Deuteronomy 15:15 Meaning: The Link Between Redemption and Generosity
You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you. Therefore I command you this thing today.
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to-day.
and thou hast remembered that a servant thou hast been in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah thy God doth ransom thee; therefore I am commanding thee this thing to-day.
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and that Jehovah thy God redeemed thee; therefore I command thee this thing to-day.
Meaning in one sentence
Why does God tie the memory of Israel's slavery to the command to give generously to freed servants? Discover the link between redemption and generosity.
Context
Moses is speaking to Israel on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the promised land. He has been rehearsing the laws God gave them, shaping how they will live as a free people. In this chapter he turns to the year of release, the seventh year when debts are cancelled and Hebrew servants go free. The command is startling: when you let a servant go, do not send them empty. Give them generously from your flocks, your grain, your wine. Then comes the reason that anchors everything: remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you. That memory is not just a story. It is the ground of every command to be generous.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for remember here is zakhar. It is more than calling something to mind. In the Old Testament, to remember is to let the past press into the present and shape what you do. When God remembered his covenant, he acted. When Israel remembered the exodus, they were supposed to live like people who had been set free. Remembering is not a quiet moment of nostalgia. It is the fuel for obedience.
The word for redeemed is padah, a verb that means to ransom or rescue by paying a price. Israel had not earned their freedom. God bought them out of Egypt with power and blood. That act of costly rescue becomes the pattern for how they are to treat the people in their own households. You were bought out of slavery, so you do not hold others in tightfisted bondage. You were given generous provision when you left Egypt, gold and silver from your captors, so you give generously when others leave your service.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian readers across traditions have seen in this verse a lasting principle. Matthew Henry, writing from a Reformed perspective, notes that just as God brought Israel out with riches, so they should send out their servants furnished with all convenient provisions. The Wesleyan tradition echoes the same: you were redeemed, therefore follow God's example. Anglican commentators in the Cambridge Bible point out that the command is rooted in Israel's own story, they were slaves and God redeemed them, so they must treat their servants with the same compassion. Across these readings, the consistent thread is that memory of redemption is meant to produce generosity, not just gratitude.
A common misunderstanding
Some read the word remember as a gentle suggestion to recall a past event, a mental exercise that ends when the thought passes. In fact, the Hebrew verb zakhar is active. It calls for the memory to reshape how you live right now. Remembering your own slavery is meant to move your hands to open, not just your mind to reflect.
Living This Out
This week, you will likely encounter someone who owes you something, maybe an apology, a repayment, a bit of patience. Before you respond, let yourself sit with the weight of what you have been forgiven. You were trapped in something you could not escape, and God paid the price to bring you out. That is not just ancient history. It is the pattern for how you treat the people who have power over you, and the people who are in your debt. Let the memory soften your hand before you reach for what is fair.
Main takeaway: God calls us to remember our own redemption so that we can extend the same generosity and freedom to others.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God told His people, “Remember that you used to be slaves, and I set you free.” When you remember how God helped you, it makes you want to help others too.
For ages 9, 12
The people of Israel had been slaves in Egypt, but God rescued them and gave them riches when they left. Now God says: when you let a servant go free, do not send them away empty. Give them what they need to start a new life. The memory of your own rescue should make you generous. For us, remembering how much God has forgiven us should make us quick to forgive and give to others.
Questions People Ask
What does 'redeemed' mean in Deuteronomy 15:15?
The Hebrew word is padah, meaning to ransom or rescue by paying a price. God redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt by his mighty power and the blood of the Passover lamb. This redemption was costly and complete, and it becomes the basis for how Israel is to treat others in their own households.
Why does God connect remembering slavery to giving to servants?
God wants Israel's memory of their own suffering and rescue to shape their actions. They knew what it felt like to be slaves with nothing. By remembering, they would be moved to treat their own servants with dignity and generosity, not repeating the harshness they experienced.
Is this command only for ancient Israel, or does it apply to Christians?
While the specific law about releasing servants after six years was for Israel's theocratic society, the principle behind it is timeless. Christians have understood that remembering our own redemption by Christ should lead us to be generous and forgiving toward others. The New Testament echoes this in passages like Matthew 6:14, 15 and Ephesians 4:32.
What does the word 'remember' mean in the original Hebrew?
The Hebrew word zakhar goes beyond mental recall. It means to actively let the past influence present behavior. When God 'remembered' his covenant, he acted to fulfill it. When Israel 'remembers' the exodus, they are called to live as people set free, with justice, compassion, and generosity.
How does Deuteronomy 15:15 relate to the Sabbath command in Deuteronomy 5?
In Deuteronomy 5:15, God commands Israel to keep the Sabbath by remembering they were slaves in Egypt and he brought them out. The same motive appears here: the memory of redemption should produce rest and release for others. Both passages ground ethical commands in the story of salvation.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study