King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, [shall be] of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"'Concerning the men and women you may have as slaves: you are to buy men- and women-slaves from the nations surrounding you.
Berean Standard Bible:
Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them.
American Standard Version:
And as for thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, whom thou shalt have; of the nations that are round about you, of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Both thy bondmen{H5650}, and thy bondmaids{H519}, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen{H1471} that are round about{H5439} you; of them shall ye buy{H7069} bondmen{H5650} and bondmaids{H519}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Isaiah 14:1
- ¶ For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
Isaiah 14:2
- And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.
Exodus 12:44
- But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
Psalms 2:8
- Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession.
Psalms 2:9
- Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Revelation 2:26
- And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Revelation 2:27
- And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
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Commentary for Leviticus 25:44
1. **Themes:**
- **Slavery and Servitude:** Leviticus 25:44 addresses the ancient Israelite practice of having servants or slaves, which was a common social structure in the ancient Near East.
- **Economic Regulation:** The verse is part of a larger section that outlines laws concerning property and personal rights, reflecting a theme of economic and social order within the community.
- **Ethnic Distinctions:** The passage distinguishes between Hebrew slaves, who were to be treated with certain protections and released after a set period, and non-Hebrew slaves, who could be held indefinitely.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** The Book of Leviticus is traditionally attributed to Moses and believed to have been written around the 14th century BCE, during the time of the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness and before they entered the Promised Land.
- **Cultural Practices:** Slavery was an established institution in the ancient world. The laws in Leviticus were designed to mitigate the harsher aspects of slavery and to set the Israelites apart from neighboring nations in their treatment of slaves.
- **Covenantal Laws:** Leviticus contains many of the laws given by God to the Israelites as part of their covenantal relationship. These laws were meant to guide the moral and ritual behavior of the Israelites, including how they interacted with non-Israelites.
- **Social Structure:** The laws in Leviticus reflect a society where economic survival often necessitated some form of indentured servitude. The regulations were intended to balance the economic needs of the people with ethical considerations.
In summary, Leviticus 25:44 is situated within a broader legal framework given to the ancient Israelites, addressing the practice of slavery with specific instructions regarding the treatment and acquisition of non-Hebrew slaves. It reflects the historical context of the time, where slavery was a societal norm, and seeks to regulate this practice within the moral and legal structure of the Israelite community.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5650
There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶבֶד
Transliteration: ʻebed
Pronunciation: eh'-bed
Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. - Strong's Number: H519
There are 134 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמָה
Transliteration: ʼâmâh
Pronunciation: aw-maw'
Description: apparently a primitive word; a maidservant or female slave; (hand-) bondmaid(-woman), maid(-servant). - Strong's Number: H1471
There are 511 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גּוֹי
Transliteration: gôwy
Pronunciation: go'-ee
Description: rarely (shortened) גֹּי; apparently from the same root as גֵּוָה (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts; Gentile, heathen, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H5439
There are 282 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָבִיב
Transliteration: çâbîyb
Pronunciation: saw-beeb'
Description: or (feminine) סְבִיבָה; from סָבַב; (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around; (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side. - Strong's Number: H7069
There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָנָה
Transliteration: qânâh
Pronunciation: kaw-naw'
Description: a primitive root; to erect, i.e. create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by implication to own; attain, buy(-er), teach to keep cattle, get, provoke to jealousy, possess(-or), purchase, recover, redeem, [idiom] surely, [idiom] verily.