Leviticus 25:39
Leviticus 25:39 in Multiple Translations
If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.
¶ And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:
And if thy brother be waxed poor with thee, and sell himself unto thee; thou shalt not make him to serve as a bondservant.
And if your brother becomes poor and gives himself to you for money, do not make use of him like a servant who is your property;
If any of your people become poor and have to sell themselves to work for you, don't force them to work as a slave.
If thy brother also that dwelleth by thee, be impouerished, and be sold vnto thee, thou shalt not compel him to serue as a bond seruant,
'And when thy brother becometh poor with thee, and he hath been sold to thee, thou dost not lay on him servile service;
“‘If your brother has grown poor among you, and sells himself to you, you shall not make him to serve as a slave.
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:
If thy brother constrained by poverty, sell himself to thee, thou shalt not oppress him with the service of bondservants:
‘If one of your fellow Israelis becomes poor and sells himself to you, do not force him to work like a slave.
Berean Amplified Bible — Leviticus 25:39
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Leviticus 25:39 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/כִֽי
יָמ֥וּךְ
אָחִ֛י/ךָ
עִמָּ֖/ךְ
וְ/נִמְכַּר
לָ֑/ךְ
לֹא
תַעֲבֹ֥ד
בּ֖/וֹ
עֲבֹ֥דַת
עָֽבֶד
וְ/כִֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj | Conj
יָמ֥וּךְ
mûwk
H4134
be poor
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
אָחִ֛י/ךָ
ʼâch
H251
brother
N-ms | Suff
עִמָּ֖/ךְ
ʻim
H5973
with
Prep | Suff
וְ/נִמְכַּר
mâkar
H4376
to sell
Conj | V-Niphal-3ms
לָ֑/ךְ
Prep | Suff
לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
תַעֲבֹ֥ד
ʻâbad
H5647
to serve
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
בּ֖/וֹ
Prep | Suff
עֲבֹ֥דַת
ʻăbôdâh
H5656
service
N-fs
עָֽבֶד
ʻebed
H5650
servant/slave
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Leviticus 25:39
וְ/כִֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj | Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
יָמ֥וּךְ
mûwk
H4134
"be poor"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
To be poor or lowly is the meaning of this word, often used to describe those in need. In Proverbs 28:11, it says the poor are shrewd, highlighting their resourcefulness. This concept emphasizes humility and dependence on God.
Definition: (Qal) to be low, grow poor, be depressed, be poor
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: be (waxen) poor(-er). See also: Leviticus 25:25; Leviticus 25:39; Leviticus 27:8.
אָחִ֛י/ךָ
ʼâch
H251
"brother"
N-ms | Suff
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a brother or male sibling, but it can also refer to a close relative, friend, or someone with a similar relationship. It is used to describe the bond between brothers, like the relationship between Cain and Abel in Genesis.
Definition: : male-sibling 1) brother 1a) brother of same parents 1b) half-brother (same father) 1c) relative, kinship, same tribe 1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship) 1e) (fig.) of resemblance
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'. See also: Genesis 4:2; Genesis 42:13; Numbers 25:6.
עִמָּ֖/ךְ
ʻim
H5973
"with"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Definition: 1) with 1a) with 1b) against 1c) toward 1d) as long as
Usage: Occurs in 919 OT verses. KJV: accompanying, against, and, as ([idiom] long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-) to, with(-al). See also: Genesis 3:6; Exodus 21:14; Deuteronomy 29:11.
וְ/נִמְכַּר
mâkar
H4376
"to sell"
Conj | V-Niphal-3ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to sell something or someone, like a merchant selling goods or a father selling his daughter into marriage. It appears in books like Genesis and Exodus. The word can also mean to surrender or give something up.
Definition: 1) to sell 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sell 1a2) seller (participle) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be sold 1b2) to sell oneself 1b3) to be given over to death 1c) (Hithpael) to sell oneself
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, sell (away, -er, self). See also: Genesis 25:31; Deuteronomy 32:30; Psalms 44:13.
לָ֑/ךְ
""
Prep | Suff
לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
תַעֲבֹ֥ד
ʻâbad
H5647
"to serve"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
To serve or work is the meaning of this verb, which can also imply slavery or bondage, as seen in the story of the Israelites in Egypt. It is used to describe various types of work or service, including serving God or other people. The word has different forms and meanings in different contexts.
