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Leviticus 25:6 - Sabbatical bounty for all

Leviticus 25:6 - ויקרא 25:6

Hebrew Text

וְהָיְתָה שַׁבַּת הָאָרֶץ לָכֶם לְאָכְלָה לְךָ וּלְעַבְדְּךָ וְלַאֲמָתֶךָ וְלִשְׂכִירְךָ וּלְתוֹשָׁבְךָ הַגָּרִים עִמָּךְ׃

English Translation

And the sabbath produce of the land shall be food for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourns with thee,

Transliteration

Vehayta shabat ha'aretz lakhem le'okhla lekha ule'avdekha vela'amatekha velis'khirkha uletoshavekha haggarim imakh.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְ֠הָיְתָ֠ה שַׁבַּ֨ת הָאָ֤רֶץ לָכֶם֙ לְאׇכְלָ֔ה לְךָ֖ וּלְעַבְדְּךָ֣ וְלַאֲמָתֶ֑ךָ וְלִשְׂכִֽירְךָ֙ וּלְתוֹשָׁ֣בְךָ֔ הַגָּרִ֖ים עִמָּֽךְ׃
וְ֠הָיְתָ֠ה שַׁבַּ֨ת הָאָ֤רֶץ לָכֶם֙ לְאׇכְלָ֔ה לְךָ֖ וּלְעַבְדְּךָ֣ וְלַאֲמָתֶ֑ךָ וְלִשְׂכִֽירְךָ֙ וּלְתוֹשָׁ֣בְךָ֔ הַגָּרִ֖ים עִמָּֽךְ׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context in Vayikra (Leviticus 25:6)

This verse appears in the context of the laws of Shemittah (the Sabbatical Year), where the land of Israel is to lie fallow every seventh year. The Torah emphasizes that during this year, the produce that grows on its own is not privately owned but is designated as communal sustenance for all inhabitants of the land.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) comments that the phrase "שַׁבַּת הָאָרֶץ" (Sabbath of the land) refers to the produce that grows during the Shemittah year, which is sanctified like the Sabbath. He explains that this produce is permitted for consumption ("לָכֶם לְאָכְלָה") but not for commercial trade or waste. The inclusion of servants, maids, hired workers, and strangers underscores the egalitarian nature of Shemittah—emphasizing that all people, regardless of social status, have equal rights to this sanctified produce.

Rambam's (Maimonides') Perspective

In Hilchot Shemittah V'Yovel (Laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee Years 4:1), the Rambam elaborates that the Shemittah produce is ownerless (hefker), available to all. He stresses that the verse teaches an ethical obligation: one must not hoard the produce for oneself but must share it generously with dependents and strangers alike, reflecting the divine intent that the land's bounty sustains everyone equally during this sacred year.

Midrashic Insights

The Torat Kohanim (Sifra) links this verse to the broader principle of divine providence: just as Hashem provided manna in the wilderness to all Israelites equally, the Shemittah produce is a reminder that sustenance ultimately comes from HaShem. The inclusion of "תוֹשָׁב" (resident stranger) highlights the Torah's universal compassion, extending this sacred right even to non-Jews living among the Jewish people.

Halachic Implications

  • Equal Access: The Talmud (Gittin 59b) derives from this verse that during Shemittah, all may gather produce freely, and landowners may not restrict access.
  • Prohibition of Hoarding: The Chazon Ish (Shevi'it 14:4) rules that one may not collect Shemittah produce in quantities exceeding household needs, ensuring equitable distribution.
  • Kedushat Shevi'it: The produce retains holiness and must be treated with reverence—e.g., not wasted or fed to animals unnecessarily (Rambam, Shemittah 5:3).

Ethical Teachings

The verse underscores the Torah's vision of social justice: the land's Sabbath is a time to emulate HaShem's generosity by abolishing hierarchies of ownership. As the Kli Yakar (Rabbi Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz) notes, this law dismantles economic disparity, teaching that material possessions are temporary trusts from G-d, to be shared with humility and gratitude.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sukkah 40a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the laws of Shemittah (the Sabbatical year) and who is permitted to eat from the produce of the land during that year.
📖 Gittin 59b
The verse is cited in a broader discussion about the rights of various classes of people, including servants and strangers, to partake in the produce of the Sabbatical year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does 'the sabbath produce of the land' refer to in Leviticus 25:6?
A: The 'sabbath produce of the land' refers to the crops that grow naturally during the Sabbatical year (Shmita), when the land is left fallow and not actively farmed. According to Rashi, this verse teaches that whatever grows on its own during the seventh year is permitted for everyone to eat, not just the landowner.
Q: Why does the verse mention servants, maids, and strangers in relation to the Sabbatical year produce?
A: The Torah emphasizes that during the Sabbatical year, the produce is equally available to all—landowners, servants, hired workers, and even strangers (gerim). The Rambam explains that this teaches the principle of social equality, showing that in this holy year, all people have equal rights to the land's bounty.
Q: How does the Sabbatical year (Shmita) apply today in Jewish law?
A: In Orthodox Jewish practice, the laws of Shmita still apply in the Land of Israel today. Farmers must let the land rest, and produce that grows on its own is treated as hefker (ownerless), available to all. Contemporary halachic authorities, like the Chazon Ish, provide detailed guidelines on how to observe Shmita in modern agriculture.
Q: What is the deeper lesson behind the Sabbatical year's laws in Leviticus 25:6?
A: The Midrash teaches that the Sabbatical year reminds us that the land ultimately belongs to Hashem, and we are merely its caretakers. By letting the land rest and sharing its produce freely, we strengthen our emunah (faith) in Divine providence and practice generosity, key values in Jewish tradition.