Deuteronomy 15:13

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed.

American Standard Version (1901)

And when thou lettest him go free from thee, thou shalt not let him go empty:

Bible in Basic English

And when you make him free, do not let him go away with nothing in his hands:

Douay-Rheims 1899

And when thou sendest him out free, thou shalt not let him go away empty:

Free Bible Version

And when you free them, don't send them away with nothing.

Geneva Bible 1599

And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him goe away emptie,

King James (Authorized) Version

And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:

One Unity Resource Bible

When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty.

Translation for Translators

When you free them, do not allow them to go ◄empty-handed/without giving them anything►.

Unlocked Literal Bible

When you let him go free from you, you must not let him go empty-handed.

Noah Webster Bible

And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him depart empty:

World English Bible

When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty.

Young's Literal Translation

And when thou dost send him away free from thee, thou dost not send him away empty;

Context

Hebrew Servants

¹²If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free.¹³And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed.¹⁴You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you.

Summary

In this verse, God instructs the Israelites that when they release a servant after six years of service, they should not send them away empty-handed. Instead, they are to provide generously from their flocks, threshing floor, and winepress, recognizing the servant's labor and blessing them as they depart. This act of kindness reflects God's compassion and justice, reminding the Israelites to treat others with dignity and care, especially those who have served them faithfully. It also serves as a model for showing gratitude and generosity towards those who have worked for us, promoting a culture of fairness and compassion in society.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

thou shalt not let him go away empty--A seasonable and wise provision for enabling a poor unfortunate to regain his original status in society, and the motive urged for his kindness and humanity to the Hebrew slave was the remembrance that the whole nation was once a degraded and persecuted band of helots in Egypt. Thus, kindness towards their slaves, unparalleled elsewhere in those days, was inculcated by the Mosaic law; and in all their conduct towards persons in that reduced condition, leniency and gentleness were enforced by an appeal which no Israelite could resist.