Leviticus 25:47 - “‘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;
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What does "Leviticus 25:47" mean?
Leviticus 25:47 is part of a larger section of Leviticus (chapter 25) that deals with various laws concerning property, debt, and the treatment of fellow Israelites in times of hardship. Specifically, this verse addresses a situation where an Israelite has fallen into severe poverty and is forced to sell himself (his labor) as a servant to a wealthy alien or temporary resident living among them.
Here's a breakdown of the verse:
"If an alien or temporary resident with you becomes rich...": This sets the stage. It acknowledges that foreigners living in Israel could become wealthy, perhaps through trade or other means. These foreigners could be either:
Alien (ger): A non-Israelite who has chosen to live among the Israelites, typically observing some of their laws and customs but not fully integrated into their society.
Temporary resident (toshav): A non-Israelite who is only staying in Israel for a limited time, like a visitor or trader.
"...and your brother beside him has grown poor...": This describes the hardship faced by a fellow Israelite, who has fallen into poverty despite living alongside the wealthy foreigner.
"...and sells himself to the stranger or foreigner living among you, or to a member of the stranger's family;": This is the central issue. Due to their poverty, the Israelite is forced to sell his labor as a servant to the wealthy alien, temporary resident, or even a member of their family.
What does this mean in the context of Leviticus and its laws?
This verse highlights the potential for economic disparity and exploitation within the Israelite community. It acknowledges the difficult situation an Israelite might face when forced to become a servant to a foreigner. The following verses (48-55) then go on to outline the laws concerning the redemption (release) of such an Israelite servant. This is a key aspect of the verse's meaning. The rest of the passage aims to protect the Israelite even in this vulnerable situation:
Right of Redemption: The passage provides the Israelite's relatives with the right (and, arguably, the obligation) to buy back (redeem) the Israelite from servitude.
Proportional Redemption Price: The price of redemption should be calculated based on the number of years remaining until the Year of Jubilee (a special year of release, occurring every 50 years). This ensures a fair price, not exploitative.
Automatic Release at the Jubilee: Regardless of whether the Israelite is redeemed, he is automatically released from servitude in the Year of Jubilee. This prevents permanent servitude to a foreigner.
Protection against Harsh Treatment: The passage emphasizes that Israelites are God's servants, not servants of other humans, and therefore should not be treated harshly.
In summary, the verse acknowledges a difficult and potentially exploitative situation, but the surrounding verses seek to mitigate the hardship and ensure that an Israelite's servitude to a foreigner is temporary, subject to redemption, and not abusive. It emphasizes the importance of community responsibility and protection of fellow Israelites, even when they face economic hardship. It also reflects the underlying principle that all Israelites ultimately belong to God.
Leviticus 25:47 - “‘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;
What does "Leviticus 25:47" mean?
Leviticus 25:47 is part of a larger section of Leviticus (chapter 25) that deals with various laws concerning property, debt, and the treatment of fellow Israelites in times of hardship. Specifically, this verse addresses a situation where an Israelite has fallen into severe poverty and is forced to sell himself (his labor) as a servant to a wealthy alien or temporary resident living among them.
Here's a breakdown of the verse:
"If an alien or temporary resident with you becomes rich...": This sets the stage. It acknowledges that foreigners living in Israel could become wealthy, perhaps through trade or other means. These foreigners could be either:
Alien (ger): A non-Israelite who has chosen to live among the Israelites, typically observing some of their laws and customs but not fully integrated into their society.
Temporary resident (toshav): A non-Israelite who is only staying in Israel for a limited time, like a visitor or trader.
"...and your brother beside him has grown poor...": This describes the hardship faced by a fellow Israelite, who has fallen into poverty despite living alongside the wealthy foreigner.
"...and sells himself to the stranger or foreigner living among you, or to a member of the stranger's family;": This is the central issue. Due to their poverty, the Israelite is forced to sell his labor as a servant to the wealthy alien, temporary resident, or even a member of their family.
What does this mean in the context of Leviticus and its laws?
This verse highlights the potential for economic disparity and exploitation within the Israelite community. It acknowledges the difficult situation an Israelite might face when forced to become a servant to a foreigner. The following verses (48-55) then go on to outline the laws concerning the redemption (release) of such an Israelite servant. This is a key aspect of the verse's meaning. The rest of the passage aims to protect the Israelite even in this vulnerable situation:
Right of Redemption: The passage provides the Israelite's relatives with the right (and, arguably, the obligation) to buy back (redeem) the Israelite from servitude.
Proportional Redemption Price: The price of redemption should be calculated based on the number of years remaining until the Year of Jubilee (a special year of release, occurring every 50 years). This ensures a fair price, not exploitative.
Automatic Release at the Jubilee: Regardless of whether the Israelite is redeemed, he is automatically released from servitude in the Year of Jubilee. This prevents permanent servitude to a foreigner.
Protection against Harsh Treatment: The passage emphasizes that Israelites are God's servants, not servants of other humans, and therefore should not be treated harshly.
In summary, the verse acknowledges a difficult and potentially exploitative situation, but the surrounding verses seek to mitigate the hardship and ensure that an Israelite's servitude to a foreigner is temporary, subject to redemption, and not abusive. It emphasizes the importance of community responsibility and protection of fellow Israelites, even when they face economic hardship. It also reflects the underlying principle that all Israelites ultimately belong to God.