KJV ORIGINAL
Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
You must not return a slave who has escaped from their master and come to you for help.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse commands God's people to protect escaped slaves rather than sending them back to their masters.
📚 Historical Context
This law was given to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land, establishing a society based on justice and mercy. Unlike surrounding nations that required returning escaped slaves, Israel was commanded to offer sanctuary. This reflected God's character as one who delivers the oppressed, remembering that the Israelites themselves had been slaves in Egypt.
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