Leviticus 25:47-55 · Bible study
Leviticus 25:47-55 Commentary: Redemption for God's Servants
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What does the law of redemption for an Israelite sold to a foreigner teach about God's claim on His people? Study Leviticus 25:47-55.
Research Summary
- Meaning: An Israelite sold to a resident foreigner must be given the right of redemption by kin or self, with a fair price based on years until Jubilee, because the Israelites belong to God.
- Key words: ger (sojourner), toshav (resident alien), ge’ullah (redemption), go’el (kinsman-redeemer), yobel (Jubilee), ’eved (servant).
- Main debate: Whether the law applied only within the land of Canaan (Calvin) or could be extended to Israelites sold elsewhere; also whether the kinsman was obligated or merely permitted to redeem.
- Theological theme: God’s exclusive ownership of His people; human servitude is limited because ultimate allegiance belongs to Yahweh, who redeemed them from Egypt.
- Best use: Understanding economic justice in ancient Israel; as a type of Christ’s redemption for Christians; teaching the dignity of labor and the call to care for the vulnerable.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
47If a foreigner residing among you prospers, but your countryman dwelling near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of his clan,
48he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his brothers may redeem him:
49either his uncle or cousin or any close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he prospers, he may redeem himself.
50He and his purchaser will then count the time from the year he sold himself up to the Year of Jubilee. The price of his sale will be determined by the number of years, based on the daily wages of a hired hand.
51If many years remain, he must pay for his redemption in proportion to his purchase price.
52If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, he is to calculate and pay his redemption according to his remaining years.
53He shall be treated like a man hired from year to year, but a foreign owner must not rule over him harshly in your sight.
54Even if he is not redeemed in any of these ways, he and his children shall be released in the Year of Jubilee.
55For the Israelites are My servants. They are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
WEB World English Bible 2000
47“‘If an alien or temporary resident with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him has grown poor, and sells himself to the stranger or foreigner living among you, or to a member of the stranger’s family,
48after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him;
49or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any who is a close relative to him of his family may redeem him; or if he has grown rich, he may redeem himself.
50He shall reckon with him who bought him from the year that he sold himself to him to the Year of Jubilee. The price of his sale shall be according to the number of years; he shall be with him according to the time of a hired servant.
51If there are yet many years, according to them he shall give back the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for.
52If there remain but a few years to the year of jubilee, then he shall reckon with him; according to his years of service he shall give back the price of his redemption.
53As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him. He shall not rule with harshness over him in your sight.
54If he isn’t redeemed by these means, then he shall be released in the Year of Jubilee: he and his children with him.
55For 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.
KJV King James Version 1769
47And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger’s family:
48After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:
49Either his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.
50And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him.
51If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for.
52And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubile, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption.
53And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in thy sight.
54And if he be not redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubile, both he, and his children with him.
55For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
47And if a stranger or sojourner with thee be waxed rich, and thy brother be waxed poor beside him, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner with thee, or to the stock of the stranger’s family;
48after that he is sold he may be redeemed: one of his brethren may redeem him;
49or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be waxed rich, he may redeem himself.
50And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he sold himself to him unto the year of jubilee: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years; according to the time of a hired servant shall he be with him.
51If there be yet many years, according unto them he shall give back the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for.
52And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubilee, then he shall reckon with him; according unto his years shall he give back the price of his redemption.
53As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him: he shall not rule with rigor over him in thy sight.
54And if he be not redeemed by these means, then he shall go out in the year of jubilee, he, and his children with him.
55For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am Jehovah your God.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
47`And when the hand of a sojourner or settler with thee attaineth riches , and thy brother with him hath become poor, and he hath been sold to a sojourner, a settler with thee, or to the root of the family of a sojourner,
48after he hath been sold, there is a right of redemption to him; one of his brethren doth redeem him,
49or his uncle, or a son of his uncle, doth redeem him, or any of the relations of his flesh, of his family, doth redeem him, or--his own hand hath attained--then he hath been redeemed.
