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Leviticus 25:40 — Word Study

Depth

WLCכְּשָׂכִ֥יר כְּתוֹשָׁ֖ב יִהְיֶ֣ה עִמָּ֑ךְ עַד־ שְׁנַ֥ת הַיֹּבֵ֖ל יַעֲבֹ֥ד עִמָּֽךְ׃

BSALet him stayhâyâh with youʻim as a hired workersâkîyr [hired servant, paid worker] or temporary residenttôwshâb [resident alien, temporary resident, like a sojourner] he is to workʻâbad [serve, labor] forʻim you untilʻad the Yearshâneh [year of liberation, time of freedom] of Jubileeyôwbêl [the blast of a horn, a time of celebration]

Word
Listen & take awayLeviticus 25
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 40 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration ('i.Makh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Leviticus 25:40quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse outlines the status of a hired worker or temporary resident among the Israelites.
Who is speakingGod, through Moses, is providing guidelines for the treatment of fellow Israelites.
Where we areIn the laws regarding social justice and the treatment of the poor.
The hard wordשָׂכִיר
Take awayThe hired worker is to be treated fairly until the Year of Jubilee.
4 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them › clause verbהָיָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Leviticus 25:40

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Laws on Social Justicegenerated

39If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.
40Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.
41Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers.
42Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves.

Leviticus 25:40 provides instructions on how to treat a fellow Israelite who has become poor and sold himself into servitude. This passage emphasizes the importance of fair treatment and the eventual release of such individuals during the Year of Jubilee, a time of restoration and freedom for the Israelites. The surrounding verses reinforce the idea that Israelites are to treat one another with dignity and respect, reflecting God's concern for justice and mercy.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Exodus 21:2–3If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to

But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile:Exodus 21:2–3

The Key Word שָׂכִיר, ke.sa.Khirgenerated

The word שָׂכִיר (sa.khir) refers specifically to a hired worker, someone who is compensated for their labor. It is derived from a root that means 'to hire,' and it is commonly used in contexts where individuals are employed for specific tasks, typically for wages.

In this verse, the term underscores the expectation that the hired worker is to be treated with fairness and respect, as they are contributing to the household or community. The parsing as a preposition indicates its role in establishing the relationship between the worker and the employer.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse is structured around two finite verbs: יִהְיֶ֣ה (he will be) and יַעֲבֹ֥ד (he will serve), which govern the clauses that describe the worker's status and duties. The prepositional phrases provide context for the relationship and conditions under which the worker serves.

Hebrew word order places the verbs prominently, emphasizing the actions expected of the hired worker and the duration of their service until the Year of Jubilee.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שָׂכִיר as μισθωτὸς (misthōtos), which also means hired worker. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, indicating a direct correspondence in understanding the worker's role.

For כְּתוֹשָׁב, the LXX uses πάροικος (paroikos), which suggests a broader interpretation of the term as a resident alien, emphasizing the temporary status of the individual.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Leviticus 25:40 teaches that if an Israelite becomes poor and sells himself, he should be treated as a hired worker or temporary resident. He is to work until the Year of Jubilee, when he will be freed and can return to his family.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to treat someone as a hired worker?

It means to provide fair compensation and respectful treatment to someone who is working for you, recognizing their contribution.

What is the Year of Jubilee?

The Year of Jubilee is a special year of liberation that occurs every fifty years, when debts are forgiven and land is returned to its original owners.

How does this verse reflect God's concern for justice?

This verse emphasizes fair treatment of the poor and the importance of community responsibility, reflecting God's desire for justice and mercy among His people.

What are the implications of being a temporary resident?

Being a temporary resident means living in a place that is not your homeland, often with certain rights and protections, but also with limitations compared to native citizens.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I ensure that I treat others fairly in my community, especially those who are vulnerable?
  2. What does the concept of the Year of Jubilee teach us about forgiveness and restoration?
  3. In what ways can I support those who are in temporary or difficult situations?
  4. How can I apply the principles of justice and mercy found in this verse to my daily life?

Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Leviticus 25:40 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

[But] as an hired servant,.... Who is hired by the day, or month, or year; and, when his time is up, receives his wages and goes where he pleases, and while a servant is not under such despotic power

Read John Gill on Leviticus 25 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

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 thy brother ... be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee , [

Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 25 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(40) But as an hired servant.—The master is in all respects to treat him as one who disposes of his service for wages for a certain time, and will then be his own master again. Shall serve thee unto the year of jubile.—Nor could he be kept beyond the year of jubile. This terminated the sale of his services just as it cancelled all the sales of landed property.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 25 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

39–46. Prohibition of permanent servitude of one Israelite to another (H and P mixed, the former probably preponderating) This case was to be subject to the operation of the law of Jubile, Moreover, the Israelite so bought shall not be compelled to work as a slave, but only under such conditions as befit a sojourner or hired servant. Leviticus 25:42 adds the reason (cp. Leviticus 25:13; Leviticus 25:55). On the other hand slaves bought from persons of other nations, or from foreigners sojourning in the land, were to be bondservants in the strictest sense of the word. For the differences between the law on these subjects and that in Exodus 21:2 ff.; Deuteronomy 15:12-18, see ICC Deut.; p.…

Read Cambridge on Leviticus 25 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

As a hired servant, and as a temporary resident, he shall be with you; he shall serve with you until the Year of Jubilee.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He must be with you as a hired worker, as a resident foreigner; he must serve with you until the year of jubilee,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

As a hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee; he shall serve with thee unto the year of jubilee:

RVARevised Version, American1894

as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee; he shall serve with thee unto the year of jubile:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

But as a hired servant, and as a sojourner he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee to the year of jubilee.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

But as an hired seruant, and as a soiourner he shalbe with thee: he shall serue thee vnto the yeere of the Iubile.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

as a hired servant, as a sojourner, shall he be with thee; until the year of jubilee shall he serve thee.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

as an hireling, as a settler, he is with thee, till the year of the jubilee he doth serve with thee, —

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

he is as a hired worker [and] as a settler with you; he serves with you until the Year of the Jubilee—

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

But as a hired laborer, as a sojourner, shall he be with thee; until the year of the jubilee shall he serve with thee:

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Treat him as a hired servant. He must be like someone living temporarily with you. He will serve with you until the year of Jubilee.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But he shall be as a hireling, and a sojourner: he shall work with thee until the year of the jubilee,

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Have them live with you like a paid worker who is staying with you for a while. They are to work for you until the Jubilee Year.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

But let him be with you as a servant working for payment, till the year of Jubilee;

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseכְּlikeשָׂכִ֥ירa.hired.laborerprepositional phraseכְּlikeתוֹשָׁ֖בa.resident.alienverbיִהְיֶ֣הhe.will.beprepositional phrase · prepositionalעִמָּ֑withךְyouclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַדuntilnoun phraseשְׁנַ֥תthe.yearnoun phraseהַofיֹּבֵ֖לthe.jubileeverbיַעֲבֹ֥דhe.will.serveprepositional phrase · prepositionalעִמָּֽwithךְyou

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text aligns with the Septuagint in most respects, with a notable difference in the Samaritan Pentateuch, which uses the word יובל (yobel) instead of הַיֹּבֵ֖ל (hai.yo.vel), indicating a slight variation in terminology but maintaining the overall meaning.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

כְּשָׂכִ֥יר כְּתוֹשָׁ֖ב יִהְיֶ֣ה עִמָּ֑ךְ עַד־ שְׁנַ֥ת הַיֹּבֵ֖ל יַעֲבֹ֥ד עִמָּֽךְ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כְּשָׂכִ֥ירμισθωτὸςכְּתוֹשָׁ֖בπάροικοςיִהְיֶ֣הἔσταιעִמָּ֑ךְσοιעַד־ἕωςהַיֹּבֵ֖לἀφέσεωςיַעֲבֹ֥דἐργᾶταιעִמָּֽךְ׃σοί

8 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

כשׂכיר כתושׁב יהיה עמך עד שׁנת היובל יעבד עמך

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: יובל (ram)

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Leviticus 25:40שָׂכִירlike a hirelike a hired laשָׂכִירתּוֹשָׁבlike a resilike a residentתּוֹשָׁבהָיָהhe will behe will beהָיָהעִםwith youwith youעִםעַדuntiluntilעַדשָׁנָה[the] year [the] year ofשָׁנָהיוֹבֵלthe jubileethe jubileeיוֹבֵלעָבַדhe will serhe will serveעָבַדעִםwith youwith youעִםעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםסָכַרto hireto hireסָכַריָשַׁבto dwellto dwellיָשַׁבשָׁנָהto changeto changeשָׁנָהיָבַלto conductto conductיָבַלהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדשָׁכַבto lie dowto lie down: laשָׁכַבקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַרתּוֹשָׁבsojournersojournerתּוֹשָׁבשָׂכָרwageswagesשָׂכָרשָׂכִירhiredhiredשָׂכִירגֵּרsojournersojournerגֵּרמָתַיhowhowמָתַיעֶ֫רֶבeveningeveningעֶ֫רֶבמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְעֶשְׂרִיםtwentytwentyעֶשְׂרִיםשֹׁפָרtrumpettrumpetשֹׁפָר
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Leviticus 25:40

