The Meaning of Leviticus 25:39 Explained

Leviticus 25:39

KJV: 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:

YLT: 'And when thy brother becometh poor with thee, and he hath been sold to thee, thou dost not lay on him servile service;

Darby: And if thy brother grow poor beside thee, and be sold unto thee, thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:

ASV: And if thy brother be waxed poor with thee, and sell himself unto thee; thou shalt not make him to serve as a bond-servant.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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: 

What does Leviticus 25:39 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 25:35-55 - Freedom In The Year Of Jubilee
If a man, through misfortune, were forced to sell himself into serfdom to meet his debts, he could not be legally retained after the trumpet had sounded; but was free to return to his home and family. His rich neighbor, during the time of his distress, was not to exact usury on any loan that he might make, but must give him food, lodging, and help, without charge. The poor man was to be treated not as a slave, but as a hired servant and fellow-citizen whose engagement was of a temporary character, and who might be redeemed at any time before the jubilee, through friendly interposition of a relative.
Nothing in modern legislation equals the jubilee in the interests of religion, social order, and liberty. Is it to be believed that when we, in our various distresses, go to our Heavenly Father, we shall fare any worse than the poor peasant did at the hands of his rich neighbor? And in Jesus have we not one nigh of kin who will redeem us at all costs? [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 25

1  the Sabbath of the seventh year
8  The jubilee in the fiftieth year
14  Of oppression
18  A blessing of obedience
23  The redemption of land
29  Of houses
35  Compassion to the poor
39  The usage of bondmen
47  The redemption of servants

What do the individual words in Leviticus 25:39 mean?

And if becomes poor [one of] your brothers [who dwells] by you and sells himself to you not you shall compel him in him to serve a slave
וְכִֽי־ יָמ֥וּךְ אָחִ֛יךָ עִמָּ֖ךְ וְנִמְכַּר־ לָ֑ךְ לֹא־ תַעֲבֹ֥ד בּ֖וֹ עֲבֹ֥דַת עָֽבֶד

וְכִֽי־  And  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יָמ֥וּךְ  becomes  poor 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּךְ  
Sense: (Qal) to be low, grow poor, be depressed, be poor.
אָחִ֛יךָ  [one  of]  your  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
עִמָּ֖ךְ  [who  dwells]  by  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
וְנִמְכַּר־  and  sells  himself 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָכַר  
Sense: to sell.
לָ֑ךְ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
תַעֲבֹ֥ד  you  shall  compel  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
בּ֖וֹ  in  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
עֲבֹ֥דַת  to  serve 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֲבֹדָה  
Sense: labour, service.
עָֽבֶד  a  slave 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.