Leviticus 25:47
New International Version
“’If a foreigner residing among you becomes rich and any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to the foreigner or to a member of the foreigner’s clan,

New Living Translation
“Suppose a foreigner or temporary resident becomes rich while living among you. If any of your fellow Israelites fall into poverty and are forced to sell themselves to such a foreigner or to a member of his family,

English Standard Version
“If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger’s clan,

Berean Standard Bible
If a foreigner residing among you prospers, but your countryman dwelling near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of his clan,

King James Bible
And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family:

New King James Version
‘Now if a sojourner or stranger close to you becomes rich, and one of your brethren who dwells by him becomes poor, and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner close to you, or to a member of the stranger’s family,

New American Standard Bible
‘Now if the means of a stranger or of a foreign resident with you becomes sufficient, and a countryman of yours becomes poor in relation to him and sells himself to a stranger who is residing with you, or to the descendants of a stranger’s family,

NASB 1995
‘Now if the means of a stranger or of a sojourner with you becomes sufficient, and a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself to a stranger who is sojourning with you, or to the descendants of a stranger’s family,

NASB 1977
‘Now if the means of a stranger or of a sojourner with you becomes sufficient, and a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself to a stranger who is sojourning with you, or to the descendants of a stranger’s family,

Legacy Standard Bible
‘Now if the means of a sojourner or of a foreign resident with you becomes sufficient, and a brother of yours becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself to a sojourner who resides with you or to the descendants of a sojourner’s family,

Amplified Bible
‘Now if the financial means of a stranger or temporary resident among you become sufficient, and your fellow countryman becomes poor in comparison to him and sells himself to the stranger who is living among you or to the descendants of the stranger’s family,

Christian Standard Bible
“If an alien or temporary resident living among you prospers, but your brother living near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the alien living among you, or to a member of the resident alien’s clan,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If a foreigner or temporary resident living among you prospers, but your brother living near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the foreigner living among you, or to a member of the foreigner’s clan,

American Standard Version
And if a stranger or sojourner with thee be waxed rich, and thy brother be waxed poor beside him, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner with thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family;

Contemporary English Version
Even if some of you Israelites become so much in debt that you must sell yourselves to foreigners in your country,

English Revised Version
And if a stranger or sojourner with thee be waxen rich, and thy brother be waxen poor beside him, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner with thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Someone who is a foreigner without a permanent home among you may become rich, and your relative living with him may be poor. The poor Israelite may sell himself to that foreigner or a member of his family.

Good News Translation
Suppose a foreigner living with you becomes rich, while some Israelites become poor and sell themselves as slaves to that foreigner or to a member of that foreigner's family.

International Standard Version
"If a resident alien or traveler becomes rich, 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,

Majority Standard Bible
If a foreigner residing among you prospers, but your countryman dwelling near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of his clan,

NET Bible
"'If a resident foreigner who is with you prospers and your brother becomes impoverished with regard to him so that he sells himself to a resident foreigner who is with you or to a member of a foreigner's family,

New Heart English Bible
"'If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him has grown poor, and sells himself to the stranger or foreigner living among you, or to a member of the stranger's family;

Webster's Bible Translation
And if a sojourner or a stranger shall become rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him shall become poor, and sell himself to the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family:

World English Bible
“‘If an alien or temporary resident with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him has grown poor, and sells himself to the stranger or foreigner living among you, or to a member of the stranger’s family,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And when the hand of a sojourner or settler with you attains [riches], and your brother with him has become poor, and he has been sold to a sojourner, a settler with you, or to the root of the family of a sojourner,

Young's Literal Translation
And when the hand of a sojourner or settler with thee attaineth riches, and thy brother with him hath become poor, and he hath been sold to a sojourner, a settler with thee, or to the root of the family of a sojourner,

Smith's Literal Translation
And if the hand of a stranger and sojourner with thee shall attain, and thy brother with him be poor, and he sold to the stranger, a sojourner with thee, or to the root of the stranger's family:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If the hand of a stranger or a sojourner grow strong among you, and thy brother being impoverished sell himself to him, or to any of his race:

Catholic Public Domain Version
If the hand of a newcomer or a sojourner will have grown strong among you, and your brother, having become impoverished, will have sold himself to him, or to any of his stock,

New American Bible
When your kindred, having been so reduced to poverty, sell themselves to a resident alien who has become wealthy or to descendants of a resident alien’s family,

New Revised Standard Version
If resident aliens among you prosper, and if any of your kin fall into difficulty with one of them and sell themselves to an alien, or to a branch of the alien’s family,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And if a sojourner or stranger who dwells with you becomes rich, and your brother who dwells with him becomes poor and is sold to the stranger or sojourner who dwells with you or to a native born of the stranger's family who dwells with you,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if there is enough in the hands of an inhabitant and a Pilgrim of your people, and your brother is made poor with him and he will be sold to the inhabitant and to the Pilgrim with you, or to one born of the family of a stranger with you:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And if a stranger who is a settler with thee be waxen rich, and thy brother be waxen poor beside him, and sell himself unto the stranger who is a settler with thee, or to the offshoot of a stranger's family,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if a stranger or sojourner with thee wax rich, and thy brother in distress be sold to the stranger or the sojourner that is with thee, or to a proselyte by extraction;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Redemption of Servants
47If a foreigner residing among you prospers, but your countryman dwelling near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of his clan, 48he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his brothers may redeem him:…

Cross References
Exodus 21:2-6
If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything. / If he arrived alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrived with a wife, she is to leave with him. / If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free. ...

Deuteronomy 15:12-18
If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free. / And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. / You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. ...

Nehemiah 5:1-13
About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. / Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” / Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” ...

Jeremiah 34:8-17
After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD / that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage. / So all the officials and all the people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their menservants and maidservants and no longer hold them in bondage. They obeyed and released them, ...

2 Kings 4:1-7
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!” / “How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” / “Go,” said Elisha, “borrow empty jars from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few. ...

Isaiah 50:1
This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.

Amos 2:6
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Israel, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals.

Amos 8:6
Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!”

Matthew 18:23-35
Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. / As he began the settlements, a debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him. / Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. ...

Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. / He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. / About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. ...

Luke 4:18-19
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, / to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Luke 7:41-43
“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. / When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?” / “I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Luke 16:1-13
Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. / So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’ / The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg. ...

John 8:34-36
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. / A slave does not remain in the house forever, but a son remains forever. / So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Romans 6:16-23
Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? / But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed. / You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by you, and your brother that dwells by him wax poor, and sell himself to the stranger or sojourner by you, or to the stock of the stranger's family:

Leviticus 25:26
And if the man have none to redeem it, and himself be able to redeem it;

1 Samuel 2:7,8
The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up…

James 2:5
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Jump to Previous
Alien Clan Countryman Dwelleth Family Foreigner Gets Gives Grow Grown Member Money Nation Offshoot Poor Regard Resident Rich Sell Sells Settled Settler Side Sojourner Sojourning Stock Stranger Stranger's Sufficient Temporary Wax Waxen Wealth
Jump to Next
Alien Clan Countryman Dwelleth Family Foreigner Gets Gives Grow Grown Member Money Nation Offshoot Poor Regard Resident Rich Sell Sells Settled Settler Side Sojourner Sojourning Stock Stranger Stranger's Sufficient Temporary Wax Waxen Wealth
Leviticus 25
1. the Sabbath of the seventh year
8. The jubilee in the fiftieth year
14. Of oppression
18. A blessing of obedience
23. The redemption of land
29. Of houses
35. Compassion to the poor
39. The usage of bondmen
47. The redemption of servants














If a foreigner or temporary resident among you
The Hebrew term for "foreigner" is "ger," which refers to a non-Israelite living among the Israelites. This highlights the inclusivity of the Mosaic Law, acknowledging the presence of non-Israelites within the community. The "temporary resident" or "sojourner" is someone who resides temporarily, emphasizing the transient nature of life and the need for compassion and justice towards all, regardless of their status. Historically, this reflects the diverse social fabric of ancient Israel, where foreigners could integrate into society, yet were still distinct from the covenant community.