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

like a hired laborer like a resident alien he will be with you until [the] year of the jubilee he will serve with you
כְּשָׂכִ֥ירke.sa.Khir like a hired laborer H7916 Preposition
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes a hired worker, someone paid by the day or year. In the Bible, hired laborers were common, and the KJV translates this word as hired or hireling.
Amplified meaning
hired servant, paid worker
Tyndale gloss
hired
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂכִיר (sakiyr) refers to someone who is hired, typically as a laborer or servant. The term can also apply to animals that are hired for work. It is derived from a root meaning 'to hire' and is used in contexts involving daily or yearly wages.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂכִיר adj. hired

hired, of beast

usu. as subst. hireling, hired labourer

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7916 שָׂכִיר hired . hired, of beast

. usu. as subst. hireling, hired labourer

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7916 sakiyr saw-keer'

from 7936; a man at wages by the day or year:--hired (man,

servant), hireling.

see HEBREW for 07936

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂכִיר (sa.khir) — hired.

1) hired

1a) hired (of animal)

1b) hireling, hired labourer (subst)

1b1) mercenary

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adj — Preposition
HR/Aamsa
like a hired laborer like a resident alien he will be with you until [the] year of the jubilee he will serve with you
כְּתוֹשָׁ֖בke.to.Shav like a resident alien H8453 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Tishbe refers to a resident alien or foreigner, as seen in the home of Elijah, who was known as the Tishbite. This term appears in various KJV translations, including foreigner and stranger. It signifies someone living outside their native land.
Amplified meaning
resident alien, temporary resident, like a sojourner
Tyndale gloss
sojourner
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תּוֹשָׁב (towshab) primarily means 'sojourner' or 'dweller,' indicating a resident alien or stranger, distinct from a native citizen. It is mentioned in 1 Kings 17:1 as the home of Elijah, תִּשְׁבֶּה (Tishbe), which also refers to a place associated with the term.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תּוֹשָׁב n.m. sojourner

base

[תִּשְׁבֶּה] n.pr.loc. 1 K 17:1 home of Elijah

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8453a תּוֹשָׁב sojourner H8453b תִּשְׁבֶּה home of Elijah

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8453 towshab to-shawb'

or toshab (1 Kings 17:1) {to-shawb'}; from 3427; a dweller

(but not outlandish (5237)); especially (as distinguished from

a native citizen (active participle of 3427) and a temporary

inmate (1616) or mere lodger (3885)) resident

alien:--foreigner, inhabitant, sojourner, stranger.

see HEBREW for 03427

see HEBREW for 05237

see HEBREW for 03427

see HEBREW for 01616

see HEBREW for 03885

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תּוֹשָׁב (to.shav) — sojourner.

sojourner, stranger

תִּשְׁבֶּה (tish.beh) — Tishbe.

Tishbe = "foreigner"

the home of Elijah

Also named: tish.bi (תִּשְׁבִּי "Tishbite" H8664)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

al'-yen: Found in the King James Version for ger, (Ex 18:3) = "guest," hence: "foreigner," "sojourner" the Revised Version (British and American); also for nekhar (Isa 61:5) = "foreign," "a foreigner" the Revised Version (British and American) (concrete), "heathendom" (abstract), "alien," "strange" (-er), and for nokhri (De 14:21 the Revised Version (British and American) "foreigner"; compare Job 19:15; Ps 69:8; La 5:2)--"strange," in a variety of degrees and meanings: "foreign," "non-relative," "adulterous," "different," "wonderful," "alien," "outlandish," "strange."…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Alien

A foreigner, or person born in another country, and therefore not entitled to the rights and privileges of the country where he resides. Among the Hebrews there were two classes of aliens.

(1.) Those who were strangers generally, and who owned no landed property.

(2.) Strangers dwelling in another country without being naturalized (Lev. 22:10; Ps. 39:12).

