Leviticus 25:29
New International Version
“’Anyone who sells a house in a walled city retains the right of redemption a full year after its sale. During that time the seller may redeem it.

New Living Translation
“Anyone who sells a house inside a walled town has the right to buy it back for a full year after its sale. During that year, the seller retains the right to buy it back.

English Standard Version
“If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, he may redeem it within a year of its sale. For a full year he shall have the right of redemption.

Berean Standard Bible
If a man sells a house in a walled city, he retains his right of redemption until a full year after its sale; during that year it may be redeemed.

King James Bible
And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year may he redeem it.

New King James Version
‘If a man sells a house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year he may redeem it.

New American Standard Bible
‘Likewise, if a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, then his redemption right remains valid until a full year after its sale; his right of redemption lasts a full year.

NASB 1995
‘Likewise, if a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, then his redemption right remains valid until a full year from its sale; his right of redemption lasts a full year.

NASB 1977
‘Likewise, if a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, then his redemption right remains valid until a full year from its sale; his right of redemption lasts a full year.

Legacy Standard Bible
‘Likewise, if a man sells a house for habitation in a walled city, then his redemption right remains valid until a full year from its sale; his right of redemption lasts a full year.

Amplified Bible
‘If a man sells a house in a walled city, then his right of redemption remains valid for a full year after its sale; his right of redemption lasts a full year.

Christian Standard Bible
“If a man sells a residence in a walled city, his right of redemption will last until a year has passed after its sale; his right of redemption will last a year.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If a man sells a residence in a walled city, his right of redemption will last until a year has passed after its sale; his right of redemption will last a year.

American Standard Version
And if a man sell a dwelling-house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; for a full year shall he have the right of redemption.

Contemporary English Version
If you sell a house in a walled city, you have only one year in which to buy it back.

English Revised Version
And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; for a full year shall he have the right of redemption.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"If anyone sells a home in a walled city, for one year after selling it he has the right to buy it back. He may buy it back only within that time.

Good News Translation
If you sell a house in a walled city, you have the right to buy it back during the first full year from the date of sale.

International Standard Version
"If a person sells a residential house in a walled city, he is to redeem it within the year in which it was sold. He may have right to its redemption for a full year.

Majority Standard Bible
If a man sells a house in a walled city, he retains his right of redemption until a full year after its sale; during that year it may be redeemed.

NET Bible
"'If a man sells a residential house in a walled city, its right of redemption must extend until one full year from its sale; its right of redemption must extend to a full calendar year.

New Heart English Bible
"'If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it has been sold. For a full year he shall have the right of redemption.

Webster's Bible Translation
And if a man shall sell a dwelling-house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold: within a full year may he redeem it.

World English Bible
“‘If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it has been sold. For a full year he shall have the right of redemption.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And when a man sells a dwelling-house [in] a walled city, then his right of redemption has been until the completion of a year from its selling; his right of redemption is [during these] days;

Young's Literal Translation
And when a man selleth a dwelling-house in a walled city, then hath his right of redemption been until the completion of a year from its selling; days -- is his right of redemption;

Smith's Literal Translation
And when a man shall sell the house of dwelling in a walled city, its redemption of it shall be till it was completed: a year of days from its selling shall be its redemption.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that selleth a house within the walls of a city, shall have the liberty to redeem it, until one year be expired:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whoever will have sold a house within the walls of a city shall have the freedom to redeem it, until one year has been completed.

New American Bible
When someone sells a dwelling in a walled town, it can be redeemed up to a full year after its sale—the redemption period is one year.

