Leviticus 25:45

KJV

Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that [are] with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.

KJV (with Strong's)

Moreover of the children {H1121} of the strangers {H8453} that do sojourn {H1481} among you, of them shall ye buy {H7069}, and of their families {H4940} that are with you, which they begat {H3205} in your land {H776}: and they shall be your possession {H272}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You may also buy the children of foreigners living with you and members of their families born in your land; you may own these.

Berean Standard Bible

You may also purchase them from the foreigners residing among you or their clans living among you who are born in your land. These may become your property.

American Standard Version

Moreover of the children of the strangers that sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they have begotten in your land: and they shall be your possession.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 25:45 details the regulations for acquiring and holding non-Israelite servants within ancient Israel, specifying that they could be purchased from among the "strangers" residing in the land, along with their families born there, and held as a permanent "possession." This statute forms a critical part of the broader legal framework established in Leviticus 25 concerning the Sabbatical and Jubilee years, highlighting a distinct legal status for non-Israelite bondservants compared to their Israelite counterparts.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 25 establishes God's unique economic and social system for Israel, centered on the Sabbath principle, which extends to land and people. The chapter begins with laws for the [Sabbatical year](/leviticus/25-1 "Leviticus 25:1 - Laws for the Sabbatical Year") (every seventh year) and the [Jubilee year](/leviticus/25-8 "Leviticus 25:8 - Laws for the Jubilee Year") (every fifty years), mandating land rest, debt cancellation, and the return of ancestral lands. Crucially, verses 39-43 meticulously detail the laws for Israelite bondservants, emphasizing that they are God's servants, redeemed from Egypt, and thus could not be enslaved but were to be treated as hired workers, released in the Jubilee year. In stark contrast, verses 44-46, which include verse 45, outline different regulations for non-Israelites, permitting their perpetual servitude and inheritance. This juxtaposition underscores the unique covenantal relationship God had with Israel, which informed their social and economic structures.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Near East (ANE) was characterized by various forms of servitude, often arising from debt, war, or economic necessity, and was a widespread socio-economic reality. The Mosaic Law, while not abolishing servitude, introduced regulations that significantly mitigated its harshness, particularly for Israelites. The "strangers that do sojourn among you" (Hebrew: _ger_ and _toshav_) refer to resident aliens or temporary residents—non-Israelites living within Israelite territory, often for economic reasons, trade, or seeking refuge. These individuals, while under certain protections (e.g., [Exodus 22:21](/exodus/22-21 "Exodus 22:21 - Do Not Oppress a Sojourner")), did not share the same covenantal status or land inheritance rights as native-born Israelites. The allowance for perpetual servitude of foreigners reflects a common ANE practice, yet within Israel, it was framed by the broader divine laws that sought to establish a distinct, holy nation.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Strangers (Hebrew, _ger_, _toshav'_):** The term _ger_ (גֵּר) refers to a resident alien, a foreigner living among the Israelites, often with some legal protections but distinct from a native-born Israelite. _Toshav_ (תּוֹשָׁב) denotes a temporary resident or sojourner. Together, these terms specify non-Israelites who had settled in the land, distinguishing them from transient visitors or hostile outsiders. Their presence was often for economic opportunity or as refugees, and their legal status, while protected in some regards, differed significantly from that of the covenant people.
* **Buy (Hebrew, _qanah'_):** The verb _qanah_ (קָנָה) means "to acquire," "to purchase," or "to get." In this context, it signifies the legal acquisition of an individual's labor or service rights, rather than the outright ownership of a person as chattel. This "buying" could involve payment to the individual's family, to the individual themselves (in cases of self-sale due to debt), or as compensation for war captives. It reflects a transaction that secures a permanent claim to their labor and that of their descendants.
* **Possession (Hebrew, _achuzzah'_):** The noun _achuzzah_ (אֲחֻזָּה) denotes an inherited property, a permanent holding, or a perpetual right of ownership. Its use here is crucial, as it contrasts sharply with the temporary nature of Israelite servitude, which was limited by the Jubilee year. For non-Israelite servants, their status as "possession" meant that their servitude was lifelong and inheritable by the Israelite master's descendants, establishing a permanent claim to their labor within the family's assets.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you":** This phrase precisely identifies the demographic from whom perpetual servants could be acquired: the descendants of non-Israelite resident aliens living within the Israelite community. This excludes native Israelites and also foreigners who were merely passing through.
* **"of them shall ye buy, and of their families that [are] with you, which they begat in your land":** This clause clarifies the method of acquisition (purchase) and specifies that the right to perpetual servitude extends not only to the adult "strangers" but also to their families, including children born to them while residing in Israelite territory. This ensures the continuation of the servant class through generations.
* **"and they shall be your possession":** This concluding declaration is the legal pronouncement of their status. Unlike Israelite bondservants who were released at Jubilee, these non-Israelite servants and their descendants were to be held as inheritable property, signifying a permanent claim to their labor and service within the Israelite household.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Leviticus 25:45, especially when read in its immediate context, is **Contrast** or **Juxtaposition**. The passage deliberately sets up a stark distinction between the laws governing Israelite bondservants (vv. 39-43) and those for non-Israelite servants (vv. 44-46). For Israelites, servitude was temporary, marked by humane treatment and ultimate release, rooted in God's redemptive act in Egypt ("For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt" [Leviticus 25:42 "Leviticus 25:42 - God's Ownership of Israel"]). For non-Israelites, however, servitude could be perpetual and inheritable. This contrast highlights the unique covenantal relationship between God and Israel, emphasizing their distinct identity and the special status bestowed upon them as God's redeemed people. The specific **Legal Language** employed, with its prescriptive and declarative tone, further underscores the binding nature of these divine statutes within the Mosaic Law.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 25:45, while challenging to modern sensibilities, must be understood within the broader theological framework of God's progressive revelation and His unique covenant with Israel. These laws reflect a specific historical and cultural context where various forms of servitude were common. God did not abolish the existing social structures but regulated them, often providing more humane conditions than surrounding nations, particularly for His covenant people. The distinction between Israelite and non-Israelite servitude underscores the theological truth of God's special election of Israel, whom He redeemed from bondage in Egypt to be His own possession. This unique relationship formed the basis for their distinct social and economic laws, setting them apart as a holy nation. While the Mosaic Law provided a framework for justice and order in a fallen world, it also revealed the need for a deeper, spiritual liberation that would transcend ethnic and social distinctions.

