Leviticus 25:44
◄  Leviticus 25:44  ►
New International Version (©2011)
"'Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.

New Living Translation (©2007)
"However, you may purchase male and female slaves from among the nations around you.

English Standard Version (©2001)
As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
'As for your male and female slaves whom you may have-- you may acquire male and female slaves from the pagan nations that are around you.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Your male and female slaves are to be from the nations around you; you may purchase male and female slaves.

International Standard Version (©2012)
"As for your male and maid slaves who will be with you, you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations.

NET Bible (©2006)
"'As for your male and female slaves who may belong to you--you may buy male and female slaves from the nations all around you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"You may have male and female slaves, but buy them from the nations around you.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Both your male and female slaves, whom you shall have, shall be of the nations that are round about you; of them shall you buy male and female slaves.

American King James Version
Both your slaves, and your bondmaids, which you shall have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall you buy slaves and bondmaids.

American Standard Version
And as for thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, whom thou shalt have; of the nations that are round about you, of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Let your bondmen, and your bondwomen, be of the nations that are round about you.

Darby Bible Translation
And as for thy bondman and thy handmaid whom thou shalt have of the nations that are round about you, of them shall ye buy bondmen and handmaids.

English Revised Version
And as for thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have; of the nations that are round about you, of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.

Webster's Bible Translation
Both thy bond-men, and thy bond-maids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are around you; of them shall ye buy bond-men and bond-maids.

World English Bible
"'As for your male and your female slaves, whom you may have; of the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves.

Young's Literal Translation
And thy man-servant and thy handmaid whom thou hast are of the nations who are round about you; of them ye buy man-servant and handmaid,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

25:39-55 A native Israelite, if sold for debt, or for a crime, was to serve but six years, and to go out the seventh. If he sold himself, through poverty, both his work and his usage must be such as were fitting for a son of Abraham. Masters are required to give to their servants that which is just and equal, Col 4:1. At the year of jubilee the servant should go out free, he and his children, and should return to his own family. This typified redemption from the service of sin and Satan, by the grace of God in Christ, whose truth makes us free, Joh 8:32. We cannot ransom our fellow-sinners, but we may point out Christ to them; while by his grace our lives may adorn his gospel, express our love, show our gratitude, and glorify his holy name.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 44-46. - Slavery is not forbidden in respect to non-Israelites. The world was not yet ready for it, as it was not ready in the days of St. Paul.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have,.... Such it seems were allowed them, if they had need of them; but if they had them, they were to be not of the nation of Israel, but of other nations; this is an anticipation of an objection, as Jarchi observes; if so, who shall I have to minister to me? The answer follows, they

shall be of the heathen that are round about thee, of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids; that is, of the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Syrians, as Aben Ezra, that were their neighbours, that lived round about them, of any but the seven nations, which they were ordered utterly to destroy; wherefore Jarchi observes it is said, "that are round about thee"; not in the midst of the border of your land, for them they were not to save alive, Deuteronomy 20:16.

Leviticus 25:44 Parallel Commentaries

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Redemption of Bondmen
…43You shall not rule over him with rigor; but shall fear your God. 44Both your slaves, and your bondmaids, which you shall have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall you buy slaves and bondmaids. 45Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall you buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.

Exodus 21:21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.
Leviticus 25:43 Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.
Leviticus 25:45 You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property.