Leviticus 25:45-55

45 et de advenis qui peregrinantur apud vos vel qui ex his nati fuerint in terra vestra hos habebitis famulos

46 et hereditario iure transmittetis ad posteros ac possidebitis in aeternum fratres autem vestros filios Israhel ne opprimatis per potentiam

47 si invaluerit apud vos manus advenae atque peregrini et adtenuatus frater tuus vendiderit se ei aut cuiquam de stirpe eius

48 post venditionem potest redimi qui voluerit ex fratribus suis redimet eum

49 et patruus et patruelis et consanguineus et adfinis sin autem et ipse potuerit redimet se

50 supputatis dumtaxat annis a tempore venditionis suae usque ad annum iobeleum et pecunia qua venditus fuerat iuxta annorum numerum et rationem mercennarii supputata

51 si plures fuerint anni qui remanent usque ad iobeleum secundum hos reddet et pretium

52 si pauci ponet rationem cum eo iuxta annorum numerum et reddet emptori quod reliquum est annorum

53 quibus ante servivit mercedibus inputatis non adfliget eum violenter in conspectu tuo

54 quod si per haec redimi non potuerit anno iobeleo egredietur cum liberis suis

55 mei sunt enim servi filii Israhel quos eduxi de terra Aegypti

Leviticus 25:45-55 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.