The Sabbatical Release
Deuteronomy 15
Moses commands that every seventh year debts owed by fellow Israelites be released and that the poor be helped generously and without resentment, and sets rules for freeing Hebrew servants in the seventh year with provisions given for their departure. He also instructs that the firstborn males of the herd and flock be sanctified to the Lord.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonEVERY seven years thou shalt make a release.
BrentonEvery seven years thou shalt make a release.
GreekΔιʼ ἑπτὰ ἐτῶν ποιήσεις ἄφεσιν.
KJVAt the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.
JPSAt the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.
2
ThomsonAnd this is the ordinance touching this release. Thou shalt remit every private debt which thy neighbour oweth thee, and shalt not demand it of thy brother; for the release for the Lord thy God is proclaimed.
BrentonAnd this is the ordinance of the release: thou shalt remit every private debt which thy neighbour owes thee, and thou shalt not ask payment of it from thy brother; for it has been called a release to the Lord thy God.
GreekΚαὶ οὕτω τὸ πρόσταγμα τῆς ἀφέσεως· ἀφήσεις πᾶν χρέος ἴδιον, ὃ ὀφείλει σοι ὁ πλησίον, καὶ τὸν ἀδελφόν σου οὐκ ἀπαιτήσεις· ἐπικέκληται γὰρ ἄφεσις Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου.
KJVAnd this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’s release.
JPSAnd this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he hath lent unto his neighbour; he shall not exact it of his neighbour and his brother; because the LORD’S release hath been proclaimed.
3
ThomsonOf a stranger thou mayst demand what may be due to thee from him; but to a brother thou shalt make a release of what he oweth thee,
BrentonOf a stranger thou shalt ask again whatsoever he has of thine, but to thy brother thou shalt remit his debt to thee.
GreekΤὸν ἀλλότριον ἀπαιτήσεις ὅσα ἐὰν ἠ· σοι παρʼ αὐτῷ, τῷ δὲ ἀδελφῷ σου ἄφεσιν ποιήσεις τοῦ χρέους σου.
KJVOf a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;
JPSOf a foreigner thou mayest exact it; but whatsoever of thine is with thy brother thy hand shall release.
4
Thomson—
BrentonFor thus there shall not be a poor person in the midst of thee, for the Lord thy God will surely bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God gives thee by inheritance, that thou shouldest inherit it.
GreekὍτι οὐκ ἔσται ἐν σοὶ ἐνδεὴς, ὅτι εὐλογῶν εὐλογήσει σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐν τῇ γῇ, ᾗ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι ἐν κλήρῳ κατακληρονομεῖν σε αὐτήν.
KJVSave when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it:
JPSHowbeit there shall be no needy among you—for the LORD will surely bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it—
5
Thomsonbecause among you there is to be none in want; because the Lord thy God will, with blessing, bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, that you may possess it, if you will but hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, to keep, and perform, all these commandments which I this day command you.
BrentonAnd if ye shall indeed hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, to keep and do all these commandments, as many as I charge thee this day,
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἀκοῇ εἰσακούσητε τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ὑμῶν φυλάσσειν καὶ ποιεῖν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας, ὅσας ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον,
KJVOnly if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day.
JPSif only thou diligently hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all this commandment which I command thee this day.
6
ThomsonBecause the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in the manner He promised thee, therefore thou shalt lend to many nations and shalt not borrow, and thou shalt rule over many nations, and they shall not rule over thee.
Brenton(for the Lord thy God has blessed thee in the way of which he spoke to thee,) then thou shalt lend to many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over thee.
Greekὅτι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου εὐλόγησέ σε ὃν τρόπον ἐλάλησέ σοι· καὶ δανειεῖς ἔθνεσι πολλοῖς, σὺ δὲ οὐ δανειῇ· καὶ ἄρξεις ἐθνῶν πολλῶν, σοῦ δὲ οὐκ ἄρξουσιν.
KJVFor the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.
JPSFor the LORD thy God will bless thee, as He promised thee; and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over thee.
7
ThomsonIf then there chance to be among you a needy person—one of thy brethren——in one of thy cities in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy brother who is in want.
