The Meaning of Exodus 23:11 Explained

Exodus 23:11

KJV: But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.

YLT: and the seventh thou dost release it, and hast left it, and the needy of thy people have eaten, and their leaving doth the beast of the field eat; so dost thou to thy vineyard -- to thine olive-yard.

Darby: but in the seventh thou shalt let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of thy people may eat of it; and what they leave, the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thine olive-tree.

ASV: but the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie fallow; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beast of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But the seventh  [year] thou shalt let it rest  and lie  still; that the poor  of thy people  may eat:  and what they leave  the beasts  of the field  shall eat.  In like manner thou shalt deal  with thy vineyard,  [and] with thy oliveyard. 

What does Exodus 23:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 23:1-17 - Laws Of Conduct And Worship
We may apply these various precepts to our own hearts. Many of them breathe the very spirit of Christ. We must watch our speech, so that no man's character may suffer by our gossip or slander. We must dare to stand for the truth, though we stand absolutely alone. With all kindness and good will we must save our neighbor from damage, even though he has vented on us his spleen. It is never for us to take advantage of him; God will deal with him on our behalf, and in His own time and way. Let us not fret ourselves to do evil. David's example in refusing to injure Saul when his bitter enemy was within his reach is an inspiring example for us to follow. We must hold an even balance for just and honorable dealing with all men; and cultivate the Sabbath-keeping of the heart. In every life, also, there should be perpetual memory of Calvary, the Resurrection and Pentecost-the three feasts of the soul! [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 23

1  Of slander, false witness, and partiality
4  Of charitableness
6  Of justice in judgment
8  Of taking bribes
9  Of oppressing a stranger
10  Of the year of rest
12  Of the Sabbath
13  Of idolatry
14  Of the three feasts
18  Of the blood and the fat of the sacrifice
20  An angel is promised, with a blessing, if they obey him

What do the individual words in Exodus 23:11 mean?

But the seventh [year] you shall let it rest and lie fallow that may eat the poor of your people and what they leave may eat the beasts of the field In like manner you shall do with your vineyard [and] your olive grove
וְהַשְּׁבִיעִ֞ת תִּשְׁמְטֶ֣נָּה וּנְטַשְׁתָּ֗הּ וְאָֽכְלוּ֙ אֶבְיֹנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֔ךָ וְיִתְרָ֕ם תֹּאכַ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה כֵּֽן־ תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה לְכַרְמְךָ֖ לְזֵיתֶֽךָ

וְהַשְּׁבִיעִ֞ת  But  the  seventh  [year] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Number, ordinal feminine singular
Root: שְׁבִיעִי  
Sense: seventh.
תִּשְׁמְטֶ֣נָּה  you  shall  let  it  rest 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁמַט  
Sense: to release, let drop or loose or rest or fall.
וּנְטַשְׁתָּ֗הּ  and  lie  fallow 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: נָטַשׁ  
Sense: to leave, permit, forsake, cast off or away, reject, suffer, join, spread out or abroad, be loosed, cease, abandon, quit, hang loose, cast down, make a raid, lie fallow, let fall, forgo, draw.
וְאָֽכְלוּ֙  that  may  eat 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
אֶבְיֹנֵ֣י  the  poor 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֶבְיׄון  
Sense: in want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person.
עַמֶּ֔ךָ  of  your  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וְיִתְרָ֕ם  and  what  they  leave 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: יֶתֶר 
Sense: .
תֹּאכַ֖ל  may  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
חַיַּ֣ת  the  beasts 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה  of  the  field 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.
כֵּֽן־  In  like  manner 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה  you  shall  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לְכַרְמְךָ֖  with  your  vineyard 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: כֶּרֶם 
Sense: vineyard.
לְזֵיתֶֽךָ  [and]  your  olive  grove 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: זַיִת  
Sense: olive, olive tree.