50`And he hath reckoned with his buyer from the year of his being sold to him till the year of jubilee, and the money of his sale hath been by the number of years; as the days of an hireling it is with him.
51`If yet many years, according to them he giveth back his redemption money , from the money of his purchase.
52`And if few are left of the years till the year of jubilee, then he hath reckoned with him, according to his years he doth give back his redemption money ;
53as an hireling, year by year, he is with him, and he doth not rule him with rigour before thine eyes.
54`And if he is not redeemed in these years , then he hath gone out in the year of jubilee, he and his sons with him.
55For to Me are the sons of Israel servants; My servants they are , whom I have brought out of the land of Egypt; I, Jehovah, am your God.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
47And if a stranger or sojourner become wealthy beside thee, and thy brother beside him grow poor, and sell himself unto the stranger, who is settled by thee, or to a scion of the stranger's family,
48after that he is sold there shall be right of redemption for him; one of his brethren may redeem him.
49Either his uncle or his uncle's son may redeem him, or one of his next relations of his family may redeem him; or if his means be sufficient, he may redeem himself.
50And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubilee; and the price of his sale shall be according to the number of the years, according to the days of a hired servant shall he be with him.
51If there are yet many years, according unto them shall he return his redemption [money] out of the money that he was bought for;
52and if there remain but few years unto the year of jubilee, then he shall reckon with him; according unto his [remaining] years [of service] shall he give him back his redemption [money].
53As a hired servant shall he be with him year by year; [his master] shall not rule with rigour over him before thine eyes.
54And if he be not redeemed in this manner, then he shall go out in the year of jubilee, he and his children with him.
55For the children of Israel are servants unto me; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am Jehovah your God.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
47If the hand of a stranger or a sojourner grow strong among you, and thy brother being impoverished sell himself to him, or to any of his race:
48After the sale he may be redeemed. He that will of his brethren shall redeem him:
49Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, or his kinsman, by blood, or by affinity. But if he himself be able also, he shall redeem himself:
50Counting only the years from the time of his selling unto the year of the jubilee: and counting the money that he was sold for, according to the number of the years and the reckoning of a hired servant.
51If there be many years that remain until the jubilee, according to them shall he also repay the price.
52If few, he shall make the reckoning with him according to the number of the years: and shall repay to the buyer of what remaineth of the years.
53His wages being allowed for which he served before: he shall not afflict him violently in thy sight.
54And if by these means he cannot be redeemed, in the year of the jubilee he shall go out with his children.
55For the children of Israel are my servants, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Leviticus 25:47
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 Leviticus 25:47-55 establishes a legal safety net. An Israelite who has sold himself to a resident foreigner may be redeemed by his nearest kinsman, or by himself if he gains the means. Adam Clarke notes the law was “very equitable,” protecting both the foreign buyer and the Israelite. The price of redemption is calculated by the number of years remaining until the Jubilee, treating the man as a hired laborer. John Calvin explains that this provision prevented the Israelite from being “alienated from his race” and from the worship of God. Albert Barnes calls the Jubilee system “a standing lesson” on the terms of God’s covenant. All agree that the driving force is verse 55: “For to me the children of Israel are servants.” The Israelites belonged to God by redemption from Egypt, so they could not become permanent property of another master.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God declares that the Israelites belong to Him as servants, so they cannot be permanent slaves to any foreign master; the law provides a path to freedom through redemption or the Jubilee release.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of the Law | The law applies to Israelites who sell themselves to resident aliens living within the land of Israel. | John Calvin argues the law would be 'vain' for Israelites taken to foreign countries; others see the principle of redemption as applying wherever Israelite identity is at stake. |
| Obligation of the Kinsman | The nearest kinsman has the right to redeem the sold Israelite. | Some commentators, citing Jewish tradition, hold that the kinsman is bound to redeem if able (Clarke); others read the verb 'may redeem' as permissive rather than obligatory (most translations). |
| Theological Typology | The Exodus and God's ownership of Israel are the foundation of the law. | Adam Clarke sees a direct typology of Christ's redemption (Galatians 4); others view the law primarily as a civil safeguard, with typology emerging only in the broader biblical narrative. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In ancient Israel, poverty could force a person to sell himself into servitude. The law distinguished between foreign slaves, who could be held permanently (25:44-46), and Israelite servants, who were to be treated with dignity. Leviticus 25:47-55 addresses a specific scenario: an Israelite sold to a ger (sojourner) or toshav (resident alien) living in the land. These terms refer to foreigners who had taken up residence in Israel, often with limited rights. The surrounding context (vv.39-46) already forbade Israelites from ruling over each other with harshness. Now the law extends protection even when the master is not an Israelite.
