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Leviticus 25:8 - Counting toward Jubilee's redemption?

Leviticus 25:8 - ויקרא 25:8

Hebrew Text

וְסָפַרְתָּ לְךָ שֶׁבַע שַׁבְּתֹת שָׁנִים שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים וְהָיוּ לְךָ יְמֵי שֶׁבַע שַׁבְּתֹת הַשָּׁנִים תֵּשַׁע וְאַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה׃

English Translation

And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years to thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to thee forty nine years.

Transliteration

Vesafarta lekha sheva shabtot shanim sheva shanim sheva pe'amim vehayu lekha yemei sheva shabtot hashanim tesha va'arba'im shana.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְסָפַרְתָּ֣ לְךָ֗ שֶׁ֚בַע שַׁבְּתֹ֣ת שָׁנִ֔ים שֶׁ֥בַע שָׁנִ֖ים שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֑ים וְהָי֣וּ לְךָ֗ יְמֵי֙ שֶׁ֚בַע שַׁבְּתֹ֣ת הַשָּׁנִ֔ים תֵּ֥שַׁע וְאַרְבָּעִ֖ים שָׁנָֽה׃
וְסָפַרְתָּ֣ לְךָ֗ שֶׁ֚בַע שַׁבְּתֹ֣ת שָׁנִ֔ים שֶׁ֥בַע שָׁנִ֖ים שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֑ים וְהָי֣וּ לְךָ֗ יְמֵי֙ שֶׁ֚בַע שַׁבְּתֹ֣ת הַשָּׁנִ֔ים תֵּ֥שַׁע וְאַרְבָּעִ֖ים שָׁנָֽה׃

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Parasha Commentary

The Mitzvah of Counting Shemitah Cycles

The verse (Vayikra 25:8) commands the counting of seven Shemitah cycles (seven sets of seven years) leading up to the Yovel (Jubilee) year. This mitzvah is unique in that it involves counting years rather than days, as with Sefirat HaOmer. The Rambam (Hilchot Shemitah V'Yovel 10:1) explains that this counting was the responsibility of the Sanhedrin, who would formally declare each Shemitah and Yovel year.

The Significance of Seven

Rashi notes that the repetition of "seven" (שֶׁבַע שַׁבְּתֹת שָׁנִים שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים) emphasizes the completeness of this temporal cycle. The number seven represents natural order (as in the seven days of creation), while the progression to forty-nine (7x7) represents a higher level of spiritual completion before the Yovel year.

Connection to Shabbat and Creation

The term "שַׁבְּתֹת" (sabbaths) links these years to the concept of Shabbat. Just as Shabbat sanctifies time weekly, the Shemitah and Yovel years sanctify agricultural time. The Sforno explains that this counting reminds us that the Land's productivity comes from Hashem, not merely human labor.

The Forty-Nine Year Count

  • The Torat Kohanim teaches that this counting parallels the forty-nine days between Pesach and Shavuot - both are periods of anticipation leading to revelation (Yovel representing freedom, just as Shavuot commemorates Matan Torah).
  • The Kli Yakar notes that forty-nine years represents the complete development of human society before the reset of Yovel, when land returns to its original owners and slaves go free.

Practical Halachic Considerations

The Rambam (Hilchot Shemitah V'Yovel 10:4-5) details that this counting was done publicly and that the Yovel year was only observed when all twelve tribes were living in Eretz Yisrael. The Minchat Chinuch (Mitzvah 330) discusses whether this mitzvah applies today without the Sanhedrin and with most tribes not residing in Israel.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Arakhin 29b
The verse is discussed in the context of the laws of the Jubilee year and the counting of the years leading up to it.
📖 Rosh Hashanah 8b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the proper way to count the years for the Sabbatical and Jubilee cycles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Leviticus 25:8 mean?
A: Leviticus 25:8 instructs us to count seven cycles of seven years (totaling 49 years), leading up to the 50th year, which is called the Yovel (Jubilee) year. This is part of the laws concerning the Sabbatical (Shmita) and Jubilee years, where the land rests, debts are forgiven, and slaves are freed according to Jewish law.
Q: Why is counting the years until Yovel important?
A: Counting the years until Yovel is a mitzvah (commandment) that reminds us of Hashem's ownership of the land and our temporary stewardship over it. The Rambam (Hilchot Shemita v’Yovel 10:1-2) explains that this cycle teaches trust in Hashem, social justice, and the importance of resetting economic imbalances every 50 years.
Q: How do we apply the counting of Yovel today?
A: Although the full laws of Yovel currently do not apply without the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple), we still count the years in the Jewish calendar to maintain awareness of this mitzvah. The Talmud (Arachin 32b) discusses the conditions for Yovel’s observance, which depend on the majority of Jews living in the Land of Israel under Jewish sovereignty.
Q: What is the connection between Shmita and Yovel?
A: Shmita occurs every 7 years (when the land rests), while Yovel follows seven Shmita cycles (49 years). The Torah (Leviticus 25:1-22) links them as agricultural and social laws emphasizing faith in Hashem. Rashi explains that Yovel shares Shmita’s laws (land rest, produce is ownerless) but adds the freeing of slaves and land returning to its original owners.
Q: How is the 50th year (Yovel) sanctified?
A: The 50th year (Yovel) is sanctified by sounding the shofar on Yom Kippur (Leviticus 25:9), proclaiming freedom. The Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 29:10) teaches that this symbolizes spiritual liberation, just as the shofar on Rosh Hashanah calls us to repentance. It is a time to reset relationships with Hashem, others, and the land.