Leviticus 25:46
New International Version
You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.

New Living Translation
passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat them as slaves, but you must never treat your fellow Israelites this way.

English Standard Version
You may bequeath them to your sons after you to inherit as a possession forever. You may make slaves of them, but over your brothers the people of Israel you shall not rule, one over another ruthlessly.

Berean Standard Bible
You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property; you can make them slaves for life. But as for your brothers, the Israelites, no man may rule harshly over his brother.

King James Bible
And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour.

New King James Version
And you may take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them as a possession; they shall be your permanent slaves. But regarding your brethren, the children of Israel, you shall not rule over one another with rigor.

New American Standard Bible
You may also pass them on as an inheritance to your sons after you, to receive as a possession; you can use them as permanent slaves. But in respect to your countrymen, the sons of Israel, you shall not rule with severity over one another.

NASB 1995
‘You may even bequeath them to your sons after you, to receive as a possession; you can use them as permanent slaves. But in respect to your countrymen, the sons of Israel, you shall not rule with severity over one another.

NASB 1977
‘You may even bequeath them to your sons after you, to receive as a possession; you can use them as permanent slaves. But in respect to your countrymen, the sons of Israel, you shall not rule with severity over one another.

Legacy Standard Bible
You may even give them as an inheritance to your sons after you, to receive as a possession; you can use them as permanent slaves. But in respect to your brothers, the sons of Israel, you shall not have dominion over one another with brutality.

Amplified Bible
You may even bequeath them as an inheritance to your children after you, to receive as a possession; you can use them as permanent slaves. But in respect to your fellow countrymen, the children of Israel, you shall not rule over one another with harshness (severity, oppression).

Christian Standard Bible
You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property; you can make them slaves for life. But concerning your brothers, the Israelites, you must not rule over one another harshly.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property; you can make them slaves for life. But concerning your brothers, the Israelites, you must not rule over one another harshly.”

American Standard Version
And ye shall make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession; of them shall ye take your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel ye shall not rule, one over another, with rigor.

Contemporary English Version
You can own them, and even leave them to your children when you die, but do not make slaves of your own people or be cruel to them.

English Revised Version
And ye shall make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession; of them shall ye take your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel ye shall not rule, one over another, with rigour.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You may acquire them for yourselves and for your descendants as permanent property. You may work them as slaves. However, do not treat the Israelites harshly. They are your relatives.

Good News Translation
and you may leave them as an inheritance to your children, whom they must serve as long as they live. But you must not treat any Israelites harshly.

International Standard Version
You may give them as inherited property to your children after you, to own as properties in perpetuity. You may make bond slaves of them, but no one is to rule over his fellow Israeli with harshness.

Majority Standard Bible
You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property; you can make them slaves for life. But as for your brothers, the Israelites, no man may rule harshly over his brother.

NET Bible
You may give them as inheritance to your children after you to possess as property. You may enslave them perpetually. However, as for your brothers the Israelites, no man may rule over his brother harshly.

New Heart English Bible
You may make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession; of them may you take your slaves forever: but over your brothers the children of Israel you shall not rule, one over another, with harshness.

Webster's Bible Translation
And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession, they shall be your bond-men for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigor.

World English Bible
You may make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession. Of them you may take your slaves forever, but over your brothers the children of Israel you shall not rule, one over another, with harshness.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you have taken them for an inheritance for your sons after you, to inherit [for] a possession; you lay service on them for all time, but on your brothers, the sons of Israel, each with his brother—you do not rule over him with rigor.

Young's Literal Translation
and ye have taken them for inheritance to your sons after you, to occupy for a possession; to the age ye lay service upon them, but upon your brethren, the sons of Israel, one with another, thou dost not rule over him with rigour.

Smith's Literal Translation
And ye shall possess them for your sons after you to take possession forever; ye shall serve with them: and over your brethren the sons of Israel, ye shall not rule over him, each over his brother with oppression.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And by right of inheritance shall leave them to your posterity, and shall possess them for ever. But oppress not your brethren the children of Israel by might.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and, by the right of inheritance, you shall transmit them to your posterity, and you shall possess them forever. But do not oppress your brothers, the sons of Israel, by power.

