Leviticus 25:39

25:38 I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.

And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: compel: Heb. serve thyself with him with the service, etc

KJV

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“‘If your brother has grown poor among you, and sells himself to you; you shall not make him to serve as a slave.

And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:

And if your brother that dwells by you be waxen poor, and be sold to you; you shall not compel him to serve as a bondservant:

25:40 But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile:

What does Leviticus 25:39 mean?

Leviticus 25:39 is a verse in the book of Leviticus, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אָח (ʼâch), מוּךְ (mûwk), מָכַר (mâkar).

Hebrew interlinear

And

thy

brotherאָחʼâch/awkh/H251a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father))

that

dwelleth

thee

waxen

poor,מוּךְmûwk/mook/H4134to become thin, i.e. (figuratively) be impoverished

and

soldמָכַרmâkar/maw-kar'/H4376to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender)

unto

thee;

thou

shalt

not

compelעָבַדʻâbad/aw-bad'/H5647to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.

him

serveעֲבֹדָהʻăbôdâh/ab-o-daw'/H5656work of any kind

bondservant:עֶבֶדʻebed/eh'-bed/H5650a servant

compel:

Heb.

serve

thyself

with

him

with

the

service,

etc

Topics

Beneficence Debtor Jubilee Poor Poor, the Servants

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Leviticus 25:39.

Exodus 1:14

And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

Genesis 24:53

And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. jewels: Heb. vessels

Genesis 27:29

Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

Genesis 29:27

Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

Genesis 30:26

Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.

Genesis 4:2

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. Abel: Heb. Hebel a keeper: Heb. a feeder

Genesis 9:25

And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

Leviticus 25:25

If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold.

Frequently asked questions

What does Leviticus 25:39 say?

Leviticus 25:39 (King James Version) reads: "And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: compel: Heb. serve thyself with him with the service, etc"

Is Leviticus 25:39 in the Old or New Testament?

Leviticus 25:39 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Leviticus.

Reflect

As you read Leviticus 25:39, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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