Deuteronomy 15:13 — Word Study
WLCוְכִֽי־ תְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ חָפְשִׁ֖י מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ לֹ֥א תְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ רֵיקָֽם׃
BSAAnd whenkîy you release himshâlach▸ [set free, let go] do notlôʼ send him awayshâlach▸ [let him depart, dismiss, from your presence] empty-handedrêyqâm [without provision, in need of nothing, with nothing in his hands]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְכִֽי־ | and if | Conjunction, particle |
| תְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ | you will let go him | Verb piel imperfect second person masculine singular, suffix |
| חָפְשִׁ֖י | a free [person] | |
| מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ | from with you | Preposition, preposition, suffix |
| לֹ֥א | not | Particle |
| תְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ | you will let go him | Verb piel imperfect second person masculine singular, suffix |
| רֵיקָֽם׃ | emptily | Adverb |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. |
| KJV | And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: |
| ASV | And when thou lettest him go free from thee, thou shalt not let him go empty: |
| YLT | And when thou dost send him away free from thee, thou dost not send him away empty; |
| WEB | When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty. |
| BBE | And when you make him free, do not let him go away with nothing in his hands: |
Where they part company is with the phrase חָפְשִׁי — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main clause with subordinate phrases that clarify the conditions of the release.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, AdamClarke, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Deuteronomy 15:13
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Laws Concerning Hebrew Servantsgenerated
Deuteronomy 15:13 instructs the Israelites on how to treat Hebrew servants upon their release. The context emphasizes the importance of generosity and provision, reflecting God's concern for the welfare of His people. This law is part of a broader set of regulations aimed at ensuring justice and compassion within the community, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 31:42 | If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.” |
| 2 | Exodus 3:21 | And I will grant this people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that when you leave, you will not go away empty-handed. |
| 3 | Leviticus 25:42–44 | Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves. |
| 4 | Proverbs 3:27–28 | Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 22:13 | “Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חָפְשִׁי, cha.fe.Shigenerated
The word חָפְשִׁי (cha.fe.Shi) means 'free' and indicates a state of liberation from bondage or servitude. It is derived from the root word for freedom, emphasizing the importance of being exempt from obligations.
In this verse, it highlights the significance of releasing a servant not just physically but also providing for their needs as they transition to freedom. The concept of freedom is central to the Israelites' identity and their relationship with God.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb תְשַׁלְּחֶ֥ (te.shal.le.Che) governs the main clause, indicating the action of releasing. The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating the relationship with the servant and an adverbial phrase describing the manner of sending him away.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the action of sending away, followed by the condition of not doing so רֵיקָֽם (rei.Kam), which serves to underline the importance of providing for the released servant.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the word חָפְשִׁי is rendered as ἐλεύθερον (eleutheron), which also means 'free.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the state of freedom granted to the servant.
The consistency in translation highlights the shared understanding of freedom across both Hebrew and Greek texts, reinforcing the significance of the command.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 15:13 instructs the Israelites to release a Hebrew servant after six years of service. When doing so, they are commanded not to send him away empty-handed, but to provide for him generously. This reflects God's concern for the welfare of His people and emphasizes the importance of compassion and generosity.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Sending away a servant empty-handed means not providing for their needs after their release, which goes against the command of generosity.
Freedom is central to the Israelites' identity, as they were once slaves in Egypt, and the law emphasizes the importance of treating others with compassion.
The law instructs that the released servant should be furnished liberally from the owner's resources, ensuring they have what they need to start their new life.
This verse reflects God's character by showing His concern for justice and care for the vulnerable, instructing His people to act with kindness and generosity.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I show generosity to those who are in need around me?
- How can understanding the concept of freedom help me in my relationships with others?
- What are some practical ways I can support someone transitioning out of a difficult situation?
- How does this command challenge me to reflect on my own actions towards those who serve me?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 15:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd when thou sendest him out free from thee,.... When he discharged him from his servitude, and made him a free man: thou shall not let him go away empty; without anything to support himself, or to
Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 15 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: Thou shalt not let him go away empty - a seasonable and wise provision for enabling a poor unfortunate to regain
Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 15 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 13. Thou shalt not let him go away empty] Because during the time he served thee, he made no property for himself, having been always honest towards thee; and now when he leaves thee, he has nothing to begin the world with.