Definition: : serve[someone] 1) to work, serve 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to labour, work, do work 1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour 1a3) to serve as subjects 1a4) to serve (God) 1a5) to serve (with Levitical service) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land) 1b2) to make oneself a servant 1c) (Pual) to be worked 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve 1d2) to cause to serve as subjects 1e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve
Usage: Occurs in 262 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, [phrase] husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper, See also: Genesis 2:5; Deuteronomy 28:14; Psalms 2:11.
בּ֖/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
עֲבֹ֥דַת
ʻăbôdâh
H5656
"service"
N-fs
This Hebrew word means service or work, including serving God or others. It appears in various forms in the Bible, such as in Exodus and Deuteronomy, to describe labor or ministry.
Definition: : service[as_servant/slave] 1) labour, service 1a) labour, work 1b) labour (of servant or slave) 1c) labour, service (of captives or subjects) 1d) service (of God)
Usage: Occurs in 125 OT verses. KJV: act, bondage, [phrase] bondservant, effect, labour, ministering(-try), office, service(-ile, -itude), tillage, use, work, [idiom] wrought. See also: Genesis 29:27; Numbers 18:6; Psalms 104:14.
עָֽבֶד
ʻebed
H5650
"servant/slave"
N-ms
This word refers to a servant or slave, often in the context of serving God or a human master. It can also describe a prophet or Levite. The KJV translates it as bondage, bondman, or servant.
Definition: 1) slave, servant 1a) slave, servant, man-servant 1b) subjects 1c) servants, worshippers (of God) 1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc) 1e) servant (of Israel) 1f) servant (as form of address between equals) Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)
Usage: Occurs in 714 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. See also: Genesis 9:25; Exodus 11:3; 1 Samuel 8:16.
Study Notes — Leviticus 25:39
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Leviticus 25:39 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Leviticus 25:39
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Leviticus 25:39
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Leviticus 25:39
- Trapp's Commentary on Leviticus 25:39
- Ellicott's Commentary on Leviticus 25:39
- Cambridge Bible on Leviticus 25:39
- Barnes' Notes on Leviticus 25:39
- Whedon's Commentary on Leviticus 25:39
- Sermons on Leviticus 25:39
Context — Redemption of Bondmen
37You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.
38I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.
39If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.
40Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 41Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 21:2 | 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. |
| 2 | 1 Kings 9:22 | 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. |
| 3 | 2 Kings 4:1 | 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!” |
| 4 | Leviticus 25:46 | You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property; you can make them slaves for life. But as for your brothers, the Israelites, no man may rule harshly over his brother. |
| 5 | Nehemiah 5:5 | 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.” |
| 6 | Jeremiah 34:14 | 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. |
| 7 | Exodus 22:3 | But if it happens after sunrise, there is guilt for his bloodshed. A thief must make full restitution; if he has nothing, he himself shall be sold for his theft. |
| 8 | Jeremiah 25:14 | For many nations and great kings will enslave them, and I will repay them according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands.’” |
| 9 | Jeremiah 27:7 | All nations will serve him and his son and grandson, until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will enslave him. |
| 10 | Deuteronomy 15:12–14 | 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. |
Leviticus 25:39 Summary
This verse is saying that if someone becomes very poor and has to sell themselves to another person in order to survive, they should not be treated as a slave, but rather as a hired worker or a guest, as seen in Leviticus 25:40. This is because God wants us to treat all people with kindness and respect, regardless of their circumstances, as commanded in Exodus 22:21-24 and Deuteronomy 10:19. We can apply this principle in our own lives by being mindful of how we treat those who are less fortunate than us, and by looking for ways to help those in need, as seen in Proverbs 28:27 and Acts 2:45. By doing so, we can demonstrate God's love and character to a world in need, as seen in John 13:35 and 1 John 3:17-18.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to sell oneself in Leviticus 25:39?
In the context of Leviticus 25:39, selling oneself refers to a situation where a person becomes so destitute that they have to sell their labor to another person in order to survive, as seen in other parts of the Bible like Exodus 21:2 and Deuteronomy 15:12.
Is this verse promoting slavery?
No, this verse is actually protecting the poor from being treated as slaves, by commanding that they not be forced into slave labor, but rather be treated with dignity and respect, as God commands in Leviticus 25:42-43 and Exodus 21:16.
How does this verse relate to the Year of Jubilee?