Both of these classes were to enjoy, under certain conditions, the same rights as other citizens (Lev. 19:33, 34; Deut. 10:19). They might be naturalized and permitted to enter into the congregation of the Lord by submitting to circumcision and abandoning idolatry (

like a hired laborer like a resident alien he will be with you until [the] year of the jubilee he will serve with you
יִהְיֶ֣הyih.Yeh he will be H1961 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TESTAMENT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ THE MENTAL FACULTY

Freedom of, recognized by God Ge 4:6-10; De 5:29; 1Ki 20:42; Isa 1:18-20; 43:26; Jer 36:3,7; Joh 7:17

See BLESSINGS, CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE

See CHOICE

See CONTINGENCY

→ OF GOD, THE SUPREME RULE OF DUTY Mt 6:10; 12:50; 26:39,42; Mr 3:35; 14:36; Lu 11:2; 22:42; Joh 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; Ac…

like a hired laborer like a resident alien he will be with you until [the] year of the jubilee he will serve with you
עִמָּ֑ךְ'i.Makh with you H5973 Preposition · suffix
1,052× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִם prep. with

of fellowship and companionship

of aid

Of actions done jointly with another

If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against

Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another

Of a common lot together with the wicked

Of equality or resemblance generally aid

Of time, as long as

Of a locality, close to, beside

Of persons, עִם is spec.

in the house or family or service of

In possession of

In the custody or care of

Beside = except

With = friendly with

Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

base

מֵעִם 72 from with or beside

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship

. Of a locality, close to, beside

. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of

. In possession of

. In the custody or care of

. Beside = except

. With = friendly with

. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5973 `im eem

from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction

with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;

often with prepositional prefix (and then usually

unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X

long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from

(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,

with(-al).

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִם (im) — with.

1) with

1a) with

1b) against

1c) toward

1d) as long as

מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.

1a) beside, except

1b) in spite of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp2ms
like a hired laborer like a resident alien he will be with you until [the] year of the jubilee he will serve with you
עַד־'ad- until H5704 Preposition
1,261× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Tyndale gloss
till
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while

prep.

of space

Of time

Of degree

conj.

until

While

Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus

of space

Of time

Of degree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

. conj. . until

. While

. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5704 `ad ad

properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or

conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,

or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,

while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,

at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),

(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,

till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַד (ad) — till.

prep

1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as

1a) of space

1a1) as far as, up to, even to

1b) in combination

1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)

1c) of time

1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end

1d) of degree

1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like

conj

2) until, while, to the point that, so that even

Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
like a hired laborer like a resident alien he will be with you until [the] year of the jubilee he will serve with you
שְׁנַ֥תshe.Nat [the] year of H8141 Noun common · feminine singular construct
877× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word also means a year, like when Abraham was 100 years old in Genesis 21. It is used to describe a period of time, age, or a lifetime.
Amplified meaning
year of liberation, time of freedom
Tyndale gloss
year
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁנָה (shaneh) means 'year' and is derived from the root meaning to change or revolve. It encompasses various aspects of time, including divisions of time, measures of age, and even a lifetime. The Aramaic equivalent is שְׁנָה (she.nah), also meaning 'year'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁנָה 877 n.f. year (etym. v. √[v.ek.aa])

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8141 שָׁנָה year (etym. v. √[8138a])

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8141 shaneh shaw-neh'

(in plura or (feminine) shanah {shaw-naw'}; from 8138; a year

(as a revolution of time):--+ whole age, X long, + old,

year(X -ly).

see HEBREW for 08138

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁנָה (sha.neh) — year.

1) year

1a) as division of time

1b) as measure of time

1c) as indication of age

1d) a lifetime (of years of life)

Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "year" H8140)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

like a hired laborer like a resident alien he will be with you until [the] year of the jubilee he will serve with you
הַיֹּבֵ֖לhai.yo.Vel the jubilee H3104 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Jubilee, or yobel, refers to the blast of a horn, a trumpet, or a cornet, and also the festival or year marked by its blowing, as described in Leviticus.
Amplified meaning
the blast of a horn, a time of celebration
Tyndale gloss
jubilee/horn
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יוֹבֵל (yowbel) refers to a ram or ram's horn, often associated with the sound of a trumpet. It signifies both the instrument itself and the festival it heralds, particularly the jubilee year, which is marked by the blowing of horns. The word is derived from a root meaning continuous sound.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יוֹבֵל, יֹבֵל n.m. ram, ram's horn, cornet

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3104 יוֹבֵל, יֹבֵל ram, ram's horn, cornet

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3104 yowbel yo-bale'

or yobel {yob-ale'}; apparently from 2986; the blast of a

horn (from its continuous sound); specifically, the signal of

the silver trumpets; hence, the instrument itself and the

festival thus introduced:--jubile, ram's horn, trumpet.

see HEBREW for 02986

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יוֹבֵל (yo.vel) — jubilee/horn.