BrentonAnd if there shall be in the midst of thee a poor man of thy brethren in one of thy cities in the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, neither shalt thou by any means close up thine hand from thy brother who is in want.
GreekἘὰν δὲ γένηται ἐν σοὶ ἐνδεὴς ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου ἐν μιᾷ τῶν πόλεών σου ἐν τῇ γῇ, ᾗ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι, οὐκ ἀποστέρξεις τὴν καρδίαν σου, οὐδʼ οὐ μὴ συσφίγξεις τὴν χεῖρά σου ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου τοῦ ἐπιδεομένου.
KJVIf there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
JPSIf there be among you a needy man, one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates, in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy needy brother;
8
ThomsonThou shalt open thy hands liberally to him, and lend him what he is in want of, according to his necessity.
BrentonThou shalt surely open thine hands to him, and shalt lend to him as much as he wants according to his need.
GreekἈνοίγων ἀνοίξεις τὰς χεῖράς σου αὐτῷ, καὶ δάνειον δανειεῖς αὐτῷ ὅσον ἐπιδέεται, καθότι ἐνδεεῖται.
KJVBut thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.
JPSbut thou shalt surely open thy hand unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth.
9
ThomsonTake heed to thyself that there be not a lurking thought in thy heart—a wicked suggestion, saying, The seventh year, the year of remission is near at hand. When thou shalt look with an evil eye at thy brother who is in want, and not give him, he will cry to the Lord against thee, and it will be a great sin in thee.
BrentonTake heed to thyself that there be not a secret thing in thine heart, an iniquity, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, draws nigh; and thine eye shall be evil to thy brother that is in want, and thou shalt not give to him, and he shall cry against thee to the Lord, and there shall be great sin in thee.
GreekΠρόσεχε σεαυτῷ μὴ γένηται ῥῆμα κρυπτὸν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου ἀνόμημα, λέγων, Ἐγγίζει τὸ ἔτος τὸ ἕβδομον, ἔτος τῆς ἀφέσεως, καὶ πονηρεύσηται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου τῷ ἐπιδεομένῳ, καὶ οὐ δώσεις αὐτῷ, καὶ καταβοήσεται κατὰ σοῦ πρὸς Κύριον, καὶ ἔσται ἐν σοὶ ἁμαρτία μεγάλη.
KJVBeware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.
JPSBeware that there be not a base thought in thy heart, saying: ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand’; and thine eye be evil against thy needy brother, and thou give him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin in thee.
10
ThomsonThou shalt surely give him, and lend him freely, what he is in want of, according to his necessity. And thou shalt not be grieved at heart when thou givest to him; for on this account the Lord thy God will bless thee in all thy works, and in all the labours of thy hands.
BrentonThou shalt surely give to him, and thou shalt lend him as much as he wants, according as he is in need; and thou shalt not grudge in thine heart as thou givest to him, because on this account the Lord thy God will bless thee in all thy works, and in all things on which thou shalt lay thine hand.
GreekΔιδοὺς δώσεις αὐτῷ, καὶ δάνειον δανειεῖς αὐτῷ ὅσον ἐπιδέεται, καθότι ἐνδεεῖται· καὶ οὐ λυπηθήσῃ τῇ καρδίᾳ σου διδόντος σου αὐτῷ, ὅτι διὰ τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο εὐλογήσει σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔργοις καὶ ἐν πᾶσι οὗ ἂν ἐπιβάλῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου.
KJVThou 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.
JPSThou shalt surely give him, and thy heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him; because that for this thing the LORD thy God will bless thee in all thy work, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto.
11
ThomsonBecause thy land may never be without some indigent person in it, therefore I give thee a charge to do this thing, saying, Thou shalt open thy hands liberally to thy brother who is in want, and to the needy in thy land.
BrentonFor the poor shall not fail off thy land, therefore I charge thee to do this thing, saying, Thou shalt surely open thine hands to thy poor brother, and to him that is distressed upon thy land.
GreekΟὐ γὰρ μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἐνδεὴς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς σου· διὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι ποιεῖν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, λέγων, ἀνοίγων ἀνοίξεις τὰς χεῖράς σου τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου τῷ πένητι καὶ τῷ ἐπιδεομένῳ τῷ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς σου.
KJVFor 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.
JPSFor the poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command thee, saying: ‘Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy poor and needy brother, in thy land.’
12
ThomsonAnd if thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, he sold to thee, he shall serve thee six years; and on the seventh thou shalt send him away from thee, free.
BrentonAnd if thy brother or sister, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, be sold to thee, he shall serve thee six years, and in the seventh year thou shalt send him out free from thee.
GreekἘὰν δὲ πραθῇ σοι ὁ ἀδελφός σου ὁ Ἑβραῖος ἢ Ἐβραία, δουλεύσει σοι ἓξ ἔτη, καὶ τῷ ἑβδόμῳ ἐξαποστελεῖς αὐτὸν ἐλεύθερον ἀπὸ σοῦ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSIf thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, he shall serve thee six years; and in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
13
ThomsonAnd when thou shalt send him away free from thee, thou shalt not send him away empty.
BrentonAnd when thou shalt send him out free from thee, thou shalt not send him out empty.
GreekὍταν δὲ ἐξαποστέλλῃς αὐτὸν ἐλεύθερον ἀπὸ σοῦ, οὐκ ἐξαποστελεῖς αὐτὸν κενόν.
KJVAnd when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:
JPSAnd when thou lettest him go free from thee, thou shalt not let him go empty;
14
ThomsonThou shalt furnish him liberally with provision for the journey, from thy flock and from thy corn, and thy wine. According as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee, thou shalt give him;
BrentonThou shalt give him provision for the way from thy flock, and from thy corn, and from thy wine; as the Lord thy God has blessed thee, thou shalt give to him.
GreekἘφόδιον ἐφοδιάσεις αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῶν προβάτων σου, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ σίτου σου, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴνου σου· καθὰ εὐλόγησέ σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, δώσεις αὐτῷ.
KJVThou 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.
JPSthou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy threshing-floor, and out of thy winepress; of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.
15
Thomsonand remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that thence the Lord thy God redeemed thee; therefore I command thee to do this thing.
BrentonAnd thou shalt remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee from thence; therefore I charge thee to do this thing.
GreekΚαὶ μνησθήσῃ ὅτι οἰκέτης ἦσθα ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἐλυτρώσατό σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σοῦ ἐκεῖθεν· διὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι ποιεῖν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο.
KJVAnd thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.
JPSAnd thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee; therefore I command thee this thing to-day.
16
ThomsonAnd if he shall say to thee, I will not go away from thee, because he hath loved thee, and thy family, and is well with thee;
BrentonAnd if he should say to thee, I will not go out from thee, because he continues to love thee and thy house, because he is well with thee;
GreekἘὰν δὲ λέγῃ πρὸς σὲ, οὐκ ἐξελεύσομαι ἀπὸ σοῦ, ὅτι ἠγάπηκέ σε καὶ τὴν οἰκίαν σου, ὅτι εὖ ἐστιν αὐτῷ παρὰ σοί.
KJVAnd it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;
JPSAnd it shall be, if he say unto thee: ‘I will not go out from thee’; because he loveth thee and thy house, because he fareth well with thee;
17
Thomsonthen thou shalt take an awl, and bore his ear against the door, and he shall be thy servant forever. And in the same manner thou shalt treat thy maid servant.
Brentonthen thou shalt take an awl, and bore his ear through to the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever; and in like manner shalt thou do to thy maid-servant.
GreekΚαὶ λήψῃ τὸ ὀπήτιον, καὶ τρυπήσεις τὸ ὠτίον αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὴν θύραν, καὶ ἔσται σοι οἰκέτης εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· καὶ τὴν παιδίσκην σου ὡσαύτως ποιήσεις.
KJVThen thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.
JPSthen thou shalt take an awl, and thrust it through his ear and into the door, and he shall be thy bondman for ever. And also unto thy bondwoman thou shalt do likewise.
18
ThomsonIt shall not seem hard to thee that they are let go free from thee; for they have saved thee the wages of an hireling. He hath served thee six years.
BrentonIt shall not seem hard to thee when they are sent out free from thee, because thy servant has served thee six years according to the annual hire of a hireling; so the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all things whatsoever thou mayest do.
GreekΟὐ σκληρὸν ἔσται ἐναντίον σου ἐξαποστελλομένων αὐτῶν ἐλευθέρων ἀπὸ σου, ὅτι ἐπέτειον μισθὸν τοῦ μισθωτοῦ ἐδούλευσέ σοι ἓξ ἔτη· καὶ εὐλογήσει σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐν πᾶσιν οἷς ἐὰν ποιῇς.
KJVIt shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.
JPSIt shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou lettest him go free from thee; for to the double of the hire of a hireling hath he served thee six years; and the LORD thy God will bless thee in all that thou doest.
19
ThomsonWhen the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all thou doest, every firstling of thy herds, and thy flocks, even all the males, thou shalt dedicate to the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not work a firstling bull, nor shear the firstlings of thy flock.
BrentonEvery first-born that shall be born among thy kine and thy sheep, thou shalt sanctify the males to the Lord thy God; thou shalt not work with thy first-born calf, and thou shalt not shear the first-born of thy sheep.
GreekΠᾶν πρωτότοκον ὃ ἐὰν τεχθῇ ἐν ταῖς βουσί σου, καὶ ἐν τοῖς προβάτοις σου, τὰ ἀρσενικὰ ἁγιάσεις Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου· οὐκ ἐργᾷ ἐν τῷ πρωτοτόκῳ μόσχῳ σου, καὶ οὐ μὴ κείρῃς τὰ πρωτότοκα τῶν προβάτων σου.
KJVAll the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep.
JPSAll the firstling males that are born of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God; thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thine ox, nor shear the firstling of thy flock.
20
ThomsonThou shalt eat them before the Lord, year after year, in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou and thy household.
BrentonThou shalt eat it before the Lord year by year in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou and thy house.
GreekἜναντι Κυρίου φαγῇ αὐτὸ ἐνιαυτὸν ἐξ ἐνιαυτοῦ ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ᾧ ἐὰν ἐκλέξηται Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, σὺ καὶ ὁ οἶκός σου.
KJVThou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household.
JPSThou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household.
21
ThomsonBut if any hath a blemish in it—if it be lame, or blind, or any way blemished, thou shalt not sacrifice it to the Lord thy God.
BrentonAnd if there be in it a blemish, if it be lame or blind, an evil blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it to the Lord thy God.
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἠ· ἐν αὐτῷ μῶμος, χωλὸν ἢ τυφλον, μῶμον πονηρὸν, οὐ θύσεις αὐτὸ Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου.
KJVAnd if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.
JPSAnd if there be any blemish therein, lameness, or blindness, any ill blemish whatsoever, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.
22
ThomsonIn thy cities thou mayst eat it—the unclean with thee as well as the clean may eat it, like the roebuck or deer.
BrentonThou shalt eat it in thy cities; the unclean in thee and the clean shall eat it in like manner, as the doe or the stag.
GreekἘν ταῖς πόλεσί σου φαγῇ αὐτό· ὁ ἀκάθαρτος ἐν σοι, καὶ ὁ καθαρὸς ὡσαύτως ἔδεται ὡς δορκάδα ἢ ἔλαφον.
KJVThou shalt eat it within thy gates: the unclean and the clean person shall eat it alike, as the roebuck, and as the hart.
JPSThou shalt eat it within thy gates; the unclean and the clean may eat it alike, as the gazelle, and as the hart.
23
ThomsonBut the blood you shall not eat. Thou shalt pour out that on the ground, like water.
BrentonOnly ye shall not eat the blood; thou shalt pour it out on the earth as water.
GreekΠλὴν αἷμα οὐ φἀγεσθε· ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐκχεεῖς αὐτὸ ὡς ὕδωρ.
KJVOnly thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water.
JPSOnly thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it out upon the ground as water.