Leviticus 25:42 · Bible study
Leviticus 25:42 Commentary: Redeemed to Be God's Servants
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
A study of Leviticus 25:42 exploring how God's redemption of Israel from Egypt establishes His exclusive ownership and forbids their sale as slaves.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God's redemption makes Israel His exclusive property, forbidding their permanent sale as slaves.
- Key words: עֲבָדַ (servants), יִמָּכְר֖וּ (will be sold), הוֹצֵ֥אתִי (I brought out).
- Main debate: The application of this civil law to modern Christian ethics and the morality of foreign slavery in the Old Testament.
- Theological theme: Redemption creates a new identity and exclusive ownership by God, shaping community ethics.
- Best use: Teaching on the basis of human dignity, mutual respect in the church, and the implications of being bought with a price.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves.
WEB World English Bible 2000
For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. They shall not be sold as slaves.
KJV King James Version 1769
For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
For they are my servants, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`For they are My servants, whom I have brought out from the land of Egypt: they are not sold with the sale of a servant;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
For they are my bondmen, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as [men] sell bondmen.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For they are my servants, and I brought them out of the land of Egypt: let them not be sold as bondmen.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Porque son mis siervos, los cuales saqué yo de la tierra de Egipto: no serán vendidos á manera de siervos.
Porque são meus servos, os quais tirei eu da terra do Egito: não serão vendidos à maneira de servos.
Car ce sont mes serviteurs, que j’ ai fait sortir du pays d’ Égypte; ils ne seront point vendus comme on vend des esclaves.
Denn sie sind meine Knechte, die ich aus Ägyptenland geführt habe; darum soll man sie nicht auf leibeigene Weise verkaufen.
Want zij zijn Mijn dienstknechten, die Ik uit Egypteland uitgevoerd heb; zij zullen niet verkocht worden, gelijk men een slaaf verkoopt.
Poiché essi sono miei servi, ch’io trassi dal paese d’Egitto; non debbono esser venduti come si vendono gli schiavi.
Słudzy bowiem moi są, którem Ja wywiódł z ziemi Egipskiej, niechże nie będą sprzedawani jako niewolnicy.
потому что они — Мои рабы, которых Я вывел из земли Египетской: не должно продавать их, как продают рабов;
因為 他們是 我的僕人，是 我從埃及 地 領出來 的，不可 賣 為 奴僕。
For they are my servants whom I took out from the land of Egypt; they may not become the property of another.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Leviticus 25:42
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse grounds the prohibition of permanent Israelite servitude in God’s own prior claim. Adam Clarke notes that God redeemed every Israelite out of Egyptian bondage, making them His property, and that they should not alienate themselves from Him. Calvin argues that God’s right is invaded when those He claims as His property are taken into subjection by another; the redemption from Egypt acquired the people as His own. Gill emphasizes that God’s right antecedes and prevents any other claim. Wesley adds that Israelites are members of God’s church, chosen to serve Him, and therefore not to be oppressed. The consensus is clear: God’s redemptive act creates an exclusive ownership that forbids selling fellow Israelites as slaves.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God's redemption of Israel from Egypt establishes His exclusive ownership over them as His servants, which prohibits their permanent sale as slaves.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Basis of the prohibition | God's redemption from Egypt is the sole basis for the prohibition of permanent servitude among Israelites. | Calvin sees a 'symbol' of God's ownership preserved in temporary servitude, while Clarke emphasizes the spiritual liberty that remains inalienable. |
| Application to New Testament believers | Commentators draw a parallel between Exodus redemption and Christ's redemption (e.g., Calvin cites Ephesians 6:9; Clarke alludes to spiritual liberty). | No explicit disagreement in supplied sources, but differing emphases: some stress the social ethic, others the spiritual status. |
| Treatment of foreign slaves | The law clearly distinguishes between Israelites and foreigners, allowing permanent slavery of the latter. | Commentators note the distinction without moral critique; modern readers often question this aspect of the Mosaic law. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The immediate context of Leviticus 25 places this verse within the laws of the Jubilee year. When an Israelite fell into poverty and sold himself to a fellow Israelite, he was not to serve as a slave but as a hired servant until the Jubilee (vv.39, 41). Verse 42 gives the foundational reason: God redeemed Israel from Egypt, and they are His servants. The land itself also belongs to God (v.23), so both people and land are under God’s ultimate ownership.
