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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Leviticus 25:44 Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/25-44.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/03_Lev_25_44.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 25:44 - Redemption of Bondmen" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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from them you may buy slaves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/leviticus/25.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“However, you may purchase male and female slaves from among the nations around you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/leviticus/25.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/25.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/leviticus/25.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, <i>shall be</i> of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/25.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And as for your male and female slaves whom you may have—from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/25.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />As for your male and female slaves whom you may have—you may acquire male and female slaves from the <i>pagan</i> nations that are around you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/25.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216As for your male and female slaves whom you may have— you may acquire male and female slaves from the pagan nations that are around you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/25.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘As for your male and female slaves whom you may have—you may acquire male and female slaves from the pagan nations that are around you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/25.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />As for your male and female slaves whom you may have—you may acquire male and female slaves from the nations that are around you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/25.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />As for your male and female slaves whom you may have—you may acquire male and female slaves from the pagan nations that are around you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/25.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Your male and female slaves are to be from the nations around you; you may purchase male and female slaves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/25.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Your male and female slaves are to be from the nations around you; you may purchase male and female slaves. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/25.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And as for thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, whom thou shalt have; of the nations that are round about you, of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/leviticus/25.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />If you want slaves, buy them from other nations <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/25.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And as for thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have; of the nations that are round about you, of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/25.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"You may have male and female slaves, but buy them from the nations around you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/25.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />If you need slaves, you may buy them from the nations around you. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/25.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"As for your male and maid slaves who will be with you, you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/25.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/25.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"'As for your male and female slaves who may belong to you--you may buy male and female slaves from the nations all around you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/25.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"'As for your male and your female slaves, whom you may have; of the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/25.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Both thy bond-men, and thy bond-maids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are around you; of them shall ye buy bond-men and bond-maids.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/25.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘As for your male and your female slaves, whom you may have from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/25.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And your manservant and your handmaid whom you have [are] from the nations who [are] around you; you buy manservant and handmaid from them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/25.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And thy man-servant and thy handmaid whom thou hast are of the nations who are round about you; of them ye buy man-servant and handmaid,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/25.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And thy servant and thy maid which shall be to thee, from the nations which are round about you, from them ye shall buy servant and maid.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/25.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Let your bondmen, and your bondwomen, be of the nations that are round about you. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/25.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Let your male and female servants be from the nations which are all around you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/25.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The male and female slaves that you possess—these you shall acquire from the nations round about you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/25.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />As for the male and female slaves whom you may have, it is from the nations around you that you may acquire male and female slaves.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/25.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But as for your male servants and your female servants whom you may have from among the people that are round about you, of them shall you buy bondmen and bondwomen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/25.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And from your Servants and your Maids who will be yours from the nations that are around you, you shall buy Servants and Maids.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/25.