Leviticus 25:47-55
God preserves the freedom of His people by providing a way of redemption even in foreign servitude.
47 “ ‘If an alien or temporary resident with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him has grown poor, and sells himself to the stranger or foreigner living among you, or to a member of the stranger’s family,
48 after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him;
49 or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any who is a close relative to him of his family may redeem him; or if he has grown rich, he may redeem himself.
50 He shall reckon with him who bought him from the year that he sold himself to him to the Year of Jubilee. The price of his sale shall be according to the number of years; he shall be with him according to the time of a hired servant.
51 If there are yet many years, according to them he shall give back the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for.
52 If there remain but a few years to the year of jubilee, then he shall reckon with him; according to his years of service he shall give back the price of his redemption.
53 As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him. He shall not rule with harshness over him in your sight.
54 If he isn’t redeemed by these means, then he shall be released in the Year of Jubilee: he and his children with him.
55 For to me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.
God preserves the freedom of His people by providing a way of redemption even in foreign servitude.
This passage establishes redemption provisions for Israelites who become servants to resident foreigners, ensuring their release and preserving their covenant identity under the LORD.
Leviticus 25:47-55 concludes the chapter’s Jubilee legislation. After regulating land rest, Jubilee return, property redemption, support for the poor brother, Israelite servitude, and foreign servants, this final unit addresses the vulnerable Israelite who sells himself to a prosperous foreign resident. The chapter closes by repeating its theological center: Israel belongs to the LORD as redeemed servants.
Israel receives Sinai covenant legislation for life in the land, especially the Jubilee structures that guard inheritance, liberty, and covenant identity. Israelite households, clans, and economically vulnerable persons who may fall into service under a foreign resident or temporary settler.
Sabbath for the Land, Jubilee Release, and the LORD's Ownership of Israel
Because the land and the Israelites belong to the LORD, Israel must structure land, labor, debt, poverty, redemption, and release around Sabbath trust, Jubilee restoration, and exodus-shaped mercy.