Leviticus 25:34-44

34 The open pastureland around the Levitical towns may never be sold. It is their permanent possession.

35 “If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and cannot support himself, support him as you would a foreigner or a temporary resident and allow him to live with you.

36 Do not charge interest or make a profit at his expense. Instead, show your fear of God by letting him live with you as your relative.

37 Remember, do not charge interest on money you lend him or make a profit on food you sell him.

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

39 “If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and is forced to sell himself to you, do not treat him as a slave.

40 Treat him instead as a hired worker or as a temporary resident who lives with you, and he will serve you only until the Year of Jubilee.

41 At that time he and his children will no longer be obligated to you, and they will return to their clans and go back to the land originally allotted to their ancestors.

42 The people of Israel are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, so they must never be sold as slaves.

43 Show your fear of God by not treating them harshly.

44 “However, you may purchase male and female slaves from among the nations around you.

Leviticus 25:34-44 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 25

In this chapter the Israelites are directed, when come into the land of Canaan, to observe every seventh year as a sabbatical year, in which there was to be no tillage of the land, and yet there would be a sufficiency for man and beast, Le 25:1-7; and every fiftieth year as a year of jubilee, in which also there was to be no tillage of the land, and every man was to return to his possession or estate, which had been sold to another any time before this, Le 25:8-17; and a promise of safety and plenty in the seventh year is made to encourage the observance of it, Le 25:18-22; and several laws and rules are delivered out concerning the sale of lands, the redemption of them, and their return to their original owner in the year of jubilee, Le 25:23-28; and the sale of houses, and the redemption of them, and the difference between those in walled cities and those in villages, with respect thereunto, Le 25:29-31; and also concerning the houses of the cities of the Levites, and the fields of the suburbs of them, Le 25:32-34; to which are added some instructions about relieving decayed, persons, and lending and giving to them, without taking usury of them, Le 25:34-38; and other laws concerning the release of such Israelites as had sold themselves for servants to the Israelites, in the year of jubilee, since none but Heathens were to be bondmen and bondmaids for ever, Le 25:39-46; and of such who were sold to proselytes, Le 25:47-55.