It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.
Don't think it's unfair when you set your servant free, because he has been worth twice as much as a hired worker during the six years he served you. The LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.
God is telling the Israelites not to resent freeing their servants after six years because they've gotten great value from their work, and God will bless their generosity.
📚 Historical Context
In the context of ancient Israelite law, as the nation prepared to enter the Promised Land under Moses' leadership, God established regulations in Deuteronomy to protect the vulnerable, including rules for releasing Hebrew servants after six years of service to prevent perpetual debt slavery. This verse specifically addresses the master's potential reluctance, emphasizing that the servant's labor had been as valuable as that of a hired worker, while promising divine blessings for obedience. These laws reflected God's concern for justice and human dignity in a society where economic hardship often led to indentured service.
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