What is the Year of Jubilee?

Answer

The term “jubilee” – literally meaning “the blast of a horn” in Hebrew – is defined in Leviticus 25:9 as the sabbatical year following seven cycles of seven years (49 years). The fiftieth year was designated as a period of celebration and joy for the Israelites. The ram’s horn was sounded on the tenth day of the seventh month to inaugurate the fiftieth year of universal redemption.

The Year of the Jubilee entailed a year of release from debt (Leviticus 25:23-38) and various forms of servitude (vv. 39-55). All prisoners and captives were set free, all slaves were emancipated, all debts were pardoned, and all property was restored to its original owners. Furthermore, all labor was to cease for one year, and those under labor agreements were released from them. One of the benefits of the Jubilee was that both the land and the people could experience rest.

The Jubilee illustrates a beautiful representation of the New Testament concepts of redemption and forgiveness. Christ is the Redeemer who came to liberate those enslaved and imprisoned by sin (Romans 8:2;Galatians 5:1;Galatians 3:22). The debt of sin we owe to God was settled on the cross through Jesus’ sacrificial death on our behalf (Colossians 2:13-14), and we are eternally forgiven of that debt. We are no longer in bondage, no longer enslaved by sin, having been liberated by Christ, and we can truly enter into the rest that God offers as we cease striving to earn God’s approval through our own efforts (Hebrews 4:9-10).