Leviticus
Leviticus 25:39–46
39If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor. 40Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 41Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers.
42Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves. 43You are not to rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God.
44Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them. 45You 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. 46You 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.
Word by word
Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.
Leviticus 25:39
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| If | וְכִֽי־ | wə·ḵî- | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| a countryman | אָחִ֛יךָ | ’ā·ḥî·ḵā | Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular | H251 brother |
| among you | עִמָּ֖ךְ | ‘im·māḵ | Preposition; second person feminine singular | H5973 with |
| becomes destitute | יָמ֥וּךְ | yā·mūḵ | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H4134 be low, depressed, grow poor |
| and sells himself | וְנִמְכַּר־ | wə·nim·kar- | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | H4376 sell |
| to you | לָ֑ךְ | lāḵ | Preposition; second person feminine singular | |
| then you must not | לֹא־ | lō- | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| force him | תַעֲבֹ֥ד | ṯa·‘ă·ḇōḏ | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | H5647 work, serve |
| into | בּ֖וֹ | bōw | Preposition; third person masculine singular | |
| slave | עָֽבֶד׃ | ‘ā·ḇeḏ | Noun - masculine singular | H5650 slave, servant |
| labor | עֲבֹ֥דַת | ‘ă·ḇō·ḏaṯ | Noun - feminine singular construct | H5656 labour, service |
Leviticus 25:40
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Let him stay | יִהְיֶ֣ה | yih·yeh | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| with you | עִמָּ֑ךְ | ‘im·māḵ | Preposition; second person feminine singular | H5973 with |
| as a hired worker | כְּשָׂכִ֥יר | kə·śā·ḵîr | Preposition-k; Adjective - masculine singular | H7916 hired |
| or temporary resident | כְּתוֹשָׁ֖ב | kə·ṯō·wō·šāḇ | Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular | H8453 sojourner |
| he is to work | יַעֲבֹ֥ד | ya·‘ă·ḇōḏ | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H5647 work, serve |
| for | עִמָּֽךְ׃ | ‘im·māḵ | Preposition; second person feminine singular | H5973 with |
| you until | עַד־ | ‘aḏ- | Preposition | H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while |
| the Year | שְׁנַ֥ת | šə·naṯ | Noun - feminine singular construct | H8141 year |
| of Jubilee | הַיֹּבֵ֖ל | hay·yō·ḇêl | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H3104 ram, ram's horn, cornet |
Leviticus 25:41
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Then he | ה֖וּא | hū | Pronoun - third person masculine singular | H1931 he, she |
| and his children | וּבָנָ֣יו | ū·ḇā·nāw | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H1121 son |
| are to be released | וְיָצָא֙ | wə·yā·ṣā | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | H3318 go or come out |
| and he may return | וְשָׁב֙ | wə·šāḇ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | H7725 turn back, return |
| to | אֶל־ | ’el- | Preposition | H413 motion to |
| his clan | מִשְׁפַּחְתּ֔וֹ | miš·paḥ·tōw | Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H4940 clan |
| and to | וְאֶל־ | wə·’el- | Conjunctive waw; Preposition | H413 motion to |
| the property | אֲחֻזַּ֥ת | ’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ | Noun - feminine singular construct | H272 possession |
| of his fathers | אֲבֹתָ֖יו | ’ă·ḇō·ṯāw | Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H1 father |
Leviticus 25:42
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Because | כִּֽי־ | kî- | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| My servants | עֲבָדַ֣י | ‘ă·ḇā·ḏay | Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular | H5650 slave, servant |
| whom | אֲשֶׁר־ | ’ă·šer- | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| I brought | הוֹצֵ֥אתִי | hō·w·ṣê·ṯî | Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | H3318 go or come out |
| out of the land | מֵאֶ֣רֶץ | mê·’e·reṣ | Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct | H776 earth, land |
| of Egypt | מִצְרָ֑יִם | miṣ·rā·yim | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H4714 Egypt, Egyptians |
| they are not | לֹ֥א | lō | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| to be sold | יִמָּכְר֖וּ | yim·mā·ḵə·rū | Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | H4376 sell |
| as slaves | עָֽבֶד׃ | ‘ā·ḇeḏ | Noun - masculine singular | H5650 slave, servant |
Leviticus 25:43
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You are not | לֹא־ | lō- | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| to rule | תִרְדֶּ֥ה | ṯir·deh | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | H7287 have dominion, rule, dominate |
| over them | ב֖וֹ | ḇōw | Preposition; third person masculine singular | |
| harshly | בְּפָ֑רֶךְ | bə·p̄ā·reḵ | Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular | H6531 harshness, severity |
| but you shall fear | וְיָרֵ֖אתָ | wə·yā·rê·ṯā | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | H3372 fear |