Read AdamClarke on Deuteronomy 15 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12–18. The Year of Remission: (2) of Slaves If a Hebrew, man or woman, serves as a slave for six years, in the seventh he shall not only go free but be liberally equipped from his owner’s property; as Israel was a slave and redeemed by God (Deuteronomy 15:12-15). If, however, the slave elects to remain with his owner because he loves him, then he shall be bound to his service for ever (Deuteronomy 15:16 f.). Nor must his emancipation seem hard to the owner: six years’ profit from a slave is double the hire of a hireling (Deuteronomy 15:18).—Sg. throughout. Whether there are any editorial additions is uncertain: the prevailing use of the masc. for slave seems to some to point to the phrase…
Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 15 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed.
When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty.
And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed.
If you set them free, you must not send them away empty-handed.
Tyndale line
And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:
And when thou lettest him go free from thee, thou shalt not let him go empty:
And when thou lettest him go free from thee, thou shalt not let him go empty:
And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him depart empty:
And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him goe away emptie,
Strictly literal
And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty;
And when thou dost send him away free from thee, thou dost not send him away empty;
And when you send him away free from you, you do not send him away empty;
And when thou lettest him go out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:
When you let him go free from you, you must not let him go empty-handed.
From the Latin
And when thou sendest him out free, thou shalt not let him go away empty:
Simplified
And when you free them, don't send them away with nothing.
And when you make him free, do not let him go away with nothing in his hands:
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word. The Septuagint also matches the Hebrew text closely, confirming the integrity of the command across different traditions.
וְכִֽי־ תְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ חָפְשִׁ֖י מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ לֹ֥א תְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ רֵיקָֽם׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
וכי תשׁלחנו חפשׁי מעמך לא תשׁלחנו ריקם
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Deuteronomy 15:13
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'
כִּי conj. that, for, when
that
Of time, when, of the past
elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
Because, since
base
כִּי אם־
each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
that if
for if
(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
limiting the prec. clause, except
the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
after an oath, surely
base
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that
. . Of time, when, of the past
. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
. Because, since
H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if
. for if
. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except
. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
. after an oath, surely
H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
3588 kiy kee
a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional
prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent
or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative
conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by
other particles annexed:--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.
כִּי (ki) — for.
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
כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.
1) except if
1a) but if
1b) even though
כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.
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)
Conj | Conj — Conjunction · particleHC/Tc
The Hebrew word שָׁלַח (shalach) is a primitive root meaning 'to send' with a wide range of applications. It can refer to sending away, stretching out (especially a hand), or letting go. The entries indicate various forms, including sending off, casting out, and setting free. Notably, it can also imply divorce or being sent away in a marital context.
שָׁלַח 814 vb. send
Qal
send: human subj.
send: subj. י׳ (God)
stretch out, esp. acc. hand
rarely send away: human subj.
let loose
Niph. letters were sent
Pi.
send off, away, human subj.
send away, subj. י׳
give over
cast out
send out, forth
let go, set free
shoot forth branches
let down
shoot
Phrases
Pu. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)
Hiph. and I (י׳) will send
base
H7971 שָׁלַח send .. send: human subj.
. send: subj. י׳ (God)
. stretch out, esp. acc. hand
. rarely send away: human subj.
. let loose
. letters were sent
. . send off, away, human subj.
. . send away, subj. י׳
. give over
. cast out
. send out, forth
. let go, set free
. shoot forth branches
. let down
. shoot
. Phrases
. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)
. and I (י׳) will send
7971 shalach shaw-lakh'
a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great
variety of applications):--X any wise, appoint, bring (on the
way), cast (away, out), conduct, X earnestly, forsake, give
(up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose),
push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send
(away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread,
stretch forth (out).
שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: depart.
: depart/send
1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to send
1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct
1a3) to send away
1a4) to let loose
1b) (Niphal) to be sent
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out
1c2) to let go, set free
1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)
1c4) to let down
1c5) to shoot
1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled
1e) (Hiphil) to send
שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: let go.