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And as for thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, whom thou mayest have: of the nations that are round about you, of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/25.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And whatever number of men-servants and maid-servants thou shalt have, thou shalt purchase male and female servants from the nations that are round about thee.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/25-44.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NWs_V1RyMFo?start=6990" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/25.htm">Redemption of Bondmen</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">43</span>You are not to rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God. <span class="reftext">44</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: wə·‘aḇ·də·ḵā (Conj-w:: N-msc:: 2ms) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">Your menservants</a> <a href="/hebrew/519.htm" title="519: wa·’ă·mā·ṯə·ḵā (Conj-w:: N-fsc:: 2ms) -- A maid, handmaid. Apparently a primitive word; a maid-servant or female slave.">and maidservants</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: yih·yū- (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">shall come</a> <a href="/hebrew/lāḵ (Prep:: 2fs) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/854.htm" title="854: mê·’êṯ (Prep-m:: DirObjM) -- With (denoting proximity). Probably from 'anah; properly, nearness, near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.">from</a> <a href="/hebrew/1471.htm" title="1471: hag·gō·w·yim (Art:: N-mp) -- Rarely goy; apparently from the same root as gevah; a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts.">the nations</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5439.htm" title="5439: sə·ḇî·ḇō·ṯê·ḵem (Adv:: 2mp) -- Circuit, round about. Or cbiybah; from cabab; a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly around.">around you,</a> <a href="/hebrew/mê·hem (Prep-m:: Pro-3mp) -- ">from whom</a> <a href="/hebrew/7069.htm" title="7069: tiq·nū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- A primitive root; to erect, i.e. Create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase; by implication to own.">you may purchase</a> <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: ‘e·ḇeḏ (N-ms) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">them.</a> <a href="/hebrew/519.htm" title="519: wə·’ā·māh (Conj-w:: N-fs) -- A maid, handmaid. Apparently a primitive word; a maid-servant or female slave."></a> </span><span class="reftext">45</span>You may also purchase them from the foreigners residing among you or their clans living among you who are born in your land. These may become your property.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2-6</a></span><br />If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything. / If he arrived alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrived with a wife, she is to leave with him. / If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/15-12.htm">Deuteronomy 15:12-18</a></span><br />If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free. / And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. / You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/9-20.htm">1 Kings 9:20-21</a></span><br />As for all the people who remained of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (the people who were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/5-5.htm">Nehemiah 5:5</a></span><br />We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/34-8.htm">Jeremiah 34:8-17</a></span><br />After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD / that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage. / So all the officials and all the people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their menservants and maidservants and no longer hold them in bondage. They obeyed and released them, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/17-12.htm">Genesis 17:12-13</a></span><br />Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring. / Whether they are born in your household or purchased, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh will be an everlasting covenant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/37-28.htm">Genesis 37:28</a></span><br />So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/47-19.htm">Genesis 47:19-25</a></span><br />Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? Purchase us and our land in exchange for food. Then we, along with our land, will be slaves to Pharaoh. Give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.” / So Joseph acquired for Pharaoh all the land in Egypt; the Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields because the famine was so severe upon them. The land became Pharaoh’s, / and Joseph reduced the people to servitude from one end of Egypt to the other. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/8-7.htm">2 Chronicles 8:7-8</a></span><br />As for all the people who remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites had not destroyed—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/14-1.htm">Isaiah 14:1-2</a></span><br />For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again He will choose Israel and settle them in their own land. The foreigner will join them and unite with the house of Jacob. / The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joel/3-6.htm">Joel 3:6-8</a></span><br />You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, to send them far from their homeland. / Behold, I will rouse them from the places to which you sold them; I will return your recompense upon your heads. / I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans—to a distant nation.” Indeed, the LORD has spoken.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/18-25.htm">Matthew 18:25</a></span><br />Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/4-18.htm">Luke 4:18</a></span><br />“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 proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-34.htm">John 8:34-36</a></span><br />Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. / A slave does not remain in the house forever, but a son remains forever. / So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/6-16.htm">Romans 6:16-18</a></span><br />Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? / But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed. / You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Both your slaves, and your bondmaids, which you shall have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall you buy slaves and bondmaids.