New Revised Standard Version
If anyone sells a dwelling house in a walled city, it may be redeemed until a year has elapsed since its sale; the right of redemption shall be one year.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year he may redeem it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if a man will sell a house, a dwelling of a city that has a wall, it shall be his redemption until the year of his sale is finished; his redemption shall be from that time to the time.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And if a man sell a dwelling-house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; for a full year shall he have the right of redemption.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if any one should sell an inhabited house in a walled city, then there shall be the ransom of it, until the time is fulfilled: its time of ransom shall be a full year.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Law of Redemption
28But if he cannot obtain enough to repay him, what he sold will remain in possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. In the Jubilee, however, it is to be released, so that he may return to his property. 29If a man sells a house in a walled city, he retains his right of redemption until a full year after its sale; during that year it may be redeemed. 30If it is not redeemed by the end of a full year, then the house in the walled city is permanently transferred to its buyer and his descendants. It is not to be released in the Jubilee.…

Cross References
Nehemiah 5:3-5
Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” / Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. / We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

Jeremiah 32:7-15
Behold! Hanamel, the son of your uncle Shallum, is coming to you to say, ‘Buy for yourself my field in Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it.’ / Then, as the LORD had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and urged me, ‘Please buy my field in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for you own the right of inheritance and redemption. Buy it for yourself.’” Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. / So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and I weighed out seventeen shekels of silver. ...

Ruth 4:1-10
Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along, and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. / Then Boaz took ten of the elders of the city and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. / And he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech. ...

Ezekiel 7:12-13
The time has come; the day has arrived. Let the buyer not rejoice and the seller not mourn, for wrath is upon the whole multitude. / The seller will surely not recover what he sold while both remain alive. For the vision concerning the whole multitude will not be revoked, and because of their iniquity, not one of them will preserve his life.

Isaiah 5:8
Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field until no place is left and you live alone in the land.

1 Kings 21:3
But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”

Numbers 36:7-9
No inheritance in Israel may be transferred from tribe to tribe, because each of the Israelites is to retain the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. / Every daughter who possesses an inheritance from any Israelite tribe must marry within a clan of the tribe of her father, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of his fathers. / No inheritance may be transferred from one tribe to another, for each tribe of Israel must retain its inheritance.”

Deuteronomy 19:14
You must not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, which was set up by your ancestors to mark the inheritance you shall receive in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

1 Kings 21:15-16
When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, who refused to give it to you for silver. For Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.” / And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

2 Kings 8:1-6
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed that a seven-year famine will come to the land.” / So the woman had proceeded to do as the man of God had instructed. And she and her household lived as foreigners for seven years in the land of the Philistines. / At the end of seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to the king to appeal for her house and her land. ...

Matthew 19:21
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

Acts 4:34-37
There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, / and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need. / Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement), ...

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 12:33-34
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Acts 2:44-45
All the believers were together and had everything in common. / Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.


Treasury of Scripture

And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year may he redeem it.

Jump to Previous
City Completion Dwelling Full Gives House Likewise Money Redeem Redemption Retains Right Sale Sell Selleth Selling Sells Sold Space Thereof Valid Walled Whole Within Year
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City Completion Dwelling Full Gives House Likewise Money Redeem Redemption Retains Right Sale Sell Selleth Selling Sells Sold Space Thereof Valid Walled Whole Within Year
Leviticus 25
1. the Sabbath of the seventh year
8. The jubilee in the fiftieth year
14. Of oppression
18. A blessing of obedience
23. The redemption of land
29. Of houses
35. Compassion to the poor
39. The usage of bondmen
47. The redemption of servants














If a man sells a house
This phrase introduces the concept of property transactions within ancient Israelite society. The Hebrew word for "sells" is "מָכַר" (makar), which implies a transfer of ownership. In the context of Leviticus, selling a house was not merely a financial transaction but a significant familial and social decision. Houses were often tied to family heritage and identity, reflecting the deep connection between the Israelites and the land God had given them.

in a walled city
The specification of "a walled city" is crucial. Walled cities were centers of trade, security, and community life. The Hebrew term "עִיר חוֹמָה" (ir chomah) indicates a fortified settlement, which provided protection and a sense of permanence. The walls symbolized not only physical security but also a boundary of cultural and religious identity. This distinction highlights the difference in property laws between urban and rural settings, emphasizing the unique status of urban properties.

his right of redemption
The "right of redemption" is a key concept in Levitical law, rooted in the Hebrew word "גְּאֻלָּה" (ge'ullah). This right allowed the original owner or a close relative to reclaim property, reflecting God's desire for restoration and continuity within the community. Redemption laws underscored the importance of family and tribal inheritance, ensuring that property remained within the original family line, thus maintaining the social and economic stability ordained by God.

