Add parallel Print Page Options

47 “If a resident alien or traveler becomes rich,[a] but your relative who lives next to him is so poor that he sells himself to that resident alien or traveler among you or to a member of the resident alien’s family, 48 he has the right to be redeemed after he sells himself. One of his brothers may redeem him. 49 His uncle or his uncle’s son may redeem him or any blood[b] relative from his tribe may redeem him. If[c] he becomes rich,[d] then he may redeem himself.

50 “He is to bring an accounting to the one who bought him, starting from the year he had sold himself until the year of jubilee. The price of his sale is to correspond to the number of years comparable to the time a hired servant stays with him. 51 If there are still many years left, he is to refund the cost[e] of his redemption. 52 But if only a few years are left until the year of jubilee, he is to bring an accounting of the years that he is to refund for his redemption. 53 Like a hired servant, he is to remain with him year after year, but he is not to rule over him with what you see as severity. 54 If he isn’t redeemed by these, then he is to be set free in the year of jubilee—he and his children[f] with him— 55 because the Israelis are my servants. They’re my servants, since I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 25:47 Lit. his hand overtakes
  2. Leviticus 25:49 Lit. flesh
  3. Leviticus 25:49 So LXX and Syriac
  4. Leviticus 25:49 Lit. his hand overtakes
  5. Leviticus 25:51 Or price-money
  6. Leviticus 25:54 Lit. his sons

47 “‘If a foreigner residing among you becomes rich and any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves(A) to the foreigner or to a member of the foreigner’s clan, 48 they retain the right of redemption(B) after they have sold themselves. One of their relatives(C) may redeem them: 49 An uncle or a cousin or any blood relative in their clan may redeem them. Or if they prosper,(D) they may redeem themselves. 50 They and their buyer are to count the time from the year they sold themselves up to the Year of Jubilee.(E) The price for their release is to be based on the rate paid to a hired worker(F) for that number of years. 51 If many years remain, they must pay for their redemption a larger share of the price paid for them. 52 If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, they are to compute that and pay for their redemption accordingly.(G) 53 They are to be treated as workers hired from year to year; you must see to it that those to whom they owe service do not rule over them ruthlessly.(H)

54 “‘Even if someone is not redeemed in any of these ways, they and their children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee, 55 for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt.(I) I am the Lord your God.(J)

Read full chapter