King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 15:12 Mean?

Deuteronomy 15:12 in the King James Version says “And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh ...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 15 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.”

Deuteronomy 15:12 · KJV

Context

10

Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

11

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

12

And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.

13

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

14

Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.

Read Deuteronomy 15 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
If thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free—The eved Ivri (עֶבֶד עִבְרִי, 'Hebrew servant') entered servitude through debt (Exodus 21:2-6), not ethnicity. The seventh year echoes creation's Sabbath rest—as God ceased labor, so must economic bondage cease. Liberation isn't earned but calendrically mandated.

This foreshadows Christ's acceptable year of the LORD (Luke 4:19, citing Isaiah 61:1-2)—the ultimate Jubilee. Paul applies it: Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men (1 Corinthians 7:23). Our debt-slavery to sin found its seventh-year in the cross, where Christ declared: It is finished (John 19:30). The Hebrew servant law taught Israel that God liberates—a principle fulfilled cosmically in redemption.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern debt-slavery was often permanent, crushing families for generations. Israel's seven-year limit was revolutionary, reflecting God's character as Liberator (Exodus 20:2). This prevented permanent underclass formation and demonstrated covenant community's equality before God.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Christ's once-for-all liberation from sin's slavery surpass the repeated seven-year releases?
  2. What 'debts' (grudges, unforgiveness, demands) do you hold over others that God calls you to cancel?
  3. In what ways does your economic life reflect God's character as Liberator rather than cultural patterns of exploitation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
כִּֽי1 of 15
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

יִמָּכֵ֨ר2 of 15

“be sold”

H4376

to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender)

לְךָ֜3 of 15
H0
אָחִ֣יךָ4 of 15

“And if thy brother”

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

הָֽעִבְרִיָּ֔ה5 of 15

“an Hebrew man”

H5680

an eberite (i.e., hebrew) or descendant of eber

א֚וֹ6 of 15
H176

desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

הָֽעִבְרִיָּ֔ה7 of 15

“an Hebrew man”

H5680

an eberite (i.e., hebrew) or descendant of eber

וַעֲבָֽדְךָ֖8 of 15

“unto thee and serve”

H5647

to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc

שֵׁ֣שׁ9 of 15

“thee six”

H8337

six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth

וּבַשָּׁנָה֙10 of 15

“year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

וּבַשָּׁנָה֙11 of 15

“year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ת12 of 15

“then in the seventh”

H7637

seventh

תְּשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ13 of 15

“thou shalt let him go”

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

חָפְשִׁ֖י14 of 15

“free”

H2670

exempt (from bondage, tax or care)

מֵֽעִמָּֽךְ׃15 of 15
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Deuteronomy. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 15:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Deuteronomy 15:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 34:14Exodus 21:2-6Leviticus 25:39-41Deuteronomy 15:1John 8:35-36

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