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/12-44.htm">Exodus 12:44</a></b></br> But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/2-8.htm">Psalm 2:8,9</a></b></br> Ask of me, and I shall give <i>thee</i> the heathen <i>for</i> thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth <i>for</i> thy possession… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/14-1.htm">Isaiah 14:1,2</a></b></br> For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/25-28.htm">Acquire</a> <a href="/jeremiah/34-11.htm">Bondmaids</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-42.htm">Bondmen</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-42.htm">Bond-Men</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-25.htm">Buy</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-6.htm">Female</a> <a href="/exodus/23-12.htm">Handmaid</a> <a href="/genesis/33-6.htm">Handmaids</a> <a href="/3_john/1-7.htm">Heathen</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-6.htm">Male</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-6.htm">Man-Servant</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-23.htm">Mayest</a> <a href="/exodus/21-7.htm">Men-Servants</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-26.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/10-7.htm">Pagan</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-42.htm">Property</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-31.htm">Round</a> <a href="/exodus/32-13.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-42.htm">Slaves</a> <a href="/genesis/33-1.htm">Women-Servants</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/deuteronomy/17-16.htm">Acquire</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-68.htm">Bondmaids</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-46.htm">Bondmen</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-46.htm">Bond-Men</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-45.htm">Buy</a> <a href="/leviticus/27-5.htm">Female</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-21.htm">Handmaid</a> <a href="/2_samuel/6-20.htm">Handmaids</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-33.htm">Heathen</a> <a href="/leviticus/27-3.htm">Male</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-14.htm">Man-Servant</a> <a href="/numbers/10-2.htm">Mayest</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/12-12.htm">Men-Servants</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-45.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/isaiah/57-8.htm">Pagan</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-45.htm">Property</a> <a href="/numbers/1-50.htm">Round</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-45.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-46.htm">Slaves</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/12-12.htm">Women-Servants</a><div class="vheading2">Leviticus 25</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/25-1.htm">the Sabbath of the seventh year</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/25-8.htm">The jubilee in the fiftieth year</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/25-14.htm">Of oppression</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/25-18.htm">A blessing of obedience</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/25-23.htm">The redemption of land</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/25-29.htm">Of houses</a></span><br><span class="reftext">35. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/25-35.htm">Compassion to the poor</a></span><br><span class="reftext">39. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/25-39.htm">The usage of bondmen</a></span><br><span class="reftext">47. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/25-47.htm">The redemption of servants</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/25.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/leviticus/25.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Your menservants and maidservants</b><br>In ancient Israel, servitude was a common practice, and the term "menservants and maidservants" refers to individuals who were in a position of servitude or slavery. This was a regulated institution within the Mosaic Law, which provided specific guidelines on how servants were to be treated (<a href="/exodus/21.htm">Exodus 21:1-11</a>). The concept of servitude in Israel was distinct from the harsh slavery practices of other ancient cultures, as it included provisions for humane treatment and eventual release (<a href="/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39-43</a>).<p><b>shall come from the nations around you</b><br>The Israelites were instructed to acquire servants from the surrounding nations, which included groups such as the Canaanites, Moabites, and Edomites. This reflects the historical context of the ancient Near East, where nations often engaged in trade, including the exchange of labor. The Israelites were to remain distinct from these nations, yet they were permitted to engage in certain economic transactions with them. This distinction underscores the covenant relationship between God and Israel, emphasizing their unique identity as His chosen people (<a href="/deuteronomy/7-6.htm">Deuteronomy 7:6</a>).<p><b>from whom you may purchase them</b><br>The act of purchasing servants from other nations was a legal transaction in the ancient world. This phrase indicates that servitude was not based on race or ethnicity but was an economic arrangement. The purchase of servants from foreign nations was allowed, contrasting with the treatment of fellow Israelites, who could not be permanently enslaved (<a href="/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39-42</a>). This reflects the broader biblical theme of redemption and freedom, as seen in the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, which serves as a type of Christ's redemptive work (<a href="/exodus/6-6.htm">Exodus 6:6</a>, <a href="/galatians/5.htm">Galatians 5:1</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, to whom the laws in Leviticus were given.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/f/foreign_nations.htm">Foreign Nations</a></b><br>The surrounding nations from which the Israelites were permitted to purchase slaves.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The prophet through whom God delivered the laws to the Israelites.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a></b><br>The land promised to the Israelites, where these laws were to be observed.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/jubilee_year.htm">Jubilee Year</a></b><br>A significant event in <a href="/bsb/leviticus/25.htm">Leviticus 25</a>, emphasizing freedom and restoration, contrasting with the allowance of foreign servitude.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_context.htm">Understanding Context</a></b><br>Recognize the historical and cultural context of ancient Israel, where servitude was a common practice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/m/moral_and_ethical_considerations.htm">Moral and Ethical Considerations</a></b><br>Reflect on the ethical implications of servitude and how it contrasts with modern values of freedom and equality.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_freedom_in_christ.htm">Spiritual Freedom in Christ</a></b><br>Emphasize the spiritual freedom offered through Christ, which transcends earthly social structures.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/compassion_and_justice.htm">Compassion and Justice</a></b><br>Encourage believers to practice compassion and justice in all relationships, reflecting God's character.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/cultural_sensitivity.htm">Cultural Sensitivity</a></b><br>Approach ancient texts with cultural sensitivity, understanding the difference between descriptive and prescriptive passages.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_leviticus_25.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 25</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_lev_25_39-46_differ_on_servitude.htm">Why does the command to release servants (Lev 25:39–46) appear inconsistent with other biblical passages endorsing servitude? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_god's_promise_conflict_with_judgment.htm">(Leviticus 26:44) Does God's promise never to fully reject Israel conflict with other passages about divine judgment and exile?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_permit_biblical_genocides.htm">Why does God allow genocides to happen, including those commanded in the Bible (Numbers 31:17-18)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_psalm_137_align_with_divine_justice.htm">How does Psalm 137 align with divine justice, given that it appears to advocate collective punishment?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/leviticus/25.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(44) <span class= "bld">Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen.</span>--Rather, <span class= "ital">As for thy bondmen and bondmaids which thou must have of the heathen, </span>&c. As the Law forbids the Israelites to have their brethren as bondmen, or employ them in menial work which belongs to the slaves, the Lawgiver anticipates a difficulty which the Hebrews might raise against these enactments. If they are not to be engaged in this work, who then is to do it? Hence the reply in the verse before us.<p><span class= "bld">Of the heathen that are round about you.</span>--These are to be purchased to do the necessary work. The Israelites, however, were restricted to the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Edomites, and the Syrians, who were their neighbours, but were not permitted to buy any slaves from the seven nations who were in the midst of them, and whom they were ordered to destroy (<a href="/context/deuteronomy/20-16.htm" title="But of the cities of these people, which the LORD your God does give you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes:">Deuteronomy 20:16-18</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/leviticus/25.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 44-46.</span> - Slavery is not forbidden in respect to non-Israelites. The world was not yet ready for it, as it was not ready in the days of St. Paul. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/25-44.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Your male</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעַבְדְּךָ֥</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘aḇ·də·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5650.htm">Strong's 5650: </a> </span><span class="str2">Slave, servant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and female slaves</span><br /><span class="heb">וַאֲמָתְךָ֖</span> <span class="translit">(wa·’ă·mā·ṯə·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_519.htm">Strong's 519: </a> </span><span class="str2">A maidservant, female slave</span><br /><br /><span class="word">shall come</span><br /><span class="heb">יִהְיוּ־</span> <span class="translit">(yih·yū-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵאֵ֣ת</span> <span class="translit">(mê·’êṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Direct object marker<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> </span><span class="str2">Untranslatable mark of the accusative case</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the nations</span><br /><span class="heb">הַגּוֹיִ֗ם</span> <span class="translit">(hag·gō·w·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1471.htm">Strong's 1471: </a> </span><span class="str2">A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts</span><br /><br /><span class="word">around you;</span><br /><span class="heb">סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(sə·ḇî·ḇō·ṯê·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5439.htm">Strong's 5439: </a> </span><span class="str2">A circle, neighbour, environs, around</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from them</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵהֶ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(mê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> </span><span class="str2">They</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you may purchase</span><br /><span class="heb">תִּקְנ֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(tiq·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7069.htm">Strong's 7069: </a> </span><span class="str2">To erect, create, to procure, by purchase, to own</span><br /><br /><span class="word">slaves.</span><br /><span class="heb">עֶ֥בֶד</span> <span class="translit">(‘e·ḇeḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5650.htm">Strong's 5650: </a> </span><span class="str2">Slave, servant</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/25-44.htm">Leviticus 25:44 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/25-44.htm">Leviticus 25:44 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/25-44.htm">Leviticus 25:44 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/25-44.htm">Leviticus 25:44 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/25-44.htm">Leviticus 25:44 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/25-44.htm">Leviticus 25:44 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/25-44.htm">Leviticus 25:44 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/25-44.htm">Leviticus 25:44 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/25-44.htm">Leviticus 25:44 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/25-44.htm">Leviticus 25:44 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/25-44.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 25:44 As for your male and your female (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/25-43.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 25:43"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 25:43" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/25-45.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 25:45"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 25:45" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>