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:
If your fellow Israelite who lives near you becomes poor and has to sell himself to you as a servant, don't treat him like a slave.
God is instructing His people to treat fellow Israelites who become servants with dignity, not as slaves.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, God gave laws through Moses to guide the community on matters of justice, land ownership, and care for the vulnerable, as part of the covenant relationship with His people. This verse appears in the context of the Year of Jubilee, a special 50-year cycle where debts were forgiven and properties restored, designed to prevent permanent inequality and exploitation. It specifically addresses situations where economic hardship might lead one Israelite to sell himself to another, emphasizing humane treatment to reflect God's concern for dignity and brotherhood.
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