◄ Leviticus 25:39 ►
If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.
Study Bible
If a countryman among you becomes destitute
This phrase addresses the situation of an Israelite who has fallen into poverty. The Mosaic Law provided various protections for the poor, emphasizing community responsibility. The term "countryman" indicates a fellow Israelite, highlighting the covenantal relationship among God's people. This reflects the broader biblical theme of caring for the needy, as seen in Deuteronomy 15:7-11, where Israelites are commanded to be generous to the poor.

and sells himself to you
In ancient Israel, selling oneself into servitude was a means of survival for those in dire financial straits. This was not slavery in the harsh sense but a form of indentured servitude. The individual retained certain rights and was to be treated with dignity. This practice is distinct from the slavery seen in other ancient cultures, where individuals had no rights. The Jubilee laws (Leviticus 25:10) ensured that such servitude was temporary, with release in the Jubilee year.

then you must not force him into slave labor
The command here is to treat the destitute countryman with respect and not as a slave. This reflects God's justice and mercy, as He delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 20:2). The Hebrew term for "slave labor" implies harsh, oppressive work. This regulation underscores the value of every individual as made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and anticipates the New Testament teaching of loving one's neighbor (Matthew 22:39). The principle of treating others with dignity is a reflection of Christ's teaching and example, who came to serve and not to be served (Mark 10:45).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Israelites
The primary audience of the Levitical laws, including the instructions in Leviticus 25, which were given to guide their community life and ensure justice and compassion.

2. Moses
The prophet and leader through whom God delivered the laws to the Israelites, including the instructions found in Leviticus.

3. Jubilee Year
A significant event in Israelite society, occurring every 50 years, when slaves were to be freed, debts forgiven, and land returned to original owners, providing context for the laws in Leviticus 25.
Teaching Points
Compassionate Treatment
The law in Leviticus 25:39 emphasizes the importance of treating those in need with dignity and respect, reflecting God's compassion and justice.

Value of Human Dignity
The prohibition against forcing a destitute brother into slave labor underscores the inherent value and dignity of every person, created in the image of God.

Community Responsibility
The Israelites were called to care for their fellow community members, highlighting the importance of mutual support and responsibility within the body of Christ today.

Freedom and Restoration
The principles of the Jubilee year, including the release of servants, point to God's desire for freedom and restoration, which is ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

Practical Generosity
Believers are encouraged to practice generosity and kindness, reflecting God's provision and care for His people, as seen in the laws given to Israel.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the instruction in Leviticus 25:39 reflect God's character and His expectations for His people?

2. In what ways can we apply the principle of treating others with dignity and respect in our modern context?

3. How does the concept of the Jubilee year inform our understanding of freedom and restoration in Christ?

4. What are some practical ways we can support and care for those in need within our communities, reflecting the spirit of Leviticus 25:39?

5. How do the teachings in Leviticus 25:39 connect with New Testament instructions on serving one another in love, as seen in Galatians 5:13?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 21:2-6
Discusses the treatment of Hebrew servants, emphasizing the importance of humane treatment and the provision for freedom after six years of service.

Deuteronomy 15:12-15
Reinforces the concept of releasing Hebrew servants and treating them with generosity, reflecting God's deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt.

Galatians 5:13
Encourages believers to use their freedom to serve one another in love, connecting the spirit of the law in Leviticus to New Testament teachings on Christian liberty and service.
Sermons
A Sabbath of Rest unto the LandW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 25:2-55
Deliverance from SinHoward James.Leviticus 25:2-55
Freedom Through ChristT. De Witt Talmage.Leviticus 25:2-55
Jubilee GladnessJ. Cairns.Leviticus 25:2-55
Land Laws Among Other NationsM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
Land TenureT. T. Munger.Leviticus 25:2-55
Laws of Trade-WagesHom. ReviewLeviticus 25:2-55
Lessons from the Sabbatical YearF. W. Brown.Leviticus 25:2-55
Liberty Through ChristRichard Newton, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
Man Need not Despair of -ProvidenceBp. Babington.Leviticus 25:2-55
Practical Reliance Upon GodIndian Witness.Leviticus 25:2-55
Released from DebtChristian AgeLeviticus 25:2-55
Results of Jubilee YearT. Guthrie, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
Sojourners with GodHomilistLeviticus 25:2-55
The Hebrew System of Land TenureR. Reid.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Joyful SoundC. S. Robinson, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The JubileeHomilistLeviticus 25:2-55
The JubileeHomilistLeviticus 25:2-55
The Jubilee a Type of the GospelWm. Sleigh.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Jubilee Year: its Fourfold SignificanceW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Oppressor Rebuked and the Oppression RemovedC. F. S. Money, M. A.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Purpose of the Sabbatical YearM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Resemblance Between the Year of Jubilee and the GospelT. B. Baker.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Sabbath of the FieldsH. Macmillan, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Sabbatic Year and JubileeJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Sinner's Chains are Self ForgedPreacher's Lantern.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeA. G. Brown.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeA. H. Currier.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeWalter Roberts, M. A.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeD. C. Hughes, M. A.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeT. Binney.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year SabbathDr. Ide.Leviticus 25:2-55
What Shall We Eat the Seventh Year?A. G. Brown.Leviticus 25:2-55
The JubileeR.M. Edgar Leviticus 25:8-55
Year of JubileeW. Clarkson Leviticus 25:8-55
Year of Jubilee: Ii. the World's RedemptionW. Clarkson Leviticus 25:8-55
Year of Jubilee: Iii. the Blessed KingdomW. Clarkson Leviticus 25:8-55
Justice and MercyJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 25:35-55
The Law of Personal ServitudeR.A. Redford Leviticus 25:35-55
SlaveryLeviticus 25:39-55
People
Israelites, Levites, Moses
Places
Canaan, Egypt, Mount Sinai
Topics
Becomes, Becometh, Beside, Bond, Bondservant, Bond-servant, Brother, Compel, Countryman, Countrymen, Dwelleth, Gives, Grow, Grown, Lay, Money, Poor, Property, Regard, Sell, Sells, Servant, Serve, Service, Servile, Slave, Slave's, Sold, Subject, Waxed, Waxen, Yours
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 25:39