| your God | מֵאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ | mê·’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā | Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular | H430 God |
Leviticus 25:44
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your menservants | וְעַבְדְּךָ֥ | wə·‘aḇ·də·ḵā | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular | H5650 slave, servant |
| and maidservants | וַאֲמָתְךָ֖ | wa·’ă·mā·ṯə·ḵā | Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular | H519 maid, handmaid |
| shall come | יִהְיוּ־ | yih·yū- | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| from | מֵאֵ֣ת | mê·’êṯ | Preposition-m; Direct object marker | H854 with |
| the nations | הַגּוֹיִ֗ם | hag·gō·w·yim | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H1471 nation, people |
| around you | סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם | sə·ḇî·ḇō·ṯê·ḵem | Adverb; second person masculine plural | H5439 circuit, round about |
| from | מֵהֶ֥ם | mê·hem | Preposition-m; Pronoun - third person masculine plural | |
| you may purchase | תִּקְנ֖וּ | tiq·nū | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | H7069 get, acquire |
Leviticus 25:45
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You may also | וְ֠גַם | wə·ḡam | Conjunction | H1571 also, moreover, yea |
| purchase them | תִּקְנ֔וּ | tiq·nū | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | H7069 get, acquire |
| from the | מִבְּנֵ֨י | mib·bə·nê | Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct | H1121 son |
| foreigners | הַתּוֹשָׁבִ֜ים | hat·tō·wō·šā·ḇîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H8453 sojourner |
| residing | הַגָּרִ֤ים | hag·gā·rîm | Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural | H1481 sojourn |
| among you | עִמָּכֶם֙ | ‘im·mā·ḵem | Preposition; second person masculine plural | H5973 with |
| or their clans | וּמִמִּשְׁפַּחְתָּם֙ | ū·mim·miš·paḥ·tām | Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine plural | H4940 clan |
| living among you | עִמָּכֶ֔ם | ‘im·mā·ḵem | Preposition; second person masculine plural | H5973 with |
| who | אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ’ă·šer | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| are born | הוֹלִ֖ידוּ | hō·w·lî·ḏū | Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural | H3205 bear, bring forth, beget |
| in your land | בְּאַרְצְכֶ֑ם | bə·’ar·ṣə·ḵem | Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine plural | H776 earth, land |
| These may become | וְהָי֥וּ | wə·hā·yū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| your | לָכֶ֖ם | lā·ḵem | Preposition; second person masculine plural | |
| property | לַֽאֲחֻזָּֽה׃ | la·’ă·ḥuz·zāh | Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular | H272 possession |
Leviticus 25:46
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You may leave | וְהִתְנַחֲלְתֶּ֨ם | wə·hiṯ·na·ḥăl·tɛm | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural | H5157 get or take as a possession |
| them | אֹתָ֜ם | ’ō·ṯām | Direct object marker; third person masculine plural | H853 mark of the accusative |
| to your sons | לִבְנֵיכֶ֤ם | liḇ·nê·ḵem | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine plural | H1121 son |
| after | אַחֲרֵיכֶם֙ | ’a·ḥă·rê·ḵem | Preposition; second person masculine plural | H310 behind |
| you to inherit | לָרֶ֣שֶׁת | lā·re·šeṯ | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H3423 take possession of, inherit, dispossess |
| as property | אֲחֻזָּ֔ה | ’ă·ḥuz·zāh | Noun - feminine singular | H272 possession |
| you can make them slaves | תַּעֲבֹ֑דוּ | ta·‘ă·ḇō·ḏū | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | H5647 work, serve |
| for life | לְעֹלָ֖ם | lə·‘ō·lām | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular | H5769 long duration, antiquity, futurity |
| But as for your brothers | וּבְאַ֨חֵיכֶ֤ם | ū·ḇə·’a·ḥê·ḵem | Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine plural | H251 brother |
| the Israelites | בְּנֵֽי־ | bə·nê- | Noun - masculine plural construct | H1121 son |
| no | לֹא־ | lō- | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| man | אִ֣ישׁ | ’îš | Noun - masculine singular | H376 man |
| may rule | תִרְדֶּ֥ה | ṯir·deh | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | H7287 have dominion, rule, dominate |
| harshly | בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃ס | bə·p̄ā·reḵ | Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular | H6531 harshness, severity |
| over his brother | בְּאָחִ֔יו | bə·’ā·ḥîw | Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H251 brother |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
Leviticus 25:39 Exodus 21:2 · 1 Kings 9:22 · 2 Kings 4:1 · Nehemiah 5:5 · Leviticus 25:46
Leviticus 25:40 Exodus 21:2–3
Leviticus 25:41 Leviticus 25:28 · Exodus 21:3
Leviticus 25:42 Leviticus 25:55 · Romans 6:22 · 1 Corinthians 7:21–23
Leviticus 25:43 Colossians 4:1 · Leviticus 25:46 · Exodus 1:13–14 · Leviticus 25:17 · Leviticus 25:53 · Ezekiel 34:4
Leviticus 25:44 Exodus 12:44
Leviticus 25:46 Isaiah 14:2
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.
Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.