Leviticus 25:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

The land also shall not be sold for ever: because it is mine, and you are strangers and sojourners with me.
Douay-Rheims

וְהָאָ֗רֶץ לֹ֤א תִמָּכֵר֙ לִצְמִתֻ֔ת כִּי־לִ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־גֵרִ֧ים וְתוֹשָׁבִ֛ים אַתֶּ֖ם עִמָּדִֽי׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

God empowers the law by asserting His dominion, declaring, ‘The earth is mine, as strangers and sojourners ye are before me,’ which means that I have bestowed it upon you as a gift, and therefore, as the Lord, I establish its legitimacy.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

1 Pet 2:11Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul,
Ps 39 (38):12
1 Chr 29:15For we are sojourners before thee, and strangers, as were all our fathers. I Our days upon earth are as a shadow, and there is no stay.
Ezek 48:14And they shall not sell thereof, nor exchange, neither shall the firstfruits of the land be alienated, because they are sanctified to the Lord.
Ps 24 (23):1
Deut 32:43Praise his people, ye nations, for he will revenge the blood of his servants: and will render vengeance to their enemies, and he will be merciful to the land of his people.
Ex 19:5If therefore you will hear my voice, and keep my covenant, you shall be my peculiar possession above all people: for all the earth is mine.
Ps 85 (84):1