Leviticus 25:47-55 Meaning: You Belong to God
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Meaning in one sentence
When an Israelite sells himself to a foreigner, God provides a way of redemption through family or self, because all Israelites belong to Him as His servants.
Context
This passage belongs to the Jubilee laws in Leviticus 25, where God sets boundaries on how the people of Israel may treat one another. The surrounding verses forbid ruling over an Israelite with harshness and distinguish between permanent slaves from foreign nations and temporary servants from among the Israelites themselves. Here the law addresses a specific hard case: an Israelite becomes so poor that he sells himself to a foreigner residing in the land. God does not abandon him to permanent bondage. A close relative, a brother, uncle, or cousin, may step in to buy him back. If his own fortunes improve, he may redeem himself. The price is fair, calculated on the remaining years until the Jubilee. And if no one redeems him earlier, the Jubilee itself becomes his release. The reason for all this is given in the last verse: the Israelites belong to God, not to any human master. He alone is their Lord, and He remembers the freedom He gave them from Egypt.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words hold the weight of this passage. The first is ga'al, translated "redeem." It carries the warmth of a family duty: a kinsman acting to buy back a relative who has lost his freedom. This is no cold transaction; it is a rescue born of belonging. The same word later describes God as the Redeemer of Israel. The second word is sakir, "hired servant." The law insists that an Israelite forced into servitude must be treated as a hired worker, not a permanent slave. His dignity is protected year by year. The third word comes in verse 55: avadim, "servants." It can also mean "slaves," but here it points to ownership by God: "They are my servants." That identity is the bedrock of the whole law. Because they belong to God, no human bond can hold them forever. These words together teach that God's people are never without hope, never without a family to step in, and never without a path back to freedom.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have found deep meaning in this passage. Many see a clear picture of Christ as the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, who steps into our hopeless situation to buy us back from sin and death. Others emphasize the social implications: a society that protects the poor, limits debt servitude, and restores people to their families reflects God's own heart for justice. Some traditions point to the Jubilee as a foretaste of the final restoration when all things are made new. All agree that this law underscores the dignity of every person who belongs to God, and that no human system should ever treat such a person as permanent property.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that the Bible approves of permanent slavery for Israelites. In fact, this passage shows the opposite: God built a system of redemption and release. The Israelite who sold himself was never to be treated as a bought slave; he was a hired worker with an expiration date. If a relative could pay the fair price, he went free. If not, the Jubilee guaranteed his liberty. The law actively prevented lifelong bondage for God's people.
Living This Out
This passage asks you to look at the people around you who are stuck. Maybe a friend is crushed by debt, a neighbor trapped in a bad job, a family member weighed down by a mistake they made years ago. You may not have the money to buy them out, but you can be a kind of redeemer: show up, remind them they belong to God, help them see a way forward. And for yourself, let this truth settle: you are not defined by your failures or your circumstances. You belong to God. He calls you His servant, which means He will not let you stay enslaved. The Jubilee is coming.
Main takeaway: Because we belong to God, no situation can permanently enslave us; He provides redemption and a future.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God said His people belong to Him. That means He takes care of them and wants them to be free. If someone in God’s family got into trouble, their family would help buy them back. You can help your family too by praying and being kind.
For ages 9, 12
In this law, if an Israelite became so poor that he had to sell himself to a foreigner, his relatives had a duty to buy him back. Even if no one could, he would go free at the Jubilee year. This shows that God always provides a way back for His people. Jesus is our Kinsman-Redeemer. He paid the price to set us free from sin and gives us a new future. When you feel stuck, remember that God never forgets you and He always offers redemption.
Questions People Ask
What does 'redeem' mean in Leviticus 25?
In this context, redeem means to buy back a family member who had to sell himself into servitude. It was a sacred duty for a close relative to rescue the person from bondage, restoring his freedom and his place in the family.
What is the Year of Jubilee?
The Year of Jubilee occurred every 50 years. It was a time when all land returned to its original owners and all Israelite servants were set free. It acted as a reset button for society, preventing permanent poverty and keeping families together.
Who could act as a redeemer for a poor Israelite?
A brother, uncle, uncle's son, or any close blood relative could redeem him. If the man himself later became wealthy, he could also redeem himself. This family network ensured that no one was left in hopeless bondage.
Does this law apply to Christians today?
Christians have understood these laws to point to Christ, who redeems us from sin. They also inspire principles of justice and care for the poor, though the specific civil law is not binding on Christians. Many still see the value of protecting the vulnerable and providing second chances.
What does 'the children of Israel are my servants' mean?
This means that God alone has ultimate claim on His people. They are not to be permanent slaves to any human master. Their identity comes from belonging to God, which guarantees their dignity and eventual freedom. This verse is the foundation of the entire law of redemption.
For pastors & researchers
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