15 Do not return a slave to his master if he has taken refuge with you.
16 Let him live among you wherever he chooses, in the town of his pleasing. Do not oppress him.
Focused Passage
Deuteronomy 23:15-16
Holiness, Exclusion, and the Purity of the Covenant Assembly
Assembly membership restrictions (vv. 1–8) move to camp purity for holy-war conditions (vv. 9–14), then to protection of escaped slaves (vv. 15–16), prohibition of cult prostitution (vv. 17–18), lending rules (vv. 19–20), and vow obligations (vv. 21–23), closing with gleaning permissions (vv. 24–25).
Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources
Study Helps
References and Original Words
Verse 15
Cross-references
Original words
Do not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle return תַסְגִּ֥יר H5462 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular a slave עֶ֖בֶד H5650 Noun - masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition his master אֲדֹנָ֑יו H113 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative if he has taken refuge יִנָּצֵ֥ל H5337 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . מֵעִ֥ם H5973 Preposition-m . . . אֲדֹנָֽיו׃ H113 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular with you אֵלֶ֖יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 16
Cross-references
Original words
- עִמְּךָ֞ H5973 Preposition | second person masculine singular Let him live יֵשֵׁ֣ב H3427 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular among you בְּקִרְבְּךָ֗ H7130 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular wherever בַּמָּק֧וֹם H4725 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative he chooses יִבְחַ֛ר H977 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular in בְּאַחַ֥ד H259 Preposition-b | Number - masculine singular construct the town שְׁעָרֶ֖יךָ H8179 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular of his pleasing בַּטּ֣וֹב H2896 Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - masculine singular . . . ל֑וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular Do not לֹ֖א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle oppress him תּוֹנֶֽנּוּ׃ס H3238 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular