Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 15:12-18

The Year of Release: Debt, Poverty, and the Generosity of a People Who Remember Egypt

From the seven-year debt release and its open-handed generosity demand vv 1-11 through the Hebrew-slave release with liberal provision and voluntary permanent servitude option vv 12-18 to the firstborn consecration that grounds the chapter economics in the LORD ownership of all first-increase vv 19-23.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

12If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free.

13And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed.

14You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you.

15Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; that is why I am giving you this command today.

16But if your servant says to you, ‘I do not want to leave you,’ because he loves you and your household and is well off with you,

17then take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he will become your servant for life. And treat your maidservant the same way.

18Do not regard it as a hardship to set your servant free, because his six years of service were worth twice the wages of a hired hand. And the LORD your God will bless you in all you do.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 12

Cross-references

Exodus 21BSB references Jeremiah 34:14Classic cross-references Exodus 21:2Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 24:14Classic cross-references Leviticus 25:39Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 15:1Classic cross-references

Original words

Ifכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctiona fellowאָחִ֣יךָH251Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularHebrewהָֽעִבְרִ֗יH5680Article | Noun - proper - masculine singulara man orא֚וֹH176Conjunctiona womanהָֽעִבְרִיָּ֔הH5680Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularis soldיִמָּכֵ֨רH4376Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularto youלְךָ֜Preposition | second person masculine singularand serves youוַעֲבָֽדְךָ֖H5647Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularsixשֵׁ֣שׁH8337Number - feminine singular constructyearsשָׁנִ֑יםH8141Noun - feminine pluralthen in the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֔תH7637Article | Number - ordinal feminine singularyearוּבַשָּׁנָה֙H8141Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularyou must set himתְּשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּH7971Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singularfreeחָפְשִׁ֖יH2670Adjective - masculine singular. . .מֵעִמָּֽךְ׃H5973Preposition-m | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

Or sells himself

Verse 13

Cross-references

Jeremiah 22:13Classic cross-references Malachi 3:5Classic cross-references Proverbs 3:27Classic cross-references

Original words

And whenוְכִֽי־H3588Conjunctionyou release himתְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּH7971Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular. . .חָפְשִׁ֖יH2670Adjective - masculine singular. . .מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְH5973Preposition-m | second person masculine singulardo notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlesend him awayתְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּH7971Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singularempty-handedרֵיקָֽם׃H7387Adverb

Verse 14

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 9:7Classic cross-references

Original words

You are to furnish him liberallyהַעֲנֵ֤יקH6059Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute. . .תַּעֲנִיק֙H6059Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularfrom your flockמִצֹּ֣אנְךָ֔H6629Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularyour threshing floorוּמִֽגָּרְנְךָ֖H1637Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularand your winepressוּמִיִּקְבֶ֑ךָH3342Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularYou shall giveתִּתֶּן־H5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularto himלֽוֹ׃Preposition | third person masculine singularasאֲשֶׁ֧רH834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularhas blessed youבֵּרַכְךָ֛H1288Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular

Verse 15

Cross-references

Exodus 13:3Classic cross-references Exodus 20:2Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 5:15Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 7:23Classic cross-references Exodus 6:6Classic cross-references

Original words

Rememberוְזָכַרְתָּ֗H2142Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularthatכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionyou wereהָיִ֙יתָ֙H1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularslavesעֶ֤בֶדH5650Noun - masculine singularin the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץH776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructof Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםH4714Noun - proper - feminine singularand the LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularredeemed youוַֽיִּפְדְּךָ֖H6299Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularthat is whyעַל־H5921Preposition. . .כֵּ֞ןH3651AdverbIאָנֹכִ֧יH595Pronoun - first person common singularam givingמְצַוְּךָ֛H6680Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularyouאֶת־H853Direct object markerthisהַזֶּ֖הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularcommandהַדָּבָ֥רH1697Article | Noun - masculine singulartodayהַיּֽוֹם׃H3117Article | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 16

Cross-references

Exodus 21:5Classic cross-references Psalms 40:8Classic cross-references

Original words

-וְהָיָה֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularBut ifכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionyour servant saysיֹאמַ֣רH559Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularto youאֵלֶ֔יךָH413Preposition | second person masculine singularI do notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlewant to leaveאֵצֵ֖אH3318Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularyouמֵעִמָּ֑ךְH5973Preposition-m | second person masculine singularbecauseכִּ֤יH3588Conjunctionhe lovesאֲהֵֽבְךָ֙H157Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularyouוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand your householdבֵּיתֶ֔ךָH1004Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularandכִּי־H3588Conjunctionis well offט֥וֹבH2895Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularwith youעִמָּֽךְ׃H5973Preposition | second person masculine singular

Verse 17

Cross-references

Exodus 21:6Classic cross-references Job 41:4Classic cross-references

Original words

then takeוְלָקַחְתָּ֣H3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeran awlהַמַּרְצֵ֗עַH4836Article | Noun - masculine singularand pierce [it]וְנָתַתָּ֤הH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularthrough his earבְאָזְנוֹ֙H241Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularinto the doorוּבַדֶּ֔לֶתH1817Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularand he will becomeוְהָיָ֥הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularyourלְךָ֖Preposition | second person masculine singularservantעֶ֣בֶדH5650Noun - masculine singular constructfor lifeעוֹלָ֑םH5769Noun - masculine singularAndוְאַ֥ףH637Conjunctiontreatתַּעֲשֶׂה־H6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularyour maidservantלַאֲמָתְךָ֖H519Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularthe same wayכֵּֽן׃H3651Adverb

Verse 18

Cross-references

Exodus 21:2Classic cross-references Job 7:1Classic cross-references

Original words

Do notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleregard itבְעֵינֶ֗ךָH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singularas a hardshipיִקְשֶׁ֣הH7185Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .מֵֽעִמָּ֔ךְH5973Preposition-m | second person masculine singularto setבְּשַׁלֵּֽחֲךָ֙H7971Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular[your servant]אֹת֤וֹH853Direct object marker | third person masculine singularfreeחָפְשִׁי֙H2670Adjective - masculine singularbecauseכִּ֗יH3588Conjunctionhis sixשֵׁ֣שׁH8337Number - feminine singular constructyearsשָׁנִ֑יםH8141Noun - feminine pluralof serviceעֲבָֽדְךָ֖H5647Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularwere worth twiceמִשְׁנֶה֙H4932Noun - masculine singularthe wagesשְׂכַ֣רH7939Noun - masculine singular constructof a hired handשָׂכִ֔ירH7916Adjective - masculine singularAnd the LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularwill bless youוּבֵֽרַכְךָ֙H1288Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularin allבְּכֹ֖לH3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeyou doתַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃פH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

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