shall last a full year
The time frame of "a full year" (Hebrew: "תָּמִים שָׁנָה" - tamim shanah) provided a period of grace and reflection. This year-long period allowed the seller to gather resources or for a kinsman-redeemer to intervene. It reflects God's mercy and patience, offering a window for repentance and restoration. The full year symbolizes completeness and sufficiency, aligning with the biblical theme of God's perfect timing.

after its sale
The phrase "after its sale" indicates the point from which the redemption period is calculated. The sale marks a temporary separation from one's inheritance, but the provision for redemption ensures that this separation is not necessarily permanent. This reflects the biblical principle that God's people are never beyond the reach of His redemptive power, even when they have made decisions that lead to loss.

during that year it may be redeemed
The possibility that "it may be redeemed" during the specified year emphasizes hope and restoration. The Hebrew verb "גָּאַל" (ga'al) for "redeemed" is rich with theological significance, often used to describe God's redemptive acts for Israel. This provision mirrors the greater narrative of redemption found throughout Scripture, where God continually seeks to restore His people to their rightful place and relationship with Him. The opportunity for redemption is a testament to God's enduring faithfulness and grace.

(29) A dwelling house in a walled city.--It is, however, quite different in the case of houses in walled cities. These are not the creation of God (see Leviticus 25:23), allotted by His command to the different tribes of Israel; they are the work of man, who build them up and raze them to the ground at their own will, and according to their fancy. Hence the law of jubile does not apply to these temporary human buildings. Though an Israelite could sell his house without being driven by stress of circumstances to do it, still, as he may feel attached to his home, the Divine law affords him some protection for a limited period, during which he or his family may redeem the building. During the second Temple "a dwelling house in a walled city" was defined to be a house standing within an area of land which was first walled round for the purpose of building upon it human habitations, and in which the houses were afterwards erected. But if the houses were built first, and the city wall afterwards, they do not come within the law here laid down.

Within a full year may he redeem it.--If within a year of the sale he wishes to redeem, the Law gives him the power, or in case he dies empowers his son, to repurchase the property at the same price which he received for it. Besides limiting the period to a year, the Law does not prescribe that the next of kin is to redeem, nor give him the power to do it. During the second Temple it was also enacted that the vendor could not redeem it with borrowed money.

Verses 29-31. - Houses in walled cities are not subject to the law of restoration at the jubilee, as that law applies only to lands and to men; but houses in the country are subject to the law, as they are regarded only as appurtenances of the land. Houses in cities, being occupied by artisans and built by human industry, not originally assigned in the territorial division, are not considered in so strict a sense the property of the Lord as the soil is, and may be parted with more readily. Yet the owners, if obliged to part with them, are allowed a year's grace, during which they are to have the right of buying them back. The expression, within a full year, would be more literally rendered during a fixed time, that fixed time having just before been declared to be a year.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

a man
וְאִ֗ישׁ (wə·’îš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

sells
יִמְכֹּ֤ר (yim·kōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4376: To sell

a house
בֵּית־ (bêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

in a walled
חוֹמָ֔ה (ḥō·w·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2346: A wall of protection

city,
עִ֣יר (‘îr)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

he retains
וְהָיְתָה֙ (wə·hā·yə·ṯāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

his right of redemption
גְּאֻלָּת֔וֹ (gə·’ul·lā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1353: Redemption, relationship

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

a full
תֹּ֖ם (tōm)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8537: Completeness, integrity, also part of the high priest's breastplate

year
שְׁנַ֣ת (šə·naṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8141: A year

after its sale;
מִמְכָּר֑וֹ (mim·kā·rōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4465: Merchandise, a selling

during that year
יָמִ֖ים (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

it may be
תִּהְיֶ֥ה (tih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

redeemed.
גְאֻלָּתֽוֹ׃ (ḡə·’ul·lā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1353: Redemption, relationship


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OT Law: Leviticus 25:29 If a man sells a dwelling house (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 25:28
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