The Year of Jubilee, mentioned in Leviticus 25:40, is a time when all debts are forgiven and all slaves are set free, which is also related to the concept of the Sabbath rest, as seen in Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15.
What is the spiritual significance of this verse?
This verse teaches us about God's heart for the poor and the oppressed, and how He wants us to treat them with kindness and compassion, as seen in Proverbs 19:17 and Matthew 25:31-46.
Reflection Questions
- How can I apply the principle of treating the poor with dignity and respect in my own life, as commanded in Leviticus 25:39?
- What are some ways that I can help those in need, as an act of obedience to God's command to love my neighbor as myself, as seen in Mark 12:31?
- How can I balance the need to help those in need with the importance of not enabling or creating dependency, as warned against in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12?
- What does this verse teach me about God's character and His heart for the poor and oppressed, as seen in Psalm 140:12 and Isaiah 1:17?
- How can I use my resources and abilities to serve those in need, as an act of worship to God, as seen in Matthew 25:14-30?
Gill's Exposition on Leviticus 25:39
And if thy brother [that dwelleth] by thee be waxen poor,.... The above laws and instructions seem designed to prevent such extreme poverty as obliged to what follows, namely, a brother being sold
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Leviticus 25:39
And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: If thy brother ... be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee , [
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Leviticus 25:39
Neither for the time, for ever, nor for the manner, with the hardest and vilest kinds of service, rigorously and severely exacted from him.
Trapp's Commentary on Leviticus 25:39
Leviticus 25:39 And if thy brother [that dwelleth] by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:Ver. 39. Thou shalt not compel him.] To serve for ever, nor use him basely and hardly meanwhiles.
Ellicott's Commentary on Leviticus 25:39
(39) And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor.—Better, And if thy brother be waxen poor by thee, that is, after supporting his tottering hand, as prescribed in Leviticus 25:35-38, 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. And be sold unto thee.—The voluntary disposal of his own liberty for a money consideration the Israelite could only effect by stress of poverty. Thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant.—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.
Cambridge Bible on Leviticus 25:39
39–46. Prohibition of permanent servitude of one Israelite to another (H and P mixed, the former probably preponderating) This case was to be subject to the operation of the law of Jubile, Moreover, the Israelite so bought shall not be compelled to work as a slave, but only under such conditions as befit a sojourner or hired servant. Leviticus 25:42 adds the reason (cp. Leviticus 25:13; Leviticus 25:55). On the other hand slaves bought from persons of other nations, or from foreigners sojourning in the land, were to be bondservants in the strictest sense of the word. For the differences between the law on these subjects and that in Exodus 21:2 ff.; Deuteronomy 15:12-18, see ICC Deut.; p. 185, and Intr. to pent. p. 123.
Barnes' Notes on Leviticus 25:39
The law here appears harmoniously to supplement the earlier one in Exodus 21:1-6. It was another check applied periodically to the tyranny of the rich. Compare Jeremiah 34:8-17.
Whedon's Commentary on Leviticus 25:39
39. Be sold — This is more correctly rendered reflexively, SELL HIMSELF. Ewald maintains that the reflexive and not the passive was the primary force of the niphal form of the Hebrew. See Gesen. Thes., p. 787.
Sermons on Leviticus 25:39
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
William Wilberforce by Michael Haykin | In this sermon, the speaker concludes a series on the 18th century and focuses on the life of William Wilberforce and his fight against the slave trade. The church in the 18th cent |
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(God and Man) Entering God's Sabbath Rest by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker shares his personal experience of dedicating Wednesdays and Saturdays to fasting and prayer. He and another brother would spend hours in prayer after th |
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(Exodus) Exodus 21:1-11 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the social legislation found in chapter 21 of the Bible. He begins by discussing the importance of the master and servant relationship in th |
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The Kinsman Redeemer by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the preacher paints a vivid picture of a person in Israel who has lost their inheritance and is in chains, serving a cruel taskmaster. However, a relative or elder |
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Typified in the Old Testament by Martin Knapp | Martin Knapp preaches on the transformative power of the Double Cure, emphasizing the importance of receiving both justification and sanctification to serve God with joy forever. T |
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Emblems of Grace in the Ancient Law by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson explores the emblems of grace found in the ancient law, emphasizing that the law served as a schoolmaster leading us to Christ, where we find justification by faith. H |
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Law of Spiritual Increase by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the symbolism of the widow in the Bible and how it represents the church. He explains that the church is often oppressed and looked down upon |