Leviticus 25:35-45

35 "If an Israelite becomes poor and cannot support himself, help him. He must live with you as a stranger without a permanent home.
36 Don't collect interest or make any profit from him. Fear your God by respecting other Israelites' lives.
37 Never collect any kind of interest on your money or on the food you give them.
38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you Canaan and to be your God.
39 "If an Israelite becomes poor and sells himself to you, don't work him like a slave.
40 He will be like a hired worker or a visitor to you. He may work with you until the year of jubilee.
41 Then you will release him and his children to go back to their family and the property of their ancestors.
42 They are my servants. I brought them out of Egypt. They must never be sold as slaves.
43 Do not treat them harshly. Fear your God.
44 "You may have male and female slaves, but buy them from the nations around you.
45 You may also buy them from the foreigners living among you and from their families born in your country. They will be your property.

Leviticus 25:35-45 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.

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