◄ Leviticus 25:40 ►
Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.
Study Bible
He shall stay with you
This phrase indicates a relationship that is more than just transactional. The Hebrew root word here is "gûr," which implies dwelling or residing. In the ancient Near Eastern context, this suggests a sense of belonging and protection. The individual is not merely a servant but is integrated into the household, reflecting God's desire for community and care within His people.

as a hired worker
The term "hired worker" comes from the Hebrew "śākîr," which refers to someone who works for wages. This highlights the dignity of labor and the fair treatment expected in economic transactions. In a conservative Christian perspective, this underscores the biblical principle of just compensation and the value of work, aligning with the broader scriptural mandate to love one's neighbor as oneself.

or temporary resident
The phrase "temporary resident" is translated from the Hebrew "tôšāb," which refers to a sojourner or a foreigner living among the Israelites. This reflects the inclusivity of God's laws, ensuring that even those who are not native Israelites are treated with respect and fairness. Historically, this provision would have been countercultural, emphasizing God's justice and mercy.

he is to work for you
This part of the verse underscores the expectation of labor in exchange for sustenance and protection. The Hebrew verb "ʿābad" means to serve or work, and it is often used in the context of serving God. This dual meaning suggests that all work is ultimately service to the Lord, a perspective that encourages diligence and integrity in all endeavors.

until the Year of Jubilee
The "Year of Jubilee" is a significant concept in Leviticus, derived from the Hebrew "yôḇēl," meaning a ram's horn, which was blown to signal the start of this special year. Occurring every 50th year, the Jubilee was a time of liberation and restoration, where debts were forgiven, and land was returned to original owners. This reflects God's heart for redemption and equality, reminding believers of the ultimate freedom found in Christ. The Jubilee serves as a powerful symbol of hope and renewal, encouraging Christians to live with an eternal perspective, anticipating the ultimate restoration in God's kingdom.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Israelites
The people to whom the laws in Leviticus were given, specifically addressing how they should treat fellow Israelites who become poor and sell themselves into servitude.

2. Hired Worker
A person who works for wages, distinct from a slave, indicating a temporary and more equitable relationship.

3. Temporary Resident
A non-permanent member of the household, emphasizing the transient nature of the servitude.

4. Year of Jubilee
A significant event occurring every 50 years in Israel, where debts were forgiven, and slaves were freed, symbolizing restoration and freedom.
Teaching Points
Understanding Servitude in Context
The servitude described in Leviticus 25:40 is not akin to modern slavery but is a form of economic relief and protection for the poor.

The Principle of Restoration
The Year of Jubilee serves as a powerful reminder of God's desire for restoration and freedom, both physically and spiritually.

Compassionate Treatment
The command to treat a fellow Israelite as a hired worker underscores the importance of dignity and respect in all relationships.

Spiritual Jubilee
As believers, we are called to live in the freedom Christ provides, continually seeking restoration and reconciliation in our lives and communities.

Economic Justice
The principles in Leviticus 25 encourage us to consider how we can support those in economic hardship today, promoting fairness and opportunity.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of the Year of Jubilee challenge our modern understanding of debt and economic systems?

2. In what ways can we apply the principle of treating others with dignity and respect in our workplaces and communities today?

3. How does the idea of spiritual freedom in Christ relate to the physical freedom described in the Year of Jubilee?

4. What are some practical ways we can support those in economic hardship, reflecting the principles found in Leviticus 25:40?

5. How can the teachings of Jesus in Luke 4:18-19 inspire us to live out the principles of Jubilee in our daily lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 21:2-6
Discusses the treatment of Hebrew servants, providing a broader context for servitude laws in Israel.

Deuteronomy 15:12-15
Expands on the release of Hebrew servants, emphasizing compassion and generosity.

Isaiah 61:1-2
Prophesies the coming of the Messiah, who will proclaim liberty to captives, connecting the Year of Jubilee to spiritual freedom.

