Leviticus 25:45

Verse

You may also purchase them from the foreigners residing among you or their clans living among you who are born in your land. These may become your property.

American Standard Version (1901)

Moreover of the children of the strangers that sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they have begotten in your land: and they shall be your possession.

Bible in Basic English

And in addition, you may get, for money, servants from among the children of other nations who are living with you, and from their families which have come to birth in your land; and these will be your property.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And of the strangers that sojourn among you, or that were born of them in your land, these you shall have for servants:

Free Bible Version

You can also buy them from foreigners who have come to live among you, or from their descendants born in your land. You can treat them as your property.

Geneva Bible 1599

And moreouer of the children of the stragers, that are soiourners among you, of them shall ye bye, and of their families that are with you, which they begate in your lande: these shall be your possession.

King James (Authorized) Version

Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.

One Unity Resource Bible

Moreover of the children of the aliens who live among you, of them you may buy, and of their families who are with you, which they have conceived in your land; and they will be your property.

Translation for Translators

You are also permitted to buy some of the foreigners who are living among you, and members of their clans that were born in your country. Then you will own them.

Unlocked Literal Bible

You may also buy slaves from the foreigners who are living among you, that is, from their families who are with you, children who have been born in your land. They may become your property.

Noah Webster Bible

Moreover of the children of the strangers that sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.

World English Bible

Moreover, of the children of the aliens who live among you, of them you may buy, and of their families who are with you, which they have conceived in your land; and they will be your property.

Young's Literal Translation

and also of the sons of the settlers who are sojourning with you, of them ye buy, and of their families who [are] with you, which they have begotten in your land, and they have been to you for a possession;

Context

Redemption of Bondmen

⁴⁴Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them.⁴⁵You may also purchase them from the foreigners residing among you or their clans living among you who are born in your land. These may become your property.⁴⁶You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property; you can make them slaves for life. But as for your brothers, the Israelites, no man may rule harshly over his brother.

Summary

In Leviticus 25:45, the Israelites are instructed that they may buy slaves from the nations around them, but they are not to treat their fellow Israelites as slaves. This verse reflects the cultural norms of the time, where slavery was common, but it also emphasizes the importance of treating one's own people with dignity and respect. It serves as a reminder to the Israelites to uphold justice and compassion within their community, even in the midst of practices that may have been accepted in the surrounding cultures.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Moreover, of the children of the strangers, that do sojourn among you,.... The uncircumcised sojourners as they are called in the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, proselytes of the gate, such of the nations round about who came and sojourned among them, being subject to the precepts given to the sons of Noah respecting idolatry, &c. but were not circumcised, and did not embrace the Jewish religion: of them shall ye buy; for bondmen and bondmaids: and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land; but, as the Targum of Jonathan adds, are not of the Canaanites; though the Jewish writers (x) say, that one of the nations that lies with a Canaanitish woman, and begets a son of her, he may be bought for a servant; and so if a Canaanitish man lies with one of the nations, and begets a son of her, he may also be bought for a servant: and they shall be your possession; as servants, as bondmen and bondmaids, and be so for ever to them and their heirs, as follows. (x) Torat Cohanim apud Yalkut, par. 1. fol. 195. 1.