New American Bible
and bequeath to your children as their hereditary possession forever. You may treat them as slaves. But none of you shall lord it harshly over any of your fellow Israelites.

New Revised Standard Version
You may keep them as a possession for your children after you, for them to inherit as property. These you may treat as slaves, but as for your fellow Israelites, no one shall rule over the other with harshness.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall bequeath them to your children after you, to inherit them as a possession; you may make slaves of them for ever; but as for your brethren the children of Israel, you shall not compel them to do hard work.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And bequeath them to your children after you to inherit an inheritance and for a lifetime you may make them Laborers; and you shall not compel your brothers, the children of Israel, a man with his brother, to labor hard labor.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And ye may make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession: of them may ye take your bondmen for ever; but over your brethren the children of Israel ye shall not rule, one over another, with rigour.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And ye shall distribute them to your children after you, and they shall be to you permanent possessions for ever: but of your brethren the children of Israel, one shall not oppress his brother in labours.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Redemption of Bondmen
45You may also purchase them from the foreigners residing among you or their clans living among you who are born in your land. These may become your property. 46You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property; you can make them slaves for life. But as for your brothers, the Israelites, no man may rule harshly over his brother.

Cross References
Exodus 21:2-6
If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything. / If he arrived alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrived with a wife, she is to leave with him. / If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free. ...

Deuteronomy 15:12-18
If 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. / And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. / You 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. ...

Genesis 17:12-13
Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring. / Whether they are born in your household or purchased, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh will be an everlasting covenant.

Nehemiah 5:5
We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

Jeremiah 34:14
Every seventh year, each of you must free his Hebrew brother who has sold himself to you. He may serve you six years, but then you must let him go free. But your fathers did not listen or incline their ear.

1 Kings 9:20-21
As for all the people who remained of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (the people who were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

2 Chronicles 8:7-8
As for all the people who remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites had not destroyed—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

Isaiah 14:1-2
For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again He will choose Israel and settle them in their own land. The foreigner will join them and unite with the house of Jacob. / The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.

Ezekiel 46:17
But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it will belong to that servant until the year of freedom; then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs only to his sons; it shall be theirs.

Galatians 4:1-7
What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything. / He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father. / So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world. ...

Romans 6:16-18
Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? / But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed. / You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

1 Corinthians 7:21-23
Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity. / For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. / You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

Ephesians 6:5-9
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. / And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. / Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, ...

Colossians 3:22-25
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord. / Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men, / because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ...

Philemon 1:15-16
For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— / no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your slaves for ever: but over your brothers the children of Israel, you shall not rule one over another with rigor.

And ye shall

Isaiah 14:2
And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.

they shall be your bondmen for ever.

Leviticus 25:39
And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:

ye shall not rule

Leviticus 25:43
Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.

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Bequeath Bondmen Bond-Men Children Children's Countrymen Fellow Forever Hard Harshness Heritage Hold Inherit Inheritance Inherited Israel Israelites Life Permanent Possession Property Receive Respect Rigor Rigour Rule Ruthlessly Servants Severity Slaves Use
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Bequeath Bondmen Bond-Men Children Children's Countrymen Fellow Forever Hard Harshness Heritage Hold Inherit Inheritance Inherited Israel Israelites Life Permanent Possession Property Receive Respect Rigor Rigour Rule Ruthlessly Servants Severity Slaves Use
Leviticus 25
1. the Sabbath of the seventh year
8. The jubilee in the fiftieth year
14. Of oppression
18. A blessing of obedience
23. The redemption of land
29. Of houses
35. Compassion to the poor
39. The usage of bondmen
47. The redemption of servants














You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property
This phrase addresses the practice of inheritance in ancient Israel. The Hebrew word for "leave" (נָתַן, natan) implies a transfer of possession or responsibility. In the context of Leviticus, this refers to the passing down of servants or slaves to one's descendants. The concept of inheritance was deeply rooted in the culture, emphasizing continuity and the preservation of family wealth and status. The term "inherit" (נַחֲלָה, nachalah) is significant, as it denotes a permanent possession, reflecting the societal norms of the time where property, including servants, was part of one's estate. This practice underscores the importance of family lineage and the perpetuation of one's household through generations.