The institution of the Jubilee (yobel) shaped the whole system. Every fiftieth year, land returned to its original owners and slaves were freed. The blowing of the ram’s horn proclaimed liberty. The redemption price was not arbitrary; it reflected the remaining years of service, calculated like wages for a hired hand. This safeguarded both buyer and seller.
John Calvin argued that this law only applied within the land of Canaan, since God could not enforce it elsewhere. Adam Clarke linked the law to Nehemiah 5:8, where the returned exiles redeemed their fellow Jews sold to Gentiles. The deep reason, however, was theological. God had brought Israel out of Egypt to be His own servants. They already had a Master. To be permanently enslaved to a foreigner would deny God’s ownership and endanger their worship. This was a standing reminder that their ultimate allegiance belonged to Yahweh.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Leviticus 25:47-55. The Hebrew text is consistent across major manuscripts.
Reception History
Jewish tradition applied the law of the go’el (kinsman-redeemer) as seen in the book of Ruth, which involves both redemption of land and restoration of status. In the Second Temple period, Nehemiah 5:8 records the community redeeming Jews sold to Gentiles, directly applying this principle. Christian interpreters, from the early church onward, saw the Jubilee and redemption as a picture of Christ’s work. Adam Clarke turned to Galatians 4, noting that believers move from servants to sons. John Calvin stressed that the law preserved the purity of worship by keeping Israelites among their own people and faith. The passage has been used to argue for economic justice and the dignity of labor, as well as a theological reminder that all believers belong to God.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The crisis of poverty that leads to loss of freedom. An Israelite becomes destitute and sells himself to a foreigner living in the land (v.47). The law does not condemn poverty; it creates a path back.
- The provision of redemption through kin or self. The nearest kinsman (go’el) may redeem him, or the man himself if he prospers (vv.48-52). The price is fair: based on remaining years to Jubilee, like wages for a hired hand.
- The ultimate reason: Israel belongs to God. Verse 55 declares that the Israelites are God’s servants, whom He brought out of Egypt. They cannot be permanent slaves to another master. The Jubilee release guarantees that freedom will come.
Five-point outline
- The situation: an Israelite sold to a resident alien (v.47).
- The right of redemption: the nearest kinsman (brother, uncle, cousin, or any close relative) may redeem him (vv.48-49).
- The calculation: a proportional price from the year of sale to the Jubilee, treating the man as a hired laborer (vv.50-52).
- The treatment: the foreign master must not rule with harshness; the Israelite is like a yearly hired servant (v.53). The community oversees this.
- The guarantee: if not redeemed by these means, the man and his children go free at the Jubilee (v.54), because the Israelites are God’s servants, not property (v.55).
Illustration hooks
- A family member falls into medical debt and is about to lose their home. Relatives pool resources to cover the debt, treating it as a loan, not a handout.
- A worker in a foreign country is exploited because they lack legal status. A community organization steps in to advocate for fair wages and legal protection.
- A child’s school uniform costs more than a parent can pay. A grandparent quietly buys it, expecting nothing back, because “that’s what family does.”
