Deuteronomy 15:12-14
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The verse highlights that the servitude wasn't absolute; it explicitly includes both "an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman," showing an intentional inclusion of women in these protections, which wasn't always the case in surrounding cultures. This detail underscores God's desire for fairness and dignity for all, regardless of gender.
“If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed. You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As the LORD your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a larger section detailing laws for the Year of Release, following instructions on debt cancellation. It specifically addresses the situation of Hebrew individuals, men or women, who have been sold into servitude due to debt or crime, establishing the rule that their service is limited to six years before they must be set free. This provision ensures that no Israelite remains a slave permanently, reflecting God's deep concern for justice and human dignity within the community.
The Bible speaks of an 'Hebrew man' or 'Hebrew woman' being 'sold.' What does this mean, and how does it change how we view the relationship?
When this law was given, an Israelite could fall into servitude for a few reasons:
Crucially, the text uses the word 'brother' repeatedly. This highlights that the person sold was still part of the covenant family, not merely property. They were an 'Hebrew brother or sister,' emphasizing kinship and shared identity under God, even in a state of servitude.
Six years of service, then freedom. Why this specific timeframe, and what does it reveal about God's heart for His people?
The six-year term for servitude was a foundational aspect of Israelite law, designed to prevent perpetual slavery.
A Limited Term:
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Echoes of Creation and Redemption:
This structure ensured that even those in difficult circumstances would eventually regain their full liberty and standing among their people.
Freedom wasn't just about walking away; it involved a generous provision. What does this 'extra gift' teach us about God's character?
Deuteronomy goes a step further than Exodus, adding a crucial element to the release of a Hebrew servant: generous provision.
Not Just Free, But Equipped:
Reflecting God's Abundance:
This law calls for a spirit of liberality, showing that true freedom involves not just the absence of bondage but the presence of opportunity and provision, mirroring God's own giving nature.
Understand the original words
ibri · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
One who belongs to the covenant people of Israel, often used to emphasize the shared spiritual heritage and identity of the community.
abad · Hebrew Verb
To perform labor for another, often in a position of subordination; in a religious sense, it denotes the service and worship offered to God.
reyqam · Hebrew Adjective/Adverb
The act of providing gifts or resources to someone who is being released from service, ensuring they have the means to start anew.
barak · Hebrew Verb
The gracious act of God in providing material or spiritual prosperity, which carries with it the responsibility to reflect that generosity toward others.
This passage lays the groundwork for the law concerning Hebrew slaves, establishing the principle of a six-year service period and release in the seventh year, which Deuteronomy 15 expands upon.
Leviticus 25:39This Levitical law addresses the treatment of those who become servants out of poverty, highlighting that an Israelite should not be treated harshly but as a hired worker, providing a broader ethical context for servitude laws.
Jeremiah 34:13This prophetic passage calls out Israel for failing to uphold the covenant of releasing their servants, directly referencing the law found in Deuteronomy and Exodus, showing the consequence of disobedience.
Matthew 18:23Jesus uses the parable of the unforgiving servant to illustrate the concept of debt and forgiveness, drawing a parallel to God's boundless mercy toward us, echoing the principle of release and freedom inherent in Deuteronomy's law.
2 Corinthians 6:2Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8, stating 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' This links to the 'acceptable year' mentioned in relation to release, framing spiritual freedom as the ultimate form of liberation.
gillDeuteronomy 15:12: "And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee."
And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee,.... By others, as by the sanhedrim for theft, for which a man might be sold, but not a woman, as Jarchi observes; but then a father might sell his daughter for an handmaid, if little and under age; and to such cases this law is supposed to r…
calvinDeuteronomy 15:12-18: "And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee."
It shall not seem hard unto thee when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.
Non sit durum in oculis tuis quum dimittes eum liberum a te, quia duplo secundum me…
The verse highlights that the servitude wasn't absolute; it explicitly includes both "an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman," showing an intentional inclusion of women in these protections, which wasn't always the case in surrounding cultures. This detail underscores God's desire for fairness and dignity for all, regardless of gender.
This passage is part of a larger section detailing laws for the Year of Release, following instructions on debt cancellation. It specifically addresses the situation of Hebrew individuals, men or women, who have been sold into servitude due to debt or crime, establishing the rule that their service is limited to six years before they must be set free. This provision ensures that no Israelite remains a slave permanently, reflecting God's deep concern for justice and human dignity within the community.
This passage is part of a larger section detailing laws for the Year of Release, following instructions on debt cancellation. It specifically addresses the situation of Hebrew individuals, men or women, who have been sold into servitude due to debt or crime, establishing the rule that their service is limited to six years before they must be set free. This provision ensures that no Israelite remains a slave permanently, reflecting God's deep concern for justice and human dignity within the community.
"“If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed. You s…" — The verse highlights that the servitude wasn't absolute; it explicitly includes both "an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman," showing an intentional inclusion of women in these protections, which wasn't…
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Last reviewed October 2026
