Deuteronomy 15:12
10 Give generously to him, and do not let your heart be grieved when you do so. And because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything to which you put your hand.
11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land.
If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free.
13 And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed.
14 You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you.
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
- If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free.
- KJV
- And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
- WEB
- If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you.
- ASV
- If thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
- DARBY
- If thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, have been sold unto thee, he shall serve thee six years, and in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
- BLB
- If your brother is sold to you, a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, and he has served you six years, in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you.
- ÅB
- Når noen av ditt folk, en hebraisk mann eller kvinne, blir solgt[^1] til deg, da skal han tjene deg i seks år; men i det syvende år skal du gi ham fri, så han kan gå hvor han vil.
- OTB
- Hvis din hebraiske landsmann, en mann eller en kvinne, blir solgt til deg og tjener deg i seks år, skal du i det syvende året la dem gå fri.
- B1930
- Når nogen av ditt folk, en hebraisk mann eller kvinne, blir solgt til dig, da skal han tjene dig i seks år; men i det syvende år skal du gi ham fri, så han kan gå hvor han vil. / < selger sig selv eller selges av andre.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 34:14
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.
Read in contextExodus 21:2–6
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.
Read in contextLeviticus 25:39–41
If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.
Read in contextJohn 8:35–36
A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 15:1
At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.
Read in context