How does Leviticus 25:47 address the treatment of fellow Israelites in debt? Setting the Stage Leviticus 25 introduces the Year of Jubilee—a once-in-a-generation reset designed to protect families, land, and liberty. Verses 39-46 forbid Israelites from treating indebted kinsmen as slaves. Verse 47 extends the teaching to a tricky scenario: what if an Israelite’s debt lands him in the hands of a prosperous foreigner? The Verse Itself “If a foreigner or temporary resident among you prospers, but one of your countrymen living among them becomes poor and sells himself to the foreigner living among you or to a member of the foreigner’s family …” (Leviticus 25:47) Immediate Implications • Debt can make an Israelite so poor he must “sell himself,” becoming an indentured servant. • The buyer is a “foreigner or temporary resident” who has flourished financially inside Israel. • God acknowledges economic reality yet safeguards His covenant people from permanent bondage. Redemption Protocol (vv. 48-55) • A near relative—brother, uncle, cousin—has the duty to redeem (buy back) the debtor. • Failing that, the debtor can redeem himself if he later prospers. • The price is calculated fairly, based on years left until the next Jubilee. • Under no circumstances may he remain a slave beyond the Jubilee; liberty is guaranteed: “For they are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt” (v. 55). Underlying Principles • Brotherhood over business: Israelites must value kinship above profit (Deuteronomy 15:12-15). • Dignity in distress: even when an Israelite falls under a foreign master, God claims him as His own. • Limits on power: wealthier outsiders may hire Hebrew labor, yet God forbids exploitation. • Hope built in: the Jubilee clock is always ticking, promising release. Carrying It Forward Today • Guard the vulnerable: financial downturns still threaten dignity; believers act to restore, not exploit. • Practice redemptive generosity: step in early to relieve crushing debt, mirroring the kinsman-redeemer. • Remember ownership: all believers belong to the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:19-20); no human bond is ultimate. • Celebrate reset rhythms: Sabbath rests, prudent lending (Exodus 22:25), and periodic forgiveness reflect God’s heart. Related Scriptures • Leviticus 25:39-46 – no Israelite sold as a slave to another Israelite • Deuteronomy 15:1-18 – debt release and Hebrew servanthood limits • Proverbs 14:31 – “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker” • Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18 – Messiah’s proclamation of liberty • James 2:15-16 – practical compassion toward brothers in need Summary Truths Leviticus 25:47 confronts the harsh reality of debt without surrendering God’s people to it. A kinsman’s poverty may hand him to a foreign employer, but divine law steps in with redemption, fairness, and an ultimate release. The passage calls every generation to uphold dignity, practice timely rescue, and remember that God alone is Master of His redeemed people. |
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