Deuteronomy15
English Standard Version
1At the of every you shall a .
2And is the of the : shall he has to his . He shall it of his , his , the Lord ’s has been .
3Of a you may it, but of yours is with your your shall .
4 will be among you; the Lord you in the that the Lord your is you for an to —
5if you will the of the Lord your , being to I you .
6 the Lord your will you, he you, and you shall to , but you shall , and you shall over , but they shall over you.
7 among you, of your should become , in of your within your the Lord your is you, you shall your or your your ,
8 your him for his , it may .
9 there be an in your and you , The , the of is , and your on your , and you him , and he to the Lord you, and you be guilty of .
10You shall to him , and your shall be you to him, for the Lord your will you in your and in that you .
11 there will to be the . I you, You shall your to your , to the and to the , in your .
12 your , a a , is to you, he shall you , and in the you shall let him you.
13And you him go you, you shall let him .
14You shall him out your , out your , and out your . the Lord your has you, you shall to him.
15You shall you were a in the of , and the Lord your you; I you .
16But he to you, I will you, he you and your , he is you,
17then you shall an , and it through his into the , and he shall be your . And to your you shall the .
18It shall seem to when you let him from you, at the of a he has you . So the Lord your will you in you .
19 the that are of your and you shall to the Lord your . You shall with the of your , the of your .
20You shall it, you and your , the Lord your by at the the Lord will .
21But it has any , if it is or has whatever, you shall it to the Lord your .
22You shall it within your . The and the may eat it, as though it were a or a .
23 you shall its ; you shall pour it the like .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Deuteronomy 15.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The year of release. (1–11). Concerning the release of servants. (12–18). Respecting the firstlings of cattle. (19–23).
vv1-11
This year of release typified the grace of the gospel, in which is proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord; and by which we obtain the release of our debts, that is, the pardon of our sins. The law is spiritual, and lays restraints upon the thoughts of the heart. We mistake, if we think thoughts are free from God's knowledge and check. That is a wicked heart indeed, which raises evil thoughts from the good law of God, as theirs did, who, because God had obliged them to the charity of forgiving, denied the charity of giving. Those who would keep from the act of sin, must keep out of their minds the very thought of sin. It is a dreadful thing to have the cry of the poor justly against us. Grudge not a kindness to thy brother; distrust not the providence of God. What thou doest, do freely, for God loves a cheerful giver, 2Co 9:7.
vv12-18
Here the law concerning Hebrew servants is repeated. There is an addition, requiring the masters to put some small stock into their servants' hands to set up with for themselves, when sent out of their servitude, wherein they had received no wages. We may expect family blessings, the springs of family prosperity, when we make conscience of our duty to our family relations. We are to remember that we are debtors to Divine justice, and have nothing to pay with. That we are slaves, poor, and perishing. But the Lord Jesus Christ, by becoming poor, and by shedding his blood, has made a full and free provision for the payment of our debts, the ransom of our souls, and the supply of all our wants. When the gospel is clearly preached, the acceptable year of the Lord is proclaimed; the year of release of our debts, of the deliverance of our souls, and of obtaining rest in him. And as faith in Christ and love to him prevail, they will triumph over the selfishness of the heart, and over the unkindness of the world, doing away the excuses that rise from unbelief, distrust, and covetousness.
vv19-23
Here is a direction what to do with the firstlings. We are not now limited as the Israelites were; we make no difference between a first calf, or lamb, and the rest. Let us then look to the gospel meaning of this law, devoting ourselves and the first of our time and strength to God; and using all our comforts and enjoyments to his praise, and under the direction of his law, as we have them all by his gift.
Key Words
קֵץ: an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
שֶׁבַע: seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
שְׁמִטָּה: remission (of debt) or suspension of labor)
זֶה: the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
שָׁמַט: to fling down; incipiently to jostle; figuratively, to let alone, desist, remit
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
Cross References
Deuteronomy 15The foundational law of releasing Hebrew servants after six years of labor.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The law concerning boring a servant's ear with an awl to denote life-long service.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes the Sabbatical year of rest and release for the land and poor.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus directly echoes the reality that 'the poor you always have with you'.
Supported by JFB
Jeremiah indicts Israel for violating this precise law of releasing Hebrew servants.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The parallel holiness requirement to relieve and sustain a poor brother.
Supported by John Calvin
Warns against causing a poor brother to cry unto Yahweh against thee in sin.
Supported by John Calvin
The initial command to sanctify all firstling males of herd and flock.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts the wicked who borrows and does not pay with the blessed righteous giver.
Supported by Matthew Poole
New Testament parallel emphasizing giving cheerfully and not with a grieved heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Command to remember Egyptian bondage as the motivation for showing mercy.
Supported by JFB
Prohibits offering any blemished animal to Yahweh, representing spiritual integrity.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Repeats the vital dietary prohibition against eating blood; it must be poured out.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Observes that the borrower is servant to the lender; Deuteronomy promises dominance.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Explains the standard term of service for a hired servant, contrasting the double-term.
Supported by JFB