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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 25:39 If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/25-39.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/03_Lev_25_39.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 25:39 - Redemption of Bondmen" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor." /><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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thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/25.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />‘And if <i>one of</i> your brethren <i>who dwells</i> by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/25.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />‘Now if a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to you that he sells himself to you, you shall not subject him to a slave’s service.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/25.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216If a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to you that he sells himself to you, you shall not subject him to a slave&#8217s service.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/25.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘And if a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to you that he sells himself to you, you shall not subject him to a slave’s service.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/25.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />‘If a brother of yours becomes so poor with regard to you that he sells himself to you, you shall not subject him to a slave’s service.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/25.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />‘And if your fellow countryman becomes so poor [in his dealings] with you that he sells himself to you [as payment for a debt], you shall not let him do the work of a slave [who is ineligible for redemption],<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/25.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“If your brother among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, you must not force him to do slave labor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/25.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />If your brother among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, you must not force him to do slave labor. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/25.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And if thy brother be waxed poor with thee, and sell himself unto thee; thou shalt not make him to serve as a bond-servant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/leviticus/25.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Suppose some of your people become so poor that they have to sell themselves and become your slaves. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/25.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And if thy brother be waxen poor with thee, and sell himself unto thee; thou shalt not make him to serve as a bondservant:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/25.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"If an Israelite becomes poor and sells himself to you, don't work him like a slave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/25.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />If any Israelites living near you become so poor that they sell themselves to you as a slave, you shall not make them do the work of a slave. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/25.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"If your brother with you becomes so poor that he sells himself to you, you are not to make him serve like a bond slave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/25.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/25.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"'If your brother becomes impoverished with regard to you so that he sells himself to you, you must not subject him to slave service.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/25.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"'If your brother has grown poor among you, and sells himself to you; you shall not make him to serve as a slave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/25.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee shall have become poor, and be sold to thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bond servant:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/25.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘If your brother has grown poor among you, and sells himself to you, you shall not make him to serve as a slave. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/25.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And when your brother becomes poor with you, and he has been sold to you, you do not lay servile service on him;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/25.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'And when thy brother becometh poor with thee, and he hath been sold to thee, thou dost not lay on him servile service;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/25.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And when thy brother shall be poor with thee, and he was sold to thee, thou shalt not serve upon him the service of a servant.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/25.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />If thy brother constrained by poverty, sell himself to thee, thou shalt not oppress him with the service of bondservants: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/25.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />If your brother, having been compelled by poverty, will have sold himself to you, you shall not oppress him with the servitude of indentured servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/25.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />When your kindred with you, having been so reduced to poverty, sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/25.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />If any who are dependent on you become so impoverished that they sell themselves to you, you shall not make them serve as slaves.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/25.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And if your brother becomes poor and be sold to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a bondservant;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/25.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And if your brother will become poor and will be sold to you, you shall not force him into the service of a Servant:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/25.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And if thy brother be waxen poor with thee, and sell himself unto thee, thou shalt not make him to serve as a bondservant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/25.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And if thy brother by thee be lowered, and be sold to thee, he shall not serve thee with the servitude of a slave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/25-39.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=6953" 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">39</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: wə·ḵî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">If</a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: ’ā·ḥî·ḵā (N-msc:: 2ms) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">a countryman</a> <a href="/hebrew/5973.htm" title="5973: ‘im·māḵ (Prep:: 2fs) -- From amam; adverb or preposition, with, in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix.">among you</a> <a href="/hebrew/4134.htm" title="4134: yā·mūḵ (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To be low or depressed, to grow poor. A primitive root; to become thin, i.e. be impoverished.">becomes destitute</a> <a href="/hebrew/4376.htm" title="4376: wə·nim·kar- (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To sell. A primitive root; to sell, literally, or figuratively.">and sells himself</a> <a href="/hebrew/lāḵ (Prep:: 2fs) -- ">to you,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">then you must not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5647.htm" title="5647: ṯa·‘ă·ḇōḏ (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To work, serve. A primitive root; to work; by implication, to serve, till, enslave, etc.">force him</a> <a href="/hebrew/bōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">into</a> <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: ‘ā·ḇeḏ (N-ms) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">slave</a> <a href="/hebrew/5656.htm" title="5656: ‘ă·ḇō·ḏaṯ (N-fsc) -- Labor, service. Or mabowdah; from abad; work of any kind.">labor.