### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun H4466 (מִמְכֶּרֶת, mimkereth) is a feminine noun derived from the root `{{H4376}}` (makar), meaning "to sell." It is closely related to `{{H4465}}` (mimkar), its masculine counterpart, which also denotes "a sale" or "that which is sold." Specifically, mimkereth refers to the act or transaction of selling, or more commonly, the outcome or result of such a sale, particularly in the context of a person being sold into servitude or the price associated with such a transaction. Its semantic range thus encompasses "a sale," "the state of being sold," or "the purchase price."
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
H4466 (מִמְכֶּרֶת) appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times within the legal framework of Leviticus 25 concerning the laws of the Jubilee and the redemption of property and persons.
1. **[[Leviticus 25:42]]**: "For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves (מִמְכֶּרֶת עֶבֶד)."
* Here, mimkereth is used in construct with עֶבֶד (slave/servant), forming the phrase "the sale of a slave" or "sold as a slave." The verse explicitly prohibits the perpetual enslavement of an Israelite by another Israelite, asserting that all Israelites are ultimately Yahweh's servants, having been redeemed from Egyptian bondage. The emphasis is on the *status* or *condition* resulting from a sale, highlighting that such a permanent, chattel-like status is forbidden for God's people.
2. **[[Leviticus 25:51]]**: "If there are still many years, he shall refund out of them in proportion to his purchase price (מִמְכֶּרֶת) the amount for his redemption."
* In this context, mimkereth refers to the original "purchase price" or "value of the sale" when an Israelite had sold himself (or been sold) into servitude to a non-Israelite. The verse outlines the mechanism for calculating the redemption price: the remaining years until the Jubilee are factored against the initial mimkereth to determine the proportional refund necessary for freedom. Here, the word denotes the monetary value established at the point of sale.
In both instances, mimkereth is deeply embedded in laws concerning personal liberty and the economic implications of transactions, always under the overarching theological principle of God's ultimate ownership.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is `{{H4465}}` (mimkar), the masculine form, which carries the same core meaning of "sale" or "that which is sold," often referring to merchandise. The verbal root from which both nouns derive is `{{H4376}}` (makar), "to sell." Understanding this root is crucial, as mimkereth represents the noun form of the action of selling or its result.
Other related concepts and words include:
* `{{H4725}}` (miqneh): "purchase," "possession," "property," which represents the inverse side of the transaction – buying and owning.
* `{{H6299}}` (padah) / `{{H1350}}` (ga'al): Verbs for "to redeem," which are central to the context of mimkereth in Leviticus 25, as redemption is the means by which a person or property sold can be returned to their original status.
* Concepts of servitude (עֶבֶד, 'eved), freedom, property rights, and the Jubilee (יוֹבֵל, yovel) are all intrinsically linked to the function and meaning of mimkereth in the Mosaic Law.
### Theological Significance
The infrequent but precise use of H4466 (mimkereth) carries profound theological weight, particularly within the framework of God's covenant with Israel:
1. **Divine Ownership and Redemption:** The most significant theological implication of mimkereth in [[Leviticus 25:42]] is the assertion of God's absolute ownership over His people. Israelites cannot be subjected to a permanent mimkereth (sale) into slavery because they are already Yahweh's servants, redeemed from Egypt. This highlights that their freedom is not merely a legal right but a theological status rooted in God's prior act of redemption. This sets a divine limit on human economic transactions, ensuring that no Israelite could be permanently alienated from their family, land, or God.
2. **Justice and Mercy in Economic Life:** The regulations surrounding mimkereth in Leviticus 25 demonstrate God's concern for social justice and mercy. Even when circumstances forced an Israelite into servitude, the law ensured that such a "sale" was temporary and provided a clear path to redemption based on the original mimkereth ([[Leviticus 25:51]]). This prevented perpetual servitude and exploitation, reflecting God's character as one who liberates the oppressed.
3. **Prefigurement of Spiritual Redemption:** The concept of a "purchase price" (mimkereth) being paid for liberation, as seen in [[Leviticus 25:51]], can be seen as a legal shadow of the ultimate spiritual redemption. Humanity, "sold" into the bondage of sin, requires a divine "purchase price" for liberation. While the Old Testament law deals with physical and economic freedom, it points to a deeper spiritual reality where Christ's sacrifice serves as the ultimate ransom, paying the price for humanity's freedom from sin's dominion.
### Summary
H4466 (מִמְכֶּרֶת, mimkereth) is a feminine noun meaning "a sale," "the state of being sold," or "the purchase price." Though appearing only twice in the biblical text, its occurrences in Leviticus 25 are pivotal. In [[Leviticus 25:42]], it defines the forbidden permanent "sale as a slave" for Israelites, underscoring God's ultimate ownership and their status as His redeemed servants. In [[Leviticus 25:51]], it refers to the "purchase price" used to calculate the proportional refund for redemption from temporary servitude. Theologically, mimkereth highlights God's sovereignty over His people, His commitment to justice and mercy in economic transactions, and serves as a legal backdrop for understanding the profound concept of divine redemption from bondage.
TRV