Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves.
Parallel translations
- WEB For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. They shall not be sold as slaves.
- KJV For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.
- NKJV For they are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves.
- NASB For they are My servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt; they are not to be sold in a slave sale.
- NLT The people of Israel are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, so they must never be sold as slaves.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israelites belonged to God as his servants, redeemed from Egypt, and were not to be sold as slaves. They were God's own possession.
Overview
Because God had freed Israel from Egypt, they were his servants and could not be permanently enslaved by others. Their primary allegiance and ownership belonged to the LORD alone. This anticipates the New Testament truth that believers are bought by Christ and now belong to him as his own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Lev 25:55For the Israelites are My servants. They are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
- Rom 6:22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
- 1 Cor 7:21–23Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.
How Leviticus 25:42 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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