</a> </span><span class="reftext">40</span>Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.…<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="/jeremiah/34-14.htm">Jeremiah 34:14</a></span><br />Every seventh year, each of you must free his Hebrew brother who has sold himself to you. He may serve you six years, but then you must let him go free. But your fathers did not listen or incline their ear.<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="/1_kings/9-22.htm">1 Kings 9:22</a></span><br />But Solomon did not consign any of the Israelites to slavery, because they were his men of war, his servants, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and cavalry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/4-1.htm">2 Kings 4:1</a></span><br />Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/58-6.htm">Isaiah 58:6</a></span><br />Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/46-17.htm">Ezekiel 46:17</a></span><br />But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it will belong to that servant until the year of freedom; then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs only to his sons; it shall be theirs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/18-25.htm">Matthew 18:25-27</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. / Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ / His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.<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="/galatians/4-7.htm">Galatians 4:7</a></span><br />So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-21.htm">1 Corinthians 7:21-23</a></span><br />Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity. / For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. / You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/6-18.htm">Romans 6:18</a></span><br />You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philemon/1-16.htm">Philemon 1:16</a></span><br />no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-11.htm">Colossians 3:11</a></span><br />Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And if your brother that dwells by you be waxen poor, and be sold to you; you shall not compel him to serve as a bondservant:</p><p class="hdg">be sold</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2</a></b></br> If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/22-3.htm">Exodus 22:3</a></b></br> If the sun be risen upon him, <i>there shall be</i> blood <i>shed</i> for him; <i>for</i> he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/15-12.htm">Deuteronomy 15:12</a></b></br> <i>And</i> if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/25-46.htm">Leviticus 25:46</a></b></br> And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit <i>them for</i> a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/1-14.htm">Exodus 1:14</a></b></br> And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, <i>was</i> with rigour.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/25-14.htm">Jeremiah 25:14</a></b></br> For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/revelation/19-18.htm">Bond</a> <a href="/genesis/44-33.htm">Bondservant</a> <a href="/revelation/15-3.htm">Bond-Servant</a> <a href="/galatians/6-12.htm">Compel</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-36.htm">Countryman</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-34.htm">Dwelleth</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-29.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-35.htm">Grow</a> <a href="/leviticus/13-37.htm">Grown</a> <a href="/leviticus/24-14.htm">Lay</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-37.htm">Money</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-35.htm">Poor</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-34.htm">Property</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-35.htm">Regard</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-37.htm">Sell</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-29.htm">Sells</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-6.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/leviticus/16-32.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/leviticus/13-51.htm">Service</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-11.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/john/18-10.htm">Slave's</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-34.htm">Sold</a> <a href="/genesis/14-4.htm">Subject</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-18.htm">Use</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-26.htm">Waxed</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-35.htm">Waxen</a> <a href="/leviticus/23-36.htm">Work</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/30-2.htm">Bond</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/15-15.htm">Bondservant</a> <a href="/luke/2-29.htm">Bond-Servant</a> <a href="/esther/1-8.htm">Compel</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-47.htm">Countryman</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-47.htm">Dwelleth</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-47.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-47.htm">Grow</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-47.htm">Grown</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-31.htm">Lay</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-45.htm">Money</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-47.htm">Poor</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-41.htm">Property</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-47.htm">Regard</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-42.htm">Sell</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-47.htm">Sells</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-40.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-40.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-52.htm">Service</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-42.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/john/18-10.htm">Slave's</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-42.htm">Sold</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-11.htm">Subject</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-46.htm">Use</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-49.htm">Waxed</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-47.htm">Waxen</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-40.htm">Work</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>If a countryman among you becomes destitute</b><br>This phrase addresses the situation of an Israelite who has fallen into poverty. The Mosaic Law provided various protections for the poor, emphasizing community responsibility. The term "countryman" indicates a fellow Israelite, highlighting the covenantal relationship among God's people. This reflects the broader biblical theme of caring for the needy, as seen in <a href="/deuteronomy/15-7.htm">Deuteronomy 15:7-11</a>, where Israelites are commanded to be generous to the poor.<p><b>and sells himself to you</b><br>In ancient Israel, selling oneself into servitude was a means of survival for those in dire financial straits. This was not slavery in the harsh sense but a form of indentured servitude. The individual retained certain rights and was to be treated with dignity. This practice is distinct from the slavery seen in other ancient cultures, where individuals had no rights. The Jubilee laws (<a href="/leviticus/25-10.htm">Leviticus 25:10</a>) ensured that such servitude was temporary, with release in the Jubilee year.<p><b>then you must not force him into slave labor</b><br>The command here is to treat the destitute countryman with respect and not as a slave. This reflects God's justice and mercy, as He delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt (<a href="/exodus/20-2.htm">Exodus 20:2</a>). The Hebrew term for "slave labor" implies harsh, oppressive work. This regulation underscores the value of every individual as made in the image of God (<a href="/genesis/1-27.htm">Genesis 1:27</a>) and anticipates the New Testament teaching of loving one's neighbor (<a href="/matthew/22-39.htm">Matthew 22:39</a>). The principle of treating others with dignity is a reflection of Christ's teaching and example, who came to serve and not to be served (<a href="/mark/10-45.htm">Mark 10:45</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The primary audience of the Levitical laws, including the instructions in <a href="/bsb/leviticus/25.htm">Leviticus 25</a>, which were given to guide their community life and ensure justice and compassion.