Luke 4:18-19
Jesus references Isaiah 61, declaring the fulfillment of the Jubilee in His ministry, highlighting the spiritual liberation He brings.
Sermons
A Sabbath of Rest unto the LandW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 25:2-55
Deliverance from SinHoward James.Leviticus 25:2-55
Freedom Through ChristT. De Witt Talmage.Leviticus 25:2-55
Jubilee GladnessJ. Cairns.Leviticus 25:2-55
Land Laws Among Other NationsM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
Land TenureT. T. Munger.Leviticus 25:2-55
Laws of Trade-WagesHom. ReviewLeviticus 25:2-55
Lessons from the Sabbatical YearF. W. Brown.Leviticus 25:2-55
Liberty Through ChristRichard Newton, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
Man Need not Despair of -ProvidenceBp. Babington.Leviticus 25:2-55
Practical Reliance Upon GodIndian Witness.Leviticus 25:2-55
Released from DebtChristian AgeLeviticus 25:2-55
Results of Jubilee YearT. Guthrie, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
Sojourners with GodHomilistLeviticus 25:2-55
The Hebrew System of Land TenureR. Reid.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Joyful SoundC. S. Robinson, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The JubileeHomilistLeviticus 25:2-55
The JubileeHomilistLeviticus 25:2-55
The Jubilee a Type of the GospelWm. Sleigh.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Jubilee Year: its Fourfold SignificanceW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Oppressor Rebuked and the Oppression RemovedC. F. S. Money, M. A.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Purpose of the Sabbatical YearM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Resemblance Between the Year of Jubilee and the GospelT. B. Baker.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Sabbath of the FieldsH. Macmillan, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Sabbatic Year and JubileeJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Sinner's Chains are Self ForgedPreacher's Lantern.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeA. G. Brown.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeA. H. Currier.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeWalter Roberts, M. A.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeD. C. Hughes, M. A.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeT. Binney.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year SabbathDr. Ide.Leviticus 25:2-55
What Shall We Eat the Seventh Year?A. G. Brown.Leviticus 25:2-55
The JubileeR.M. Edgar Leviticus 25:8-55
Year of JubileeW. Clarkson Leviticus 25:8-55
Year of Jubilee: Ii. the World's RedemptionW. Clarkson Leviticus 25:8-55
Year of Jubilee: Iii. the Blessed KingdomW. Clarkson Leviticus 25:8-55
Justice and MercyJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 25:35-55
The Law of Personal ServitudeR.A. Redford Leviticus 25:35-55
SlaveryLeviticus 25:39-55
People
Israelites, Levites, Moses
Places
Canaan, Egypt, Mount Sinai
Topics
Hired, Hireling, Jubilee, Payment, Resident, Servant, Serve, Settler, Sojourner, Temporary, Till, Worker, Working
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 25:40

     4978   year

Leviticus 25:23-43

     5504   rights

Leviticus 25:35-42

     5909   motives, importance

Leviticus 25:35-43

     5274   credit

Leviticus 25:39-40

     5242   buying and selling
     5522   servants, work conditions

Leviticus 25:39-43

     6659   freedom, acts in OT
     7482   Year of Jubilee

Leviticus 25:39-55

     5378   law, OT
     7447   slavery, in OT
     8343   servanthood, in society

Library
Sojourners with God
'The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is Mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with Me.' --LEV. xxv. 23. The singular institution of the Jubilee year had more than one purpose. As a social and economical arrangement it tended to prevent the extremes of wealth and poverty. Every fiftieth year the land was to revert to its original owners, the lineal descendants of those who had 'come in with the conqueror,' Joshua. Debts were to be remitted, slaves emancipated, and so the mountains …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

