Leviticus 25:44
42 Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves.
43 You are not to rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God.
Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them.
45 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.
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.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them.
- KJV
- Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.
- WEB
- “‘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.
- ASV
- 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.
- DARBY
- And as for thy bondman and thy handmaid whom thou shalt have of the nations that are round about you, of them shall ye buy bondmen and handmaids.
- BLB
- And your manservant and your maidservant whom you may have [are] from the nations that are around you⁺; from them you⁺ may buy [a] manservant and maidservant.
- ÅB
- Men vil du få deg en slave eller en slavekvinne, da skal dere kjøpe dem av de hedningefolk som bor omkring dere,
- OTB
- "'Dine mannlige og kvinnelige slaver skal komme fra nasjonene rundt deg; fra dem kan du skaffe deg slaver.
- B1930
- Men vil du få dig en træl eller en trælkvinne, da skal I kjøpe dem av de hedningefolk som bor omkring eder,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Exodus 12:44
But any slave who has been purchased may eat of it, after you have circumcised him.
Read in contextIsaiah 14:1–2
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.
Read in contextPsalms 2:8–9
Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.
Read in contextRevelation 2:26–27
And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations.
Read in context