What Is the Year of Jubilee in Scripture?
The Year of Jubilee (sometimes called Jubilee Year, Jubilee, or Yubilei) was a special, God-ordained year in the Jewish calendar that came every 50th year.
God commanded the Israelites to count seven cycles of seven years (7 x 7 = 49), and the year following—the 50th—was to be set apart as the Jubilee.
A Year of Rest, Release, and Restoration
During the Jubilee year, the people were commanded not to sow or reap. This meant they had to rest for two consecutive years:
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The 49th year, which was a Sabbath year (every seventh year was a sabbatical year),
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And the 50th year, which was the Year of Jubilee.
So how would they survive for two years without farming?
God promised to bless them abundantly in the 48th year, providing enough food to sustain them throughout both years of rest:
Leviticus 25:8–13 (NIV)
“Count off seven Sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven Sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere… Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan.”
Key Features of the Jubilee Year
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Rest from Labor
No sowing, no harvesting, no pruning. The land itself was to rest—symbolizing trust in God’s provision. -
Cancellation of Debts
Debts were forgiven, and no one was to exploit another based on the remaining years until the next Jubilee. -
Freedom for Slaves
All Hebrew slaves were to be released and allowed to return to their families. -
Restoration of Property
Any land that had been sold due to poverty or hardship was to be returned to its original family owner.
Jubilee as a Picture of Christ
The Jubilee was a prophetic foreshadowing of the work of Christ on the cross. Jesus came to fulfill the spiritual meaning of Jubilee:
Luke 4:18–19
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Jesus is our eternal Jubilee. Through Him:
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We are freed from slavery to sin
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Our spiritual debts are forgiven
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We are restored into fellowship with God, our rightful inheritance
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We are released from bondage to sickness, demons, and fear
Practical Lessons for Believers Today
Even though we may not celebrate the Jubilee in a literal, agricultural sense today, it still holds spiritual and practical lessons for every believer.
1. The Importance of Rest
We live in a busy, demanding world. Yet God values intentional rest—not just for the body, but for the soul.
Set aside extended periods of time, not just weekly Sabbaths, but longer seasons dedicated to seeking God. If you’re employed or self-employed, plan for spiritual retreats or breaks where you can be refreshed in God’s presence.
2. The Power of Forgiveness
Jubilee teaches us to release others from their debts—not just financial, but emotional and relational ones.
Jesus said, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)
You never know when you might need the same grace extended to you.
3. Be a Generous and Just Employer
If you’re an employer, consider your workers’ well-being. Give them time off when needed—not as punishment or deduction, but as an act of grace. God notices how you treat others, and honoring rest and release in the lives of others is part of living the Jubilee principle.
What Jubilee Is Not
The term “Jubilee” has sometimes been misused today to refer to wedding anniversaries or birthday celebrations. While those may be joyful occasions, they are not the biblical Jubilee. The true meaning of Jubilee is rooted in God’s redemptive plan—a time of rest, restoration, and release for His people.
Have you entered your spiritual Jubilee in Christ?
Jesus is the only one who can give true freedom, cancel the debt of sin, and restore what was lost.
Today can be the day you receive your spiritual freedom, your new beginning.
2 Corinthians 6:2
“Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
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