God's Slaves
'For they are My servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as bondmen.' --LEV. xxv. 42. This is the basis of the Mosaic legislation as to slavery. It did not suppress but regulated that accursed system. Certainly Hebrew slavery was a very different thing from that of other nations. In the first place, no Jew was to be a slave. To that broad principle there were exceptions, such as the case of the man who voluntarily gave himself up to his creditor. But even …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Kinsman Redeemer
'After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him.'--LEV. xxv. 48. There are several of the institutions and precepts of the Mosaic legislation which, though not prophetic, nor typical, have yet remarkable correspondences with lofty Christian truth. They may be used as symbols, if only we remember that we are diverting them from their original purpose. How singularly these words lend themselves to the statement of the very central truths of Christianity--a slavery …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Boniface viii Ad 1294-1303.
PART I In Celestine's place was chosen Benedict Gaetani, who, although even older than the worn-out and doting late pope, was still full of strength, both in body and in mind. Benedict (who took the name of Boniface VIII) is said to have been very learned, especially in matters at law; but his pride and ambition led him into attempts which ended in his own ruin, and did serious harm to the papacy. In the year 1300 Boniface set on foot what was called the Jubilee. You will remember the Jubilee which …
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

The Kinsman-Redeemer
'Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of Hosts is His name: He shall thoroughly plead their cause.'--JER. l. 34. Among the remarkable provisions of the Mosaic law there were some very peculiar ones affecting the next-of-kin. The nearest living blood relation to a man had certain obligations and offices to discharge, under certain contingencies, in respect of which he received a special name; which is sometimes translated in the Old Testament 'Redeemer,' and sometimes 'Avenger' of blood. What the etymological …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Day of Atonement
Now, I shall invite your attention to the ceremonies of this solemn day, taking the different parts in detail. First, we shall consider the person who made the atonement; secondly, the sacrifice whereby the atonement was typically made; thirdly, the effects of the atonement; and fourthly, our behaviour on the recollection of the atonement, as well set forth by the conduct prescribed to the Israelites on that day. I. First, THE PERSON WHO WAS TO MAKE THE ATONEMENT. And at the outset, we remark that …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
BY A.E. GRIMKE. "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:--and so will I go in unto the king, …
Angelina Emily Grimke—An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South

Sin and Forgiveness Between Brethren.
(Autumn, a.d. 29.) ^A Matt. XVIII. 15-35. ^a 15 And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [Having warned against giving offense, Jesus now shows how to act when offense is received. The fault is to be pointed out to the offender, but for the purpose of gaining him--not from a desire to humiliate him. The offended is to seek the offender, and the offender is likewise to seek the offended (Matt. xv. 23, 24), …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Commerce
The remarkable change which we have noticed in the views of Jewish authorities, from contempt to almost affectation of manual labour, could certainly not have been arbitrary. But as we fail to discover here any religious motive, we can only account for it on the score of altered political and social circumstances. So long as the people were, at least nominally, independent, and in possession of their own land, constant engagement in a trade would probably mark an inferior social stage, and imply …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

"And the Redeemer Shall Come unto Zion, and unto them that Turn,"
Isaiah lix. 20.--"And the Redeemer shall come unto Zion, and unto them that turn," &c. Doctrines, as things, have their seasons and times. Every thing is beautiful in its season. So there is no word of truth, but it hath a season and time in which it is beautiful. And indeed that is a great part of wisdom, to bring forth everything in its season, to discern when and where, and to whom it is pertinent and edifying, to speak such and such truths. But there is one doctrine that is never out of season, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Eighth Commandment
Thou shalt not steal.' Exod 20: 15. AS the holiness of God sets him against uncleanness, in the command Thou shalt not commit adultery;' so the justice of God sets him against rapine and robbery, in the command, Thou shalt not steal.' The thing forbidden in this commandment, is meddling with another man's property. The civil lawyers define furtum, stealth or theft to be the laying hands unjustly on that which is another's;' the invading another's right. I. The causes of theft. [1] The internal causes …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Baptism
Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them,' &c. Matt 28: 19. I. The way whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemptions, is, in the use of the sacraments. What are the sacraments in general? They are visible signs of invisible grace. Is not the word of God sufficient to salvation? What need then is there of sacraments? We must not be wise above what is written. It is God's will that his church …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Leviticus 25:40 NIV
Leviticus 25:40 NLT
Leviticus 25:40 ESV
Leviticus 25:40 NASB
Leviticus 25:40 KJV

Leviticus 25:40 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Leviticus 25:39
Top of Page
Top of Page