שְׁמִטָּה
remission (of debt) or suspension of labor)
Definition
The Hebrew noun שְׁמִטָּה (shᵉmiṭṭâh) refers to a formal, divinely mandated 'release' or 'remission.' Its primary meaning is the cancellation of debts, as commanded every seven years in Deuteronomy 15:1-2, where creditors are to release fellow Israelites from what they owe. A related, secondary meaning is the 'suspension of labor' applied to the land itself, as seen in Deuteronomy 31:10, where the seventh year is a year of release during which the public reading of the law occurs and the land lies fallow. Both senses—financial and agricultural—are intertwined in the biblical concept of a sabbatical cycle ordained by God.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the book of Deuteronomy, specifically in chapters 15 and 31. It appears in the context of Israel's covenant law, detailing the seven-year cycles for societal and agricultural reset. In Deuteronomy 15:1-2 and 15:9, it governs the release of personal debts between Israelites. In Deuteronomy 31:10, the 'year of release' (שְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה) provides the setting for the public reading of the Law during the Feast of Tabernacles, linking the concept to national covenant renewal.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb שָׁמַט (shāmaṭ, H8058), meaning 'to let drop,' 'release,' or 'let go.' This root conveys the physical image of releasing a grip or a hold. The noun שְׁמִטָּה specifically denotes the institutionalized act or time of release, whether from a financial obligation or from the duty of cultivating the land.
Semantic Range
The שְׁמִטָּה is a profound theological concept rooted in God's character as a liberator and provider. It institutionalizes grace, economic justice, and trust in God's provision within the covenant community (Deuteronomy 15:4-5). It reflects the sabbatical principle, reminding Israel that the land and its produce ultimately belong to God (Leviticus 25:23). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of texts about the Jubilee and Jesus's proclamation of 'the year of the Lord's favor' (Luke 4:18-19), which draws on this tradition of release.
In ancient Israel's agrarian and debt-based society, the שְׁמִטָּה was a radical economic and social safeguard. It prevented the permanent impoverishment of families and the concentration of wealth, ensuring a cyclical reset. This practice distinguished Israel from surrounding nations and was a tangible test of faith, as creditors had to trust God for provision rather than securing their wealth through perpetual debt (Deuteronomy 15:9).
דְּרוֹר (dᵉrôr, H1865) — denotes a 'liberty' or 'release,' often used for the Jubilee year, emphasizing a broader, proclamation-based freedom (Leviticus 25:10). יוֹבֵל (yôbēl, H3104) — the 'Jubilee' year, a super-cyclical release every 50 years that includes land restoration and is heralded by a trumpet (Leviticus 25:8-13).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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