1) ram, ram's horn, trumpet, cornet

1a) ram (only in combination)

1a1) ram's horn, trumpet

1b) jubilee year (marked by the blowing of cornets) (meton)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Jubilee

A joyful shout or clangour of trumpets, the name of the great semi-centennial festival of the Hebrews. It lasted for a year. During this year the land was to be fallow, and the Israelites were only permitted to gather the spontaneous produce of the fields (Lev. 25:11, 12). All landed property during that year reverted to its original owner (13-34; 27:16-24), and all who were slaves were set free (25:39-54), and all debts were remitted.

The return of the jubilee year was proclaimed by a blast of trumpets which sounded throughout the land. There is no record in Scripture of the actual observance of this festival, but there are numerous allusions (Isa. 5:7, 8, 9, 10; 61:1, 2; Ezek. 7:12, 13;

A Hebrew festival, celebrated in every fiftieth year, which of course occurred after seven weeks of years, or seven times seven years, Le 25:10. Its name Jubilee, sounding or flowing, was significant of the joyful trumpet-peals that announced its arrival. During this year no one sowed or reaped; but all were satisfied with what the earth and the trees produced spontaneously. Each resumed possession of his inheritance, whether it were sold, mortgaged, or otherwise alienated; and Hebrew servants of every description were set free, with their wives an children, Le 25:1-55. The first nine days were spent in festivities, during which no one worked, and every one wore a crown on his head. On the tenth day, which was the day of solemn expiation, the Sanhedrin ordered the trumpets to…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Called THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD Isa 61:2

→ Called THE YEAR OF LIBERTY Eze 46:17

→ LAWS CONCERNING Le 25:8-55; 27:17-24; Nu 36:4

like a hired laborer like a resident alien he will be with you until [the] year of the jubilee he will serve with you
יַעֲבֹ֥דya.'a.Vod he will serve H5647 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
288× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To serve or work is the meaning of this verb, which can also imply slavery or bondage, as seen in the story of the Israelites in Egypt. It is used to describe various types of work or service, including serving God or other people. The word has different forms and meanings in different contexts.
Amplified meaning
serve, labor
Tyndale gloss
to serve
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to work or serve, encompassing a range of activities from laboring for others to serving God, including Levitical service. It can also refer to the cultivation of land or the act of enslaving. The word appears in various forms, indicating different nuances of service and labor.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָבַד 290 vb. work, serve

Qal

labour, work, do work

work for another, serve him by labour

serve as subjects

serve God

serve י׳ with Levitical service

Niph.

be tilled, of land

dub. cultivated field

Pu. worked

Hiph.

compel to labour as slaves

make to serve as subjects

cause to serve God

Hoph. be led or enticed to serve

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5647 עָבַד work, serve .. labour, work, do work

. work for another, serve him by labour

. serve as subjects

. serve God

. serve י׳ with Levitical service

. . be tilled, of land

. dub. cultivated field

. worked

. . compel to labour as slaves

. make to serve as subjects

. cause to serve God

. be led or enticed to serve

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5647 `abad aw-bad'

a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to

serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:--X be, keep in

bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear,

execute, + husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass,

(cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become)

servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from

margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve.

: serve[someone]

1) to work, serve

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to labour, work, do work

1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour

1a3) to serve as subjects

1a4) to serve (God)

1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)

1b2) to make oneself a servant

1c) (Pual) to be worked

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve

1d2) to cause to serve as subjects

1e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve

עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve: minister.

: minister/serve[God/tabernacle/temple]/worship

1) to work, serve

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to labour, work, do work

1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour

1a3) to serve as subjects

1a4) to serve (God)

1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)

1b2) to make oneself a servant

1c) (Pual) to be worked

1d) (Hiphil)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
like a hired laborer like a resident alien he will be with you until [the] year of the jubilee he will serve with you
עִמָּֽךְ׃'i.Makh with you H5973 Preposition · suffix
1,052× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִם prep. with

of fellowship and companionship

of aid

Of actions done jointly with another

If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against

Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another

Of a common lot together with the wicked

Of equality or resemblance generally aid

Of time, as long as

Of a locality, close to, beside

Of persons, עִם is spec.

in the house or family or service of

In possession of

In the custody or care of

Beside = except

With = friendly with

Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

base

מֵעִם 72 from with or beside

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship

. Of a locality, close to, beside

. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of

. In possession of

. In the custody or care of

. Beside = except

. With = friendly with

. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5973 `im eem

from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction

with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;

often with prepositional prefix (and then usually

unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X

long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from

(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,

with(-al).

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִם (im) — with.

1) with

1a) with

1b) against

1c) toward

1d) as long as

מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.

1a) beside, except

1b) in spite of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp2ms
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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