how we must rely on God’s promises.