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The prophet and leader through whom God delivered the laws to the Israelites, including the instructions found in Leviticus.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jubilee_year.htm">Jubilee Year</a></b><br>A significant event in Israelite society, occurring every 50 years, when slaves were to be freed, debts forgiven, and land returned to original owners, providing context for the laws in <a href="/bsb/leviticus/25.htm">Leviticus 25</a>.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/compassionate_treatment.htm">Compassionate Treatment</a></b><br>The law in <a href="/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39</a> emphasizes the importance of treating those in need with dignity and respect, reflecting God's compassion and justice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/v/value_of_human_dignity.htm">Value of Human Dignity</a></b><br>The prohibition against forcing a destitute brother into slave labor underscores the inherent value and dignity of every person, created in the image of God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_responsibility.htm">Community Responsibility</a></b><br>The Israelites were called to care for their fellow community members, highlighting the importance of mutual support and responsibility within the body of Christ today.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/freedom_and_restoration.htm">Freedom and Restoration</a></b><br>The principles of the Jubilee year, including the release of servants, point to God's desire for freedom and restoration, which is ultimately fulfilled in Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/practical_generosity.htm">Practical Generosity</a></b><br>Believers are encouraged to practice generosity and kindness, reflecting God's provision and care for His people, as seen in the laws given to Israel.<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/why_doesn't_the_bible_condemn_slavery.htm">Why does the Bible never explicitly condemn slavery?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_bible's_stance_on_slavery.htm">What is the Bible's stance on slavery?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_was_the_2017_jubilee_event.htm">What is the Jubilee celebration in 2017?</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>(39) <span class= "bld">And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">And if thy brother be waxen poor by thee, </span>that is, after supporting his tottering hand, as prescribed in <a href="/context/leviticus/25-35.htm" title="And if your brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with you; then you shall relieve him: yes, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with you.">Leviticus 25:35-38</a>, and making all the charitable efforts to help him, they fail, and he still finds himself in extreme poverty, and unable to obtain a livelihood.<p><span class= "bld">And be sold unto thee.</span>--The voluntary disposal of his own liberty for a money consideration the Israelite could only effect by stress of poverty.<p><span class= "bld">Thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant.</span>--Under these circumstances he is not to be treated like heathen slaves who are either purchased or captured, and made to do the menial service which these Gentile slaves have to perform. The authorities during the second Temple adduce the following as degrading work which the Israelite bondman is not to be put to: He must not attend his master at his bath, nor tie up or undo the latchets of his sandals, &c., &c.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/leviticus/25.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 39-42.</span> - We see the way in which a poor Israelite might become a slave in the case of the sons of the widow whose oil was multiplied by Elisha. "Thy servant my husband is dead; (and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord:) and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen" (<a href="/2_kings/4-1.htm">2 Kings 4:1</a>). And in the time of Nehemiah, "Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.... And, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards" (<a href="/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Nehemiah 5:3-5</a>). But the fact that an Israelite could not be kept in slavery for more than six years (<a href="/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2</a>), and that the period of his service had to be still shorter if the jubilee fell before the seventh year, and the further fact that at the time of the jubilee he would not only he free, but recover any ancestral property that he had forfeited, so that he might become once more on an equality with his master, would have made his position totally different from the hopeless, helpless state of the Greek or Roman slave, even without the positive command that he was to be treated, not <span class="cmt_word">as a bondservant:</span> but <span class="cmt_word">as an hired servant,</span> and <span class="cmt_word">as a sojourner.</span> All alike, master and bondsman, were the slaves of God, and therefore not only were they, so far, on an equality one with another, but the master would be encroaching on the right of God if he claimed God's slaves for his own inalienably. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/25-39.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">If</span><br /><span class="heb">וְכִֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḵî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a countryman</span><br /><span class="heb">אָחִ֛יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḥî·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_251.htm">Strong's 251: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, )</span><br /><br /><span class="word">among you</span><br /><span class="heb">עִמָּ֖ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(‘im·māḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5973.htm">Strong's 5973: </a> </span><span class="str2">With, equally with</span><br /><br /><span class="word">becomes destitute</span><br /><span class="heb">יָמ֥וּךְ</span> <span class="translit">(yā·mūḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4134.htm">Strong's 4134: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be low or depressed, to grow poor</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and sells himself</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנִמְכַּר־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·nim·kar-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4376.htm">Strong's 4376: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sell</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to you,</span><br /><span class="heb">לָ֑ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(lāḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">you must not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">force</span><br /><span class="heb">תַעֲבֹ֥ד</span> <span class="translit">(ṯa·‘ă·ḇōḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5647.htm">Strong's 5647: </a> </span><span class="str2">To work, to serve, till, enslave</span><br /><br /><span class="word">him into</span><br /><span class="heb">בּ֖וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(bōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">slave</span><br /><span class="heb">עָֽבֶד׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·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 /><br /><span class="word">labor.</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲבֹ֥דַת</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·ḇō·ḏaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5656.htm">Strong's 5656: </a> </span><span class="str2">Work of any kind</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/25-39.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 25:39 If your brother has grown poor among (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/25-38.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 25:38"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 25:38" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/25-40.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 25:40"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 25:40" /></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>