The Hebrew word mimkereth, represented by H4466, denotes a sale or is used in the phrase sold as. It is a highly specific term, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse within the Old Testament. Its meaning is derived from its feminine form of a related word for sale.
The sole use of H4466 is in Leviticus, where God establishes a law concerning the Israelites. He declares that because they are His servants, whom He brought out of Egypt, "they shall not be sold as bondmen" Leviticus 25:42. Here, the word is part of a compound phrase that prohibits a specific kind of sale—one that would reduce an Israelite to the permanent status of a chattel slave, contradicting their status as servants of God.
Several related words provide crucial context for the concept of being sold and servitude:
- H4376 mâkar (to sell): This is the root verb from which H4466 is derived. It can mean to sell literally, as when Joseph's brothers sold him into Egypt Genesis 37:28, or figuratively, as when the LORD sold a disobedient Israel into the hands of their enemies Judges 2:14.
- H5650 ʻebed (a servant): This term for servant or bondman is central to understanding the prohibition in Leviticus 25:42. God identifies the Israelites as His servants, a status of honor and protection, making it unlawful for them to be sold into the permanent bondage implied by the phrase in which H4466 appears.
The theological weight of H4466 is significant despite its single appearance, as it underscores a core principle of redemption.
- Divine Ownership: The prohibition is founded on God's claim over Israel. Because they are His servants (ebed), they cannot be sold in a way that transfers ultimate ownership to a human master Leviticus 25:42.
- Redemption's Limits on Servitude: God's act of bringing Israel out of Egypt, the "house of bondage" Exodus 13:3, establishes a new reality. Their past redemption prevents them from being subjected to the same kind of permanent enslavement again.
- A Special Status: The use of H4466 in the phrase "sold as bondmen" distinguishes between permissible forms of servitude and a forbidden type of sale. This highlights the unique and protected status of the people God calls "my servant" Isaiah 42:1.
In summary, H4466 is a precise legal and theological term. Its one occurrence in scripture is pivotal, establishing that God's redemptive ownership of His people sets a permanent boundary on human-to-human transactions. It codifies the principle that those redeemed by God cannot be treated as mere property, for they already belong to Him as His servants.
TRV