Leviticus 25:39 Meaning: You Shall Not Make Him Serve as a Slave
“‘If your brother has grown poor among you, and sells himself to you, you shall not make him to serve as a slave.
And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:
And if thy brother be waxed poor with thee, and sell himself unto thee; thou shalt not make him to serve as a bondservant.
`And when thy brother becometh poor with thee, and he hath been sold to thee, thou dost not lay on him servile service;
And if thy brother grow poor beside thee, and be sold unto thee, thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:
Meaning in one sentence
Leviticus 25:39 forbids making a poor Israelite a permanent slave. It reveals their identity as God's redeemed people, not property.
Context
This verse sits in a chapter that pulses with a single rhythm: freedom. Leviticus 25 lays out the Year of Jubilee, a God-ordered reset when land returns to its original family and slaves go free. Just before this verse, God tells Israel not to charge interest to a poor countryman. Now he goes further. What happens when a man is so poor he has nothing left but himself? He may sell himself to a wealthier brother. But even then, God draws a line: you shall not make him a slave. The next verses reveal why: Israel belongs to God. He brought them out of Egypt. No one who belongs to God can be owned by another person permanently. This law protects the dignity of the poor by reminding everyone whose household they really belong to.
Key Words
The word 'brother' (ach) is not a casual label. It means blood relative, fellow member of God's covenant family. When someone falls into poverty, he is still your brother, not a commodity. The phrase 'sells himself' (nimkar) is a reflexive form: he does not become someone else's property to be bought and sold. He chooses to enter service because he has no other way to survive. And the forbidden thing, 'serve as a slave' (avodat eved), describes the kind of permanent, harsh labor that foreign captives endured. God will not let his people treat each other that way. He gives this rule not because slavery is always wrong in every context, but because a brother's identity in God's family changes everything. You cannot own someone who already belongs to the Lord.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen in this verse a clear distinction between temporary indentured service among God's people and the harsher institution of chattel slavery. Many Protestant commentators, like Matthew Henry, emphasize that this law protected the poor from permanent oppression. The Catholic tradition reads it as part of the Old Testament's gradual revelation of human dignity, preparing the way for the New Testament's call to treat all people as brothers and sisters. Some scholars note that the allowance of foreign slaves (verses 44-46) troubles modern readers, while others point to the Jubilee as a regular reset that limited exploitation. All traditions agree on one thing: God's people are to reflect his character by protecting the vulnerable, especially those within their own community.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume this verse means God condemns all slavery. But the chapter goes on to permit buying slaves from foreign nations. The force of the command is specific: you may not treat a fellow Israelite as a slave. The distinction rests on identity. Israel belongs to God; they were redeemed from Egypt. So one of God's own cannot be owned by another person permanently. This does not answer every question about slavery in the Bible, but it does show that God places a firm boundary around those he has claimed as his own.
Living This Out
This verse asks something of you this week. Maybe you employ someone who is going through a hard time. You might be tempted to take advantage of their situation, press them to work longer hours for less pay, because they cannot afford to say no. This law says: do not treat them like a slave. See them as a brother or sister. Pay fairly, speak kindly, remember that they belong to God, not to you. If you are the one struggling, this verse reminds you that your poverty does not erase your dignity. You are not a burden or a problem to be solved. You belong to the Lord. And the people around you are called to treat you that way.
Main takeaway: Because every person belongs first to God, we must never treat the vulnerable as objects to be used.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This verse says that when someone in God’s family is very poor and has to work for you, you must not treat them like a slave. Treat them kindly, like a helper, not like something you own. God wants us to remember that every person is special to him.
For ages 9, 12
In ancient Israel, people could become so poor they had to sell themselves to a richer neighbor just to survive. But God put a limit on that. You could not treat a fellow Israelite as a permanent slave. Why? Because God said, “They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt.” They already belonged to God. No one can own someone who belongs to God. This teaches us that every person has a dignity that comes from God, not from their wealth or status. When we see someone in need, we should help them, not take advantage of them.
Questions People Ask
Why were Israelites not allowed to be slaves but foreigners were?
The distinction is based on covenant relationship. Israel was God's redeemed people, brought out of slavery in Egypt. They belonged to God and could not be permanently owned by another Israelite. Foreigners from surrounding nations did not share that covenant identity, so different rules applied. This does not mean God approved of all slavery; it reflects the ancient context where slavery was universal. The law limited its worst abuses and pointed toward a future where all people would be free in Christ.
What does it mean that a man 'sells himself' in this verse?
The Hebrew verb nimkar is reflexive: he sells himself, not someone selling him. This was not the same as being captured or stolen. It was a desperate act to survive poverty. He voluntarily entered service to a fellow Israelite in exchange for food and shelter. The law protected his dignity by limiting this service to a temporary period and prohibiting harsh treatment.
Is this verse about slavery still relevant today?
Yes, though we no longer live under the old covenant laws. The principle behind the verse is timeless: God's people must protect the vulnerable and not exploit those who are in need. It calls us to see every person as bearing God's image and belonging to him. In practical terms, it challenges how we treat employees, the poor, and anyone who depends on us.
How does this verse connect to the Year of Jubilee?
This verse is part of the Jubilee laws in Leviticus 25. The Year of Jubilee was a every-fiftieth-year reset when slaves went free and land returned to original owners. Verse 40 says the man who sold himself would serve only until the Jubilee. So his servitude was always temporary, with a guaranteed release. The Jubilee reminded Israel that the land and the people ultimately belong to God.
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