“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts.
Parallel translations
- WEB At the end of every seven years, you shall cancel debts.
- KJV At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.
- BSB At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.
- NKJV “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts.
- NLT “At the end of every seventh year you must cancel the debts of everyone who owes you money.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Every seventh year Israel was to cancel debts among themselves. God ordered their economy to prevent permanent poverty and bondage.
Overview
The 'year of release' (Shemittah) regularly reset debts so that no Israelite would be crushed by perpetual obligation. It expressed God's ownership of the land and people and his concern for compassion over accumulation. This rhythm of release foreshadows the ultimate Jubilee Jesus proclaimed, freeing debtors from the deeper bondage of sin.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Deut 31:10Moses commanded them, saying, “At the end of every seven years, in the set time of the year of release, in the feast of tents,
- Lev 25:2–4“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a Sabbath to Yahweh.
- Exod 23:10–11“For six years you shall sow your land, and shall gather in its increase,
- Exod 21:2“If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years and in the seventh he shall go out free without paying anything.
- Luke 4:18–19“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed,
- Isa 61:1–3The Lord Yahweh’s Spirit is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound;
- Jer 36:8–18Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book Yahweh’s words in Yahweh’s house.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 15:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.