Deuteronomy 15:16-23

16 "It shall come about 1if he says to you, 'I will not go out from you,' because he loves you and your household, since he fares well with you;
17 then you shall take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also you shall do likewise to your maidservant.
18 "It shall not seem hard to you when you set him free, for he has given you six years with double the service of a hired man; so the LORD your God will bless you in whatever * you do.
19 "2You shall consecrate to the LORD your God all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock; you shall not work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.
20 "3You and your household shall eat it every year before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses.
21 "4But if it has any defect, such as lameness or blindness, or any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
22 "You shall eat it within your gates; 5the unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as 6a gazelle or a deer.
23 "Only 7you shall not eat its blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.

Deuteronomy 15:16-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 15

This chapter treats of a release of debts every seventh year, to which a blessing is promised if attended to, De 15:1-6, which seventh year of release should not hinder lending to a poor man in distress, even though it was nigh at hand, De 15:7-11 and of letting servants go free, whether manservant or maidservant, at the end of six years' servitude, De 15:12-15 but if unwilling to go, and desirous of staying, must have his ear bored through with an awl, and serve to the year of jubilee, De 15:16-18 and of sanctifying and eating the firstlings of the herd and flock where the Lord directs, De 15:19-23.

Cross References 7

  • 1. Exodus 21:5, 6
  • 2. Exodus 13:2, 12
  • 3. Leviticus 7:15-18; Deuteronomy 12:5; Deuteronomy 14:23
  • 4. Leviticus 22:19-25; Deuteronomy 17:1
  • 5. Deut 12:15, 16, 22
  • 6. Deut 12:15, 16, 22
  • 7. Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 7:26; Leviticus 17:10; Leviticus 19:26; Deuteronomy 12:16, 23

Footnotes 4

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