But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile:
Instead, he should be treated like a hired worker or temporary resident living with you, and he will work for you only until the Year of Jubilee.
This verse is establishing that fellow Israelites who become indentured servants should be treated with dignity like hired workers, not as permanent slaves.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of God's laws about the Year of Jubilee, which occurred every 50 years when all debts were forgiven and enslaved Israelites were set free. In ancient times, people often had to sell themselves into servitude to pay off debts, but God established limits to prevent permanent enslavement of His people. The distinction here is important - fellow Israelites were to be treated as temporary workers with hope of freedom, not as property.
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