Leviticus 25:46
Good News Translation
and you may leave them as an inheritance to your children, whom they must serve as long as they live. But you must not treat any Israelites harshly.

New Revised Standard Version
You may keep them as a possession for your children after you, for them to inherit as property. These you may treat as slaves, but as for your fellow Israelites, no one shall rule over the other with harshness.

Contemporary English Version
You can own them, and even leave them to your children when you die, but do not make slaves of your own people or be cruel to them.

New American Bible
and bequeath to your children as their hereditary possession forever. You may treat them as slaves. But none of you shall lord it harshly over any of your fellow Israelites.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And by right of inheritance shall leave them to your posterity, and shall possess them for ever. But oppress not your brethren the children of Israel by might.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And by right of inheritance shall leave them to your posterity, and shall possess them for ever. But oppress not your brethren the children of Israel by might.

And ye shall

Isaiah 14:2 And the people shall take them, and bring them into their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids: and they shall make them captives that had taken them, and shall subdue their oppressors.

they shall be your bondmen for ever.

Leviticus 25:39 If thy brother constrained by poverty, sell himself to thee: thou shalt not oppress him with the service of bondservants.

ye shall not rule

Leviticus 25:43 Afflict him not by might: but fear thy God.

Context
Redemption of Bondmen
45And of the strangers that sojourn among you, or that were born of them in your land. These you shall have for servants: 46And by right of inheritance shall leave them to your posterity, and shall possess them for ever. But oppress not your brethren the children of Israel by might.
Cross References
Exodus 1:13
And the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, and afflicted them and mocked them:

Leviticus 25:43
Afflict him not by might: but fear thy God.

Leviticus 25:45
And of the strangers that sojourn among you, or that were born of them in your land. These you shall have for servants:

Leviticus 25:47
If the hand of a stranger or a sojourner grow strong among you, and thy brother being impoverished sell himself to him, or to any of his race:

Leviticus 25:45
Top of Page
Top of Page