Leviticus 25:42

For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.

Leviticus 25:42 (KJV)

Context

This verse belongs to the laws about the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25. The surrounding verses (Leviticus 25:39-43) explain that if an Israelite becomes poor and sells himself to a fellow Israelite, he must not be treated as a slave. Instead, he is to serve as a hired worker until the Year of Jubilee, when he and his children are released and return to their family and property. Verse 42 gives the reason for this command.

Meaning

The words “my servants” show that the Israelites belong to God. He brought them out of Egypt, so they are His redeemed people. Because God already owns them as His servants, no human master can claim them as permanent property. The phrase “shall not be sold as bondmen” forbids selling a fellow Israelite into lifelong slavery. This is not a general approval of slavery; it is a specific protection for God’s people.

Biblical connections

The command to treat Hebrew servants with kindness continues in the next verse, which warns against ruling over them harshly (Leviticus 25:43). The principle that redeemed people should not be enslaved by others appears again in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 7:23, Paul reminds believers that they were bought with a price and should not become slaves of men. Both passages teach that God’s redemption creates a unique bond that overrides human claims.

Application

This verse calls believers to honor the dignity of every person because God is the true owner of His people. It also warns against using power to oppress others. When we recognize that God has redeemed us, we treat fellow believers as brothers and sisters, not as tools for our benefit. The Year of Jubilee, with its release of servants and restoration of land, shows God’s heart for freedom and justice.

Reflection

God’s deliverance from Egypt was not just a historical event; it established a lasting relationship. Because He freed Israel, they belonged to Him alone. For believers today, redemption through Christ creates the same reality. We are not our own, and we must not let any person or system enslave us. This truth should shape how we live and how we treat others, always remembering that we serve a God who sets people free.