God’s Word Translation
Leviticus 25:47
47“Someone who is a foreigner without a permanent home among you may become rich, and your relative living with him may be poor. The poor Israelite may sell himself to that foreigner or a member of his family.
Leviticus 25:47 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger’s family:
- New International Version (NIV)“ ‘If a foreigner residing among you becomes rich and any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to the foreigner or to a member of the foreigner’s clan,
- English Standard Version (ESV)"If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger's clan,
- New King James Version (NKJV)‘Now if a sojourner or stranger close to you becomes rich, and one of your brethren who dwells by him becomes poor, and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner close to you, or to a member of the stranger’s family,
Context of Leviticus 25:47
45You may also buy them from the foreigners living among you and from their families born in your country. They will be your property. 46You may acquire them for yourselves and for your descendants as permanent property. You may work them as slaves. However, do not treat the Israelites harshly. They are your relatives. “Someone who is a foreigner without a permanent home among you may become rich, and your relative living with him may be poor. The poor Israelite may sell himself to that foreigner or a member of his family. 48After he has sold himself, he has the right to be bought back. One of his brothers may buy him back. 49His uncle, his cousin, or some other relative could also buy him back. If he becomes rich, he could buy his own freedom.
Read all of Leviticus 25Leviticus 25:47 word by word
וְכִ֣י תַשִּׂ֗יג יַ֣ד גֵּ֤ר וְתוֹשָׁב֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ וּמָ֥ךְ אָחִ֖יךָ עִמּ֑וֹ וְנִמְכַּ֗ר לְגֵ֤ר תּוֹשָׁב֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ א֥וֹ לְעֵ֖קֶר מִשְׁפַּ֥חַת גֵּֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And if a sojournerגֵּרgêr gêyr · sojournerH1616
- or strangerתּוֹשָׁבtôshâb tôshâb · sojournerH8453
- wax richנָשַׂגnâώag · to overtakeH5381
- by theeיָדyâd · hand: themselvesH3027
- and thy brotherאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
- by him wax poorמוּךְmûk · be poorH4134
- and sellמָכַרmâkar · to sellH4376
- by thee, or to the stockעֵ֫קֶר‛êqer · descendantH6133
- familyמִשְׁפָּחָהmishpâchâh · familyH4940
Cross-references for Leviticus 25:47
- Leviticus 25:26If a man doesn’t have anyone to buy it back for him, but if he prospers and earns enough to buy it back himself,
- 1 Samuel 2:7The Lord causes poverty and grants wealth. He humbles ⌞people⌟; he also promotes them.
- James 2:5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Didn’t God choose poor people in the world to become rich in faith and to receive the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
Commentaries on Leviticus 25:47
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 47-54Verses 47-54 A sojourner or stranger - Rather, a foreigner who has settled among you. See Leviticus 16:29, note; Exodus 20:10, note. Leviticus 25:54 In these years - More properly, by one of these means. The extreme period of servitude in this case was six years, as when the master was a Hebrew Exodus 21:2. Looking at the law of the Jubilee from a simply practical point of view, its operation must have tended to remedy those evils which are always growing…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 39-55Verses 39-55 A native Israelite, if sold for debt, or for a crime, was to serve but six years, and to go out the seventh. If he sold himself, through poverty, both his work and his usage must be such as were fitting for a son of Abraham. Masters are required to give to their servants that which is just and equal, Col 4:1. At the year of jubilee the servant should go out free, he and his children, and should return to his own family. This typified…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 47-55An Israelite who sold himself or a family member to a foreigner in Israel could buy himself or the family member back. If he lacked the resources to do so, he remained a slave in the seventh year. He had to wait for release in the Year of Jubilee (compare Exodus 21:2). While serving the foreigner, they must treat the Israelite slave as a hired servant, not as a slave (see Leviticus 25:53). The people of Israel belonged to God. No one could sell them as…Read the comment
Topics related to Leviticus 25:47
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Leviticus 25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries