Deuteronomy 15:12 New English Translation
Release of Debt Slaves
12 If your fellow Hebrew[a]—whether male or female[b]—is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you must let that servant[c] go free.[d]
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- Deuteronomy 15:12 sn Elsewhere in the OT, the Israelites are called “Hebrews” (עִבְרִי, ʿivri) by outsiders, rarely by themselves (cf. Gen 14:13; 39:14, 17; 41:12; Exod 1:15, 16, 19; 2:6, 7, 11, 13; 1 Sam 4:6; Jonah 1:9). Thus, here and in the parallel passage in Exod 21:2-6 the term עִבְרִי may designate non-Israelites, specifically a people well-known throughout the ancient Near East as ʾapiru or habiru. They lived a rather vagabond lifestyle, frequently hiring themselves out as laborers or mercenary soldiers. While accounting nicely for the surprising use of the term here in an Israelite law code, the suggestion has against it the unlikelihood that a set of laws would address such a marginal people so specifically (as opposed to simply calling them aliens or the like). More likely עִבְרִי is chosen as a term to remind Israel that when they were “Hebrews,” that is, when they were in Egypt, they were slaves. Now that they are free they must not keep their fellow Israelites in economic bondage. See v. 15.
- Deuteronomy 15:12 tn Heb “your brother, a Hebrew (male) or Hebrew (female).”
- Deuteronomy 15:12 tn Heb “him.” The singular pronoun occurs throughout the passage.
- Deuteronomy 15:12 tn The Hebrew text includes “from you.”
New English Translation (NET)
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