Leviticus 25:45
43 You are not to rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God.
44 Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them.
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.
47 If a foreigner residing among you prospers, but your countryman dwelling near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of his clan,
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
- 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.
- KJV
- Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.
- WEB
- Moreover, of the children of the aliens who live among you, of them you may buy, and of their families who are with you, which they have conceived in your land; and they will be your property.
- ASV
- Moreover of the children of the strangers that sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they have begotten in your land: and they shall be your possession.
- DARBY
- Moreover of the children of them that dwell as sojourners with you, of them may ye buy, and of their family that is with you, which they beget in your land, and they shall be your possession.
- BLB
- Moreover, the sons of the sojourners who dwell among you⁺, these you⁺ may buy, and their clans who are with you⁺ that they beget in your⁺ land; and they shall be unto you⁺ for a possession.
- ÅB
- og likeledes blant barna av de innerster som bor hos dere som fremmede; blant dem og deres etterkommere, som bor hos dere og er født i deres land, kan dere kjøpe slaver eller slavekvinner, og de skal være deres eiendom,
- OTB
- Du kan også skaffe deg noen av de midlertidige innbyggerne som bor blant dere og medlemmer av deres klaner født i ditt land, og de skal bli din eiendom.
- B1930
- og likeledes blandt barna av de innerster som bor hos eder som fremmede; blandt dem og deres efterkommere, som bor hos eder og er født i eders land, kan I kjøpe træler eller trælkvinner, og de skal være eders eiendom,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 56:3–6
Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.” And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.”
Read in context