Leviticus 25:39 “If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you,…”

Leviticus 25:39

If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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:

World English Bible

“‘If your brother has grown poor among you, and sells himself to you, you shall not make him to serve as a slave.

American Standard Version

And if thy brother be waxed poor with thee, and sell himself unto thee; thou shalt not make him to serve as a bondservant.

Geneva Bible 1599

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,

Darby Translation

And if thy brother grow poor beside thee, and be sold unto thee, thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:

Young's Literal Translation

'And when thy brother becometh poor with thee, and he hath been sold to thee, thou dost not lay on him servile service;

Bible in Basic English

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;

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Cross references

“be sold”

Exodus 21:2 1 Kings 9:22 2 Kings 4:1 Nehemiah 5:5 Exodus 22:3 Jeremiah 34:14

Exodus 21:2 · BSB

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.

1 Kings 9:22 · BSB

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.

2 Kings 4:1 · BSB

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 slave…

Nehemiah 5:5 · BSB

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 fi…

Exodus 22:3 · BSB

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.

Jeremiah 34:14 · BSB

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.

“compel him to serve as”

Leviticus 25:46 Exodus 1:14 Jeremiah 25:14 Jeremiah 27:7 Jeremiah 30:8

Leviticus 25:46 · BSB

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.

Exodus 1:14 · BSB

and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.

Jeremiah 25:14 · BSB

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.’”

Jeremiah 27:7 · BSB

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.

Jeremiah 30:8 · BSB

On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will break the yoke off their necks and tear off their bonds, and no longer will strangers enslave them.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

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.

40Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.

Read Leviticus 25