Calvin stresses that God was satisfied with this “symbol” of His ownership, temporary servitude still acknowledged His deliverance. Clarke points out that political liberty might be lost, but spiritual liberty could not be forfeited except by utter alienation from God. The law also allowed permanent slaves from foreign nations (vv.44, 46), showing a distinction that modern readers find troubling. The Old Testament laws permitted foreign slavery, but for Israelites, redemption created a permanent family bond: they were God’s “servants” in a special sense, chosen to serve Him. Wesley observes that Israelites were “members of my church and people, such as I have chosen out of all the world to serve me here.” The Exodus shapes not only their history but their identity and social ethics.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Leviticus 25:42. Lange mentions variant readings in surrounding verses (Lev 25:3, 5, 11) but these do not affect this verse.
Reception History
Calvin, Matthew Henry, Wesley, and Clarke all use this verse to underscore God’s ownership and the dignity of believers. It has also been read alongside New Testament passages like Romans 6:22 and 1 Corinthians 7:23, reinforcing the idea that redemption defines identity. In later centuries, this text has been cited by Christian abolitionists to argue that all people belong to God and cannot be enslaved. The verse continues to shape how Christians understand the implications of being bought with a price.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God redeemed Israel, so He owns them. As Calvin says, God’s right is invaded when His property is subjected to another. Every Israelite sale was temporary, preserving the trace of His deliverance.
- Because they belong to God, no human can permanently claim them as property. This is not just ancient law; it shapes how we see each other in the church.
- This identity calls us to treat fellow believers with respect, not as commodities. Wesley reminds us that they are fellow members of God’s church.
Five-point outline
- The divine claim: “They are my servants.”
- The basis: “Whom I brought out of Egypt.”
- The prohibition: “They shall not be sold as slaves.”
- The contrast: Foreign slaves may be bought, but fellow Israelites are God’s property.
- The principle: Redemption creates a new status that transforms human relationships.
Illustration hooks
- A leased car cannot be sold by the driver because the leasing company owns it. God leases no rights: He owns His people fully.
- A person rescued from danger owes gratitude to the rescuer. The Exodus is that rescue writ large for an entire nation, establishing a permanent bond of ownership.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If God forbade selling Israelites as slaves, why did the Old Testament allow foreign slavery?
- How does this Old Testament law speak to modern issues like human trafficking or debt bondage?
- What does it mean to treat a fellow Christian as a “servant of God” rather than a servant of people?
Leading a Discussion
The passage invites us to consider what it means to belong to God. Because He redeemed Israel from Egypt, He owns them. This changes everything about how they treat each other. Read Leviticus 25:35, 46 for context, then discuss.
Discussion questions
- What does the phrase “my servants” reveal about God’s relationship with Israel?
- Why does God point to the Exodus as the reason they cannot be sold?
- According to Calvin and Clarke, what kind of ownership does God assert?
- How does this law contrast with the treatment of foreign slaves in verses 44, 46?
- In what ways do we sometimes treat fellow believers as commodities rather than as God’s servants?
- What would it look like to treat a struggling brother or sister as a hired servant rather than a slave?
- How does Christ’s redemption give us an even greater basis for mutual dignity?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Leviticus 25:55 | For to me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God. |
| Romans 6:22 | But now, being made free from sin and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification and the result of eternal life. |
| I Corinthians 7:21 | Were you called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it. |
| I Corinthians 7:23 | You were bought with a price. Don’t become bondservants of men. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke stresses that because God redeemed every Israelite from Egyptian slavery, they belong to Him as His property and must not cut themselves off from Him. He notes that their religious and political duty was bound up in being His servants, and though they could lose political liberty, their spiritual freedom remained secure unless they totally abandoned God.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that God's ownership of Israel, won through redemption from Egypt, makes any permanent enslavement of a Hebrew an invasion of God's own right. Temporary service was permitted as a symbol of that redemption, but perpetual dominion would extinguish its memory. He applies the same principle to Christian masters, who must remember their shared Master in heaven.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible notes a clear difference in how Israelite and foreign servants were treated under the law. An Israelite bought as a servant was not to be forced into permanent slavery but treated like a hired worker, with the Jubilee year limiting the term. Foreign slaves, however, could be held permanently as bondservants.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible notes emphasize that because God redeemed the Israelites from Egypt, they belong to Him as His own servants. Therefore no Israelite may be sold like a common slave, since their identity as God's purchased people cancels any human claim of ownership.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that because God redeemed Israel from Egypt, they already belong to Him as servants. This prior claim cancels any right to sell them as bondmen in the harsh public manner of the slave market or for perpetual servitude. Any sale must be private and honorable.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry's central point is that God's claim on Israel as His own redeemed servants forbids permanent ownership of one Israelite by another. Because God brought them out of Egypt, an impoverished brother must be treated as a hired worker, never as a bondslave, and must go free at the Jubilee.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley insists that servants are no less God's chosen people than their masters, fellow members of the church called to serve God now and enjoy Him forever. Therefore masters have no absolute right over them and must not oppress those whom God has claimed as His own.