* [Leviticus 25:39-43](/leviticus/25-39 "Leviticus 25:39-43 - Laws for Israelite Bondservants")
* [Deuteronomy 23:15-16](/deuteronomy/23-15 "Deuteronomy 23:15-16 - Treatment of Escaped Slaves")
* [Exodus 12:49](/exodus/12-49 "Exodus 12:49 - One Law for Native and Sojourner")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Understanding Leviticus 25:45 requires careful discernment, acknowledging the vast historical and cultural chasm between ancient Israel and contemporary societies. While the text describes a form of perpetual servitude for non-Israelites, it is crucial to avoid anachronistically equating it with modern chattel slavery, which was characterized by racialized dehumanization and brutality. The Mosaic Law, in its context, often served to mitigate the harshness of common ANE practices, providing a legal framework that, while not abolishing servitude, regulated it. For modern believers, this passage prompts reflection on the progressive nature of biblical revelation. While these laws were given for a specific time and people, the overarching trajectory of Scripture moves towards greater justice, compassion, and the ultimate dignity of all humanity as created in God's image. We are called to apply the enduring principles of God's character—His justice, mercy, and desire for freedom—rather than rigidly adhering to every socio-legal detail of the Old Covenant. This passage challenges us to consider how God works within human limitations and cultural realities to reveal His will, ultimately pointing to a future where all are truly free.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding the historical and cultural context of ancient Near Eastern servitude help us interpret Leviticus 25:45 without imposing modern sensibilities anachronistically?**
* **In what ways does the distinction between Israelite and non-Israelite servitude in Leviticus 25 highlight the unique nature of God's covenant with Israel?**
* **How does the New Testament's emphasis on spiritual freedom and equality in Christ challenge or fulfill the Old Testament's socio-legal distinctions regarding servitude?**

### FAQ
**Is Leviticus 25:45 endorsing slavery as we understand it today?**

Answer: No, it is crucial to distinguish between the ancient practice of servitude described in Leviticus 25:45 and the chattel slavery of more recent history, particularly the transatlantic slave trade. Ancient servitude in Israel was a complex socio-economic institution, often arising from debt, poverty, or as a consequence of war. It was not based on race, and while it involved a loss of freedom, it often included legal protections and, for Israelites, a clear path to release (e.g., [Leviticus 25:39-43](/leviticus/25-39 "Leviticus 25:39-43 - Laws for Israelite Bondservants")). The "buying" of strangers referred to acquiring rights to their labor, not ownership of their person as property without rights. While the perpetual nature of servitude for non-Israelites is challenging, it existed within a legal system that was, in many respects, more humane than those of surrounding nations and was part of God's covenantal framework for a specific people at a specific time.

**How does this verse reconcile with God's character as a God of liberation, as seen in the Exodus?**

Answer: This verse must be understood within the context of God's progressive revelation. God is indeed a God of liberation, as powerfully demonstrated in the [Exodus from Egypt](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The Passover and Exodus"). The Mosaic Law, including regulations on servitude, was given to a people emerging from slavery, establishing a distinct society in a world where servitude was ubiquitous. Rather than immediately abolishing all forms of servitude, God regulated it, placing limits and protections, especially for His covenant people. The distinction in [Leviticus 25](/leviticus/25 "Leviticus 25 - The Sabbatical and Jubilee Years") highlights God's unique relationship with Israel, whom He redeemed from bondage to be His own. While the laws permitted certain forms of servitude, they also instilled principles of justice, compassion, and the ultimate dignity of human life, setting a trajectory towards greater freedom that would be fully realized in Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 25:45, with its stark distinction between the temporary servitude of Israelites and the perpetual servitude of non-Israelites, serves as a powerful Old Testament shadow pointing to the ultimate spiritual liberation found in Christ. The Mosaic Law, in its socio-economic distinctions, reveals the limitations of human systems and the need for a deeper, spiritual redemption. Christ fulfills these laws not by merely abolishing them, but by transcending them through His perfect sacrifice and resurrection, which liberates humanity from the ultimate bondage: sin and death. In Christ, the old distinctions—whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female—are fundamentally overcome in a new spiritual reality, as articulated by Paul in [Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - No Distinction in Christ") and [Colossians 3:11](/colossians/3-11 "Colossians 3:11 - Christ is All and in All"). Jesus declared, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" ([John 8:36](/john/8-36 "John 8:36 - The Son Sets You Free")), signifying a freedom far greater than any socio-legal release. Believers are no longer slaves to sin but have become "servants of righteousness" ([Romans 6:18](/romans/6-18 "Romans 6:18 - Freed from Sin")) through His redemptive work, fulfilling the deepest longing for liberty that the Old Testament laws could only foreshadow.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.