becomes rich
The Hebrew word for "rich" is "ashar," indicating an increase in wealth or possessions. This phrase suggests a reversal of fortunes, where a non-Israelite prospers in the land of Israel. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over wealth and the unpredictable nature of economic status. Theologically, it underscores the biblical principle that wealth is not inherently evil but must be stewarded responsibly, with an awareness of God's ultimate provision.

and your brother dwelling near him becomes poor
The term "brother" here refers to a fellow Israelite, emphasizing the familial bond and covenantal relationship among the people of God. The Hebrew word for "poor" is "mukh," which conveys a sense of being impoverished or weakened. This juxtaposition of wealth and poverty within close proximity serves as a poignant reminder of the social and economic disparities that can exist even within a covenant community. It calls for empathy and action to support those in need, reflecting God's heart for justice and mercy.

and sells himself to the foreigner
The act of selling oneself into servitude was a common practice in the ancient Near East as a means of survival during economic hardship. This phrase highlights the desperation and vulnerability of the impoverished Israelite. Theologically, it points to the need for redemption and deliverance, themes central to the biblical narrative. It also foreshadows the ultimate redemption found in Christ, who frees humanity from spiritual bondage.

or to a member of the foreigner’s clan
The mention of the "foreigner’s clan" indicates the extended family or household of the non-Israelite. This phrase underscores the interconnectedness of social and familial structures in ancient times. It also serves as a reminder of the potential for cultural and religious influence from outside the covenant community. Theologically, it calls for discernment and faithfulness to God's commands while living in a diverse and pluralistic society.

(47) And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee.--Better, And if the hand of a stranger, and that a sojourner, attain riches by thee, that is, a stranger who has become a sojourner, or who has taken up his abode among the Israelites, and become prosperous by trading. Such a one had only to submit to the seven commandments given to Noah, and hence had not joined the Jewish religion. For this reason the Chaldee Version translates it, "And if the hand of an uncircumcised sojourner with thee wax strong."

And thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor.--Better, and thy brother by him wax poor, that is, the Israelite who traded with him is unfortunate in business, and is reduced to poverty.

And sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee.--Better, and sells himself unto the stranger-sojourner by thee. The two terms as before describe the same person--the stranger who has become a sojourner. Hence the Chaldee Version translates it, "and sells himself to the uncircumcised stranger who is with thee."

Or to the stock of the stranger's family.--That is, the offshoot or descendant of a foreign family.

Verses 47-55. - Rules are laid down for the case of an Israelite who has sold himself for a slave to a non-Israelite. In this case he is not set free at the end of six years, as he would be if his master were a countryman, but in other respects his treatment is to be like that of the man with an Israelite master. He may be redeemed by the value of his work down to the jubilee being paid by himself or his kinsman; he is to be set free when the jubilee comes at any rate; he is to be treated kindly while continuing in his master's service, and his countrymen are to see that no over-severity is used.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
וְכִ֣י (wə·ḵî)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

a foreigner
גֵּ֤ר (gêr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1616: A guest, a foreigner

or temporary resident
וְתוֹשָׁב֙ (wə·ṯō·wō·šāḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8453: Resident alien

living among
עִמָּ֔ךְ (‘im·māḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

you prospers,
תַשִּׂ֗יג (ṯaś·śîḡ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5381: To reach, overtake

but your brother
אָחִ֖יךָ (’ā·ḥî·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

dwelling near him
עִמּ֑וֹ (‘im·mōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

becomes poor
וּמָ֥ךְ (ū·māḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4134: To be low or depressed, to grow poor

and sells himself
וְנִמְכַּ֗ר (wə·nim·kar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4376: To sell

to the foreigner
לְגֵ֤ר (lə·ḡêr)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1616: A guest, a foreigner

or
א֥וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

to a member
לְעֵ֖קֶר (lə·‘ê·qer)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6133: A transplanted person, naturalized citizen

of [his]
גֵּֽר׃ (gêr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1616: A guest, a foreigner

clan,
מִשְׁפַּ֥חַת (miš·pa·ḥaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4940: A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people


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OT Law: Leviticus 25:47 If a stranger or sojourner with you (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 25:46
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