Questions your congregation is asking
- “What if my family can’t afford to redeem me? Does this law leave any hope?” The law provides the Jubilee as a guarantee; even if no one redeems, freedom comes at God’s appointed time.
- “Does God still see us as His servants today?” Christians believe that through Christ, we are no longer slaves but children of God (Galatians 4:7). Yet the call to serve God alone remains.
- “How can we apply this to modern economics?” This law calls us to create safety nets for the vulnerable and to resist systems that make people permanent debtors or slaves.
Leading a Discussion
This passage lays out a safety net for Israelites who fall into poverty and end up serving a foreign master. The law protects their dignity, ensures a path to freedom, and grounds everything in God’s own claim on His people. Use these questions to explore the text together.
Discussion questions
- What triggers the right of redemption in this passage? Who is allowed to redeem the man?
- How is the redemption price calculated? Why do you think the law ties it to the number of years until the Jubilee?
- What does it mean that the man is to be treated “as a yearly hired servant” and not ruled with harshness (v.53)? Why is that distinction important?
- In verse 55, God gives the reason: “For to me the children of Israel are servants.” How does that statement reshape the meaning of the whole law?
- How does this law reflect the character of God? What does it teach about His care for the poor and His claim on His people?
- Compare this with the earlier law in Leviticus 25:39-43, where an Israelite sold to a fellow Israelite is treated similarly. Why do you think the same protections apply even when the master is a foreigner?
- What would it look like for a church or community to live out the principles behind this law today? Where do we need a “kinsman-redeemer” in our own lives?
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 25:26 | If a man has no one to redeem it, and he becomes prosperous and finds sufficient means to redeem it, |
| I Samuel 2:7 | Yahweh makes poor and makes rich. He brings low, he also lifts up. |
| I Samuel 2:8 | He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill to make them sit with princes and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh’s. He has set the world on them. |
| James 2:5 | Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him? |
| Leviticus 25:25 | “‘If your brother becomes poor, and sells some of his possessions, then his kinsman who is next to him shall come, and redeem that which his brother has sold. |
| Leviticus 25:35 | “‘If your brother has become poor, and his hand can’t support himself among you, then you shall uphold him. He shall live with you like an alien and a temporary resident. |
| Nehemiah 5:5 | Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring our sons and our daughters into bondage to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. It is also not in our power to help it, because other men have our fields and our vineyards.” |
| Nehemiah 5:8 | I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?” Then they held their peace, and found not a word to say. |
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 draws a sharp typological contrast: the Israelites were servants under the law, but believers in Christ are not merely servants but sons, heirs of God Himself. The jubilee preserved earthly liberty, yet the greater blessing is that God Himself becomes the eternal portion of every genuine believer.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes that the Jubilee taught a deeper lesson: all land belonged to Yahweh as supreme Lord, and every Israelite was His vassal. The Jubilee horns proclaimed God's equitable social order and foreshadowed the abolition of sin's slavery and the true liberty of God's children.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that the law allowing redemption was meant only for Israelites enslaved in Canaan, not abroad. Its deeper purpose was to prevent God's adopted people from being alienated from their race and from true worship. The jubilee release ultimately protected the integrity of God's covenant community.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the redemption price for an Israelite enslaved to a foreigner is calculated proportionally to the remaining years until the Jubilee, exactly as with redeemed land. All such bondage ends at the Jubilee regardless. The phrase "in thy sight" simply means whenever a person becomes aware of it.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva notes stress that even an impoverished Israelite who must sell himself to a foreigner retains the right of redemption. A close relative may buy him back, or he may redeem himself. The price is prorated from the sale year until the Jubilee, and he must be treated as a hired servant, never harshly. If unredeemed, he and his children go free at Jubilee, because all Israelites belong to God alone as His servants.
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 notes that the foreigner described as a "root" is a person transplanted into Israel, yet even such a resident cannot prevent an Israelite servant from being redeemed. The servant's time is counted proportionally, like a hired worker's. The phrase "in thy sight" means the community must actively ensure this justice.