Leviticus 25 · a question people ask
Is Jesus the kinsman-redeemer?
In this chapter the redeemer is family: "his kinsman who is next to him shall come, and redeem that which his brother has sold" (25:25), and for a man who sold himself, "One of his brothers may redeem him; or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any who is a close relative to him of his family" (25:48-49). The Old Testament also uses the same verb of the LORD: "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm" (Exodus 6:6), and "Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 41:14). The New Testament says Jesus redeems: God sent his Son "that he might redeem those who were under the law" (Galatians 4:5), and "you were redeemed… with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18-19). It never cites Leviticus 25 or calls Jesus a kinsman-redeemer. Christians agree that Jesus redeems; they read this law beside him in two ways.
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
A picture of Christ
Those who hold this view see the near relative who buys back as a picture of Jesus, who became kin to those he redeems. Hebrews says, "Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same" (Hebrews 2:14), and he "is not ashamed to call them brothers" (Hebrews 2:11). Paul says he was "born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law" (Galatians 4:4-5).
Hebrews 2:11 · Hebrews 2:14 · Galatians 4:4-5
A law for Israel's families
Those who hold this view read the redeemer law by what the chapter says it is for: keeping a poor brother's land and freedom in his family (25:25, 25:41, 25:48-49), as the book of Ruth tells of Naomi's land (Ruth 4:3-4). They take the New Testament's words about Jesus redeeming on their own terms, such as "to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45), without drawing a picture from this law, since the New Testament doesn't draw one.
Leviticus 25:25 · Leviticus 25:48-49 · Ruth 4:3-4 · Mark 10:45
The verses
““‘If your brother becomes poor, and sells some of his possessions, then his kinsman who is next to him shall come, and redeem that which his brother has sold.”
“after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him; or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any who is a close relative to him of his family may redeem him; or if he has grown rich, he may redeem himself.”
“Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments.”
“Don’t be afraid, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help you,” says the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.”