     5449   poverty, remedies
     8243   ethics, social

Leviticus 25:23-43

     5504   rights

Leviticus 25:35-42

     5909   motives, importance

Leviticus 25:35-43

     5274   credit

Leviticus 25:39-40

     5242   buying and selling
     5337   hiring
     5522   servants, work conditions

Leviticus 25:39-43

     6659   freedom, acts in OT
     7482   Year of Jubilee

Leviticus 25:39-55

     5378   law, OT
     5404   masters
     7447   slavery, in OT
     8343   servanthood, in society

Library
Sojourners with God
'The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is Mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with Me.' --LEV. xxv. 23. The singular institution of the Jubilee year had more than one purpose. As a social and economical arrangement it tended to prevent the extremes of wealth and poverty. Every fiftieth year the land was to revert to its original owners, the lineal descendants of those who had 'come in with the conqueror,' Joshua. Debts were to be remitted, slaves emancipated, and so the mountains …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

God's Slaves
'For they are My servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as bondmen.' --LEV. xxv. 42. This is the basis of the Mosaic legislation as to slavery. It did not suppress but regulated that accursed system. Certainly Hebrew slavery was a very different thing from that of other nations. In the first place, no Jew was to be a slave. To that broad principle there were exceptions, such as the case of the man who voluntarily gave himself up to his creditor. But even …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Kinsman Redeemer
'After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him.'--LEV. xxv. 48. There are several of the institutions and precepts of the Mosaic legislation which, though not prophetic, nor typical, have yet remarkable correspondences with lofty Christian truth. They may be used as symbols, if only we remember that we are diverting them from their original purpose. How singularly these words lend themselves to the statement of the very central truths of Christianity--a slavery …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Boniface viii Ad 1294-1303.
PART I In Celestine's place was chosen Benedict Gaetani, who, although even older than the worn-out and doting late pope, was still full of strength, both in body and in mind. Benedict (who took the name of Boniface VIII) is said to have been very learned, especially in matters at law; but his pride and ambition led him into attempts which ended in his own ruin, and did serious harm to the papacy. In the year 1300 Boniface set on foot what was called the Jubilee. You will remember the Jubilee which …
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

The Kinsman-Redeemer
'Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of Hosts is His name: He shall thoroughly plead their cause.'--JER. l. 34. Among the remarkable provisions of the Mosaic law there were some very peculiar ones affecting the next-of-kin. The nearest living blood relation to a man had certain obligations and offices to discharge, under certain contingencies, in respect of which he received a special name; which is sometimes translated in the Old Testament 'Redeemer,' and sometimes 'Avenger' of blood. What the etymological …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Day of Atonement
Now, I shall invite your attention to the ceremonies of this solemn day, taking the different parts in detail. First, we shall consider the person who made the atonement; secondly, the sacrifice whereby the atonement was typically made; thirdly, the effects of the atonement; and fourthly, our behaviour on the recollection of the atonement, as well set forth by the conduct prescribed to the Israelites on that day. I. First, THE PERSON WHO WAS TO MAKE THE ATONEMENT. And at the outset, we remark that …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
BY A.E. GRIMKE. "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:--and so will I go in unto the king, …
Angelina Emily Grimke—An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South

Sin and Forgiveness Between Brethren.
(Autumn, a.d. 29.) ^A Matt. XVIII. 15-35. ^a 15 And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [Having warned against giving offense, Jesus now shows how to act when offense is received. The fault is to be pointed out to the offender, but for the purpose of gaining him--not from a desire to humiliate him. The offended is to seek the offender, and the offender is likewise to seek the offended (Matt. xv. 23, 24), …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Commerce
The remarkable change which we have noticed in the views of Jewish authorities, from contempt to almost affectation of manual labour, could certainly not have been arbitrary. But as we fail to discover here any religious motive, we can only account for it on the score of altered political and social circumstances. So long as the people were, at least nominally, independent, and in possession of their own land, constant engagement in a trade would probably mark an inferior social stage, and imply …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

"And the Redeemer Shall Come unto Zion, and unto them that Turn,"
Isaiah lix. 20.--"And the Redeemer shall come unto Zion, and unto them that turn," &c. Doctrines, as things, have their seasons and times. Every thing is beautiful in its season. So there is no word of truth, but it hath a season and time in which it is beautiful. And indeed that is a great part of wisdom, to bring forth everything in its season, to discern when and where, and to whom it is pertinent and edifying, to speak such and such truths. But there is one doctrine that is never out of season, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Eighth Commandment
Thou shalt not steal.' Exod 20: 15. AS the holiness of God sets him against uncleanness, in the command Thou shalt not commit adultery;' so the justice of God sets him against rapine and robbery, in the command, Thou shalt not steal.' The thing forbidden in this commandment, is meddling with another man's property. The civil lawyers define furtum, stealth or theft to be the laying hands unjustly on that which is another's;' the invading another's right. I. The causes of theft. [1] The internal causes …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Baptism
Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them,' &c. Matt 28: 19. I. The way whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemptions, is, in the use of the sacraments. What are the sacraments in general? They are visible signs of invisible grace. Is not the word of God sufficient to salvation? What need then is there of sacraments? We must not be wise above what is written. It is God's will that his church …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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