: let_go/free
1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to send
1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct
1a3) to send away
1a4) to let loose
1b) (Niphal) to be sent
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out
1c2) to let go, set free
1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)
1c4) to let down
1c5) to shoot
V-Piel-Imperf-2ms | Suff — Verb piel imperfect second person masculine singular · suffixHVpi2ms/Sp3ms
חָפְשִׁי (chophshiy) means 'free,' indicating a state of exemption from bondage, taxes, or obligations. It is derived from the root word for freedom (H2666). The term is used in contexts relating to liberty, particularly in reference to freedom from slavery or financial burdens.
חָפְשִׁי adj. free
base
H2670 חָפְשִׁי free
2670 chophshiy khof-shee'
from 2666; exempt (from bondage, tax or care):--free,
liberty.
see HEBREW for 02666
חׇפְשִׁי (choph.shi) — free.
1) free
1a) free (from slavery)
1b) free (from taxes or obligations)
HAamsa — HAamsa
עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
base
H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship
. Of a locality, close to, beside
. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of
. In possession of
. In the custody or care of
. Beside = except
. With = friendly with
. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside
5973 `im eem
from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction
with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;
often with prepositional prefix (and then usually
unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X
long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from
(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,
with(-al).
see HEBREW for 06004
עִם (im) — with.
1) with
1a) with
1b) against
1c) toward
1d) as long as
מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.
1a) beside, except
1b) in spite of
HR/Rd/Sp2ms — Preposition · preposition · suffixHR/Rd/Sp2ms
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
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)
Part — ParticleHTn
The Hebrew word שָׁלַח (shalach) is a primitive root meaning 'to send' with a wide range of applications. It can refer to sending away, stretching out (especially a hand), or letting go. The entries indicate various forms, including sending off, casting out, and setting free. Notably, it can also imply divorce or being sent away in a marital context.
שָׁלַח 814 vb. send
Qal
send: human subj.
send: subj. י׳ (God)
stretch out, esp. acc. hand
rarely send away: human subj.
let loose
Niph. letters were sent
Pi.
send off, away, human subj.
send away, subj. י׳
give over
cast out
send out, forth
let go, set free
shoot forth branches
let down
shoot
Phrases
Pu. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)
Hiph. and I (י׳) will send
base
H7971 שָׁלַח send .. send: human subj.
. send: subj. י׳ (God)
. stretch out, esp. acc. hand
. rarely send away: human subj.
. let loose
. letters were sent
. . send off, away, human subj.
. . send away, subj. י׳
. give over
. cast out
. send out, forth
. let go, set free
. shoot forth branches
. let down
. shoot
. Phrases
. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)
. and I (י׳) will send
7971 shalach shaw-lakh'
a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great
variety of applications):--X any wise, appoint, bring (on the
way), cast (away, out), conduct, X earnestly, forsake, give
(up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose),
push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send
(away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread,
stretch forth (out).
שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: depart.
: depart/send
1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to send
1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct
1a3) to send away
1a4) to let loose
1b) (Niphal) to be sent
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out
1c2) to let go, set free
1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)
1c4) to let down
1c5) to shoot
1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled
1e) (Hiphil) to send
שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: let go.
: let_go/free
1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to send
1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct
1a3) to send away
1a4) to let loose
1b) (Niphal) to be sent
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out
1c2) to let go, set free
1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)
1c4) to let down
1c5) to shoot
V-Piel-Imperf-2ms | Suff — Verb piel imperfect second person masculine singular · suffixHVpi2ms/Sp3ms
רֵיקָם (reyqam) means 'emptily' or 'vainly,' indicating a state of being empty or without effect. It can refer to actions done in vain or without cause. The word is built from a root that conveys emptiness and ineffectiveness, and it appears in contexts where something is done without result.
רֵיקָם adv. emptily, vainly
in empty condition, empty = with empty hands
in vain, without effect
base
H7387 רֵיקָם emptily, vainly . in empty condition, empty = with empty hands
. in vain, without effect
7387 reyqam ray-kawm'
from 7386; emptily; figuratively (objective) ineffectually,
(subjective) undeservedly:--without cause, empty, in vain,
void.
see HEBREW for 07386
רֵיקָם (re.qam) — emptily.
1) vainly, emptily
1a) in empty condition, empty, emptily
1b) in vain, without effect, vainly
Adv — AdverbHD