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Leviticus 25:46

Israel
Justice

44 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.

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,

48 he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his brothers may redeem him:

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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 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.
KJV
And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour.
WEB
You may make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession. Of them you may take your slaves forever, but over your brothers the children of Israel you shall not rule, one over another, with harshness.
ASV
And ye shall make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession; of them shall ye take your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel ye shall not rule, one over another, with rigor.
DARBY
And ye shall leave them as an inheritance to your children after you, to inherit them as a possession: these may ye make your bondmen for ever; but as for your brethren, the children of Israel, ye shall not rule over one another with rigour.
BLB
And you⁺ may take them as an inheritance for your⁺ children after you⁺ to inherit [them] [as] a possession forever; in them shall be your⁺ slaves, and regarding your⁺ brothers, the sons of Israel, you shall not rule with rigor one over another.
ÅB
og dere kan etterlate dem som arv til deres barn etter dere, så de kan ha dem til eiendom; dere kan for all tid bruke dem som slaver. Men over deres brødre, Israels barn, skal du ikke herske med hårdhet, bror over bror.
OTB
Du kan testamentere dem til dine barn som arvet eiendom og kan gjøre dem til slaver for livet, men du må ikke herske over dine med-israelitter med hardhet.
B1930
og I kan efterlate dem som arv til eders barn efter eder, så de kan ha dem til eiendom; I kan for all tid bruke dem som træler. Men over eders brødre, Israels barn, skal du ikke herske med hårdhet, bror over bror.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 14:2

    The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.

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  • Leviticus 25:43

    You are not to rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God.

    Read in context