you can make them slaves for life
The phrase "slaves for life" (עֲבָדִים לְעוֹלָם, avadim le'olam) highlights the distinction between foreign slaves and Hebrew servants. In the ancient Near Eastern context, slavery was a common institution, and the term "olam" (עוֹלָם) often means "forever" or "for an indefinite period." This indicates a permanent status for non-Israelite slaves, contrasting with the Hebrew servants who were to be released in the Year of Jubilee. The use of "avadim" (עֲבָדִים) reflects a social hierarchy where non-Israelites could be held in perpetual servitude, a practice that was regulated but not abolished in the Mosaic Law. This regulation served to maintain social order and economic stability within the Israelite community.

But regarding your brothers, the Israelites
The term "brothers" (אָחִים, achim) signifies a close kinship among the Israelites, emphasizing their shared identity and covenant relationship with God. This familial language reinforces the idea of mutual respect and equality among the Israelites, who were all descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The distinction made here between Israelites and foreigners underscores the special status of the Israelite community as God's chosen people, bound by the covenant and the laws given at Sinai. This covenantal relationship required them to treat one another with dignity and fairness, reflecting God's justice and mercy.

you must not rule over them ruthlessly
The word "ruthlessly" (בְּפָרֶךְ, befarekh) conveys a sense of harshness or severity. In the Hebrew context, it implies oppressive or cruel treatment. The command not to rule "ruthlessly" over fellow Israelites is a call to exercise authority with compassion and justice, reflecting God's character. This prohibition is rooted in the memory of Israel's own experience of oppression in Egypt, where they were subjected to harsh labor. By commanding the Israelites to avoid such treatment of their own people, the law promotes a community where justice and mercy prevail, aligning with the broader biblical theme of loving one's neighbor and upholding the dignity of every individual.

(46) And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children.--That is, they may appropriate them to themselves, as their personal property, which is transmissible as inheritance to posterity with the family land.

They shall be your bondmen for ever.--These are not subject to the laws of jubile. They remain in perpetual serfdom unless they or their friends redeem them, or their master has maimed any one of them. In case of injury the master is obliged to manumit him (Exodus 21:26-27). The authorities during the second Temple enacted that the master's right, even with regard to this kind of bondmen, is restricted to their labour, but that he has no right to barter with them, to misuse them, or to put them to shame.

Over your brethren . . . ye shall not rule . . . with rigour.--In contrast to these heathen bondmen the Jewish bondmen are here designated "brethren." They are co-religionists, who have been reduced to temporary servitude, but who are, nevertheless, fellow-heirs with them in the land of their possession. Hence the greatest consideration was to be shown to them in these adverse circumstances. The authorities during the second Temple have therefore enacted that there must be no difference between the daily food, raiment, and dwelling of the master and his Hebrew slave, and that the master and the servant are alike in these respects.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You may leave
וְהִתְנַחֲלְתֶּ֨ם‪‬ (wə·hiṯ·na·ḥăl·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5157: To inherit, to occupy, to bequeath, distribute, instate

them
אֹתָ֜ם (’ō·ṯām)
Direct object marker | third person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

to your sons
לִבְנֵיכֶ֤ם (liḇ·nê·ḵem)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

after
אַחֲרֵיכֶם֙ (’a·ḥă·rê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

you to inherit
לָרֶ֣שֶׁת (lā·re·šeṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin

as property;
אֲחֻזָּ֔ה (’ă·ḥuz·zāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 272: Something seized, a possession

you can make them slaves
תַּעֲבֹ֑דוּ (ta·‘ă·ḇō·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

for life.
לְעֹלָ֖ם (lə·‘ō·lām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

But as for your brothers,
וּבְאַ֨חֵיכֶ֤ם (ū·ḇə·’a·ḥê·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 251: A brother, )

the Israelites,
בְּנֵֽי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

no
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

man
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

may rule
תִרְדֶּ֥ה (ṯir·deh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7287: To tread down, subjugate, to crumble off

harshly
בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃ (bə·p̄ā·reḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6531: Harshness, severity

over his brother.
בְּאָחִ֔יו (bə·’ā·ḥîw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )


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OT Law: Leviticus 25:46 You may make them an inheritance (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 25:45
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