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Exodus 23:11

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but in the seventh year you must let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor among your people may eat from the field and the wild animals may consume what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and olive grove.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 11

This chapter continues and concludes the acts that passed in the first session (if I may so call it) upon mount Sinai. Here are, I. Some laws of universal obligation, relating especially to the ninth commandment, against bearing false witness (Exo 23:1), and giving false judgment (Exo 23:2, Exo 23:3, Exo 23:6-8). Also a law of doing good to our enemies (Exo 23:4, Exo 23:5), and not oppressing strangers (Exo 23:9). II. Some laws peculiar to the Jews. The sabbatical year (Exo 23:10, Exo 23:11), the three annual feasts (Exo 23:14-17), with some laws pertaining thereto. III. Gracious promises of the completing of the mercy God had begun for them, upon condition of their obedience. That God would conduct them through the wilderness (Exo 23:20-24), that he would prosper all they had (Exo 23:25, Exo 23:26), that he would put them in possession of Canaan (Exo 23:27-31). But they must not mingle themselves with the nations (Exo 23:32, Exo 23:33).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 11

שְׁבִיעִי (shᵉbîyʻîy, H7637) — seventh שָׁמַט (shâmaṭ, H8058) — to fling down; incipiently to jostle; figuratively, to let alone, desist, remit נָטַשׁ (nâṭash, H5203) — properly, to pound, i.e. smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to… אֶבְיוֹן (ʼebyôwn, H34) — destitute עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) יֶתֶר (yether, H3499) — properly, an overhanging, i.e. (by implication) an excess, superiority, remainder; also a… חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application כֶּרֶם (kerem, H3754) — a garden or vineyard זַיִת (zayith, H2132) — an olive (as yielding illuminating oil), the tree, the branch or the berry

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Leviticus 25:20rank 2

Now you may wonder, ‘What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not sow or gather our produce?’

Leviticus 25:22rank 2

While you are sowing in the eighth year, you will be eating from the previous harvest, until the ninth year’s harvest comes in.

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