Deuteronomy 15:13 kjv
And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:
Deuteronomy 15:13 nkjv
And when you send him away free from you, you shall not let him go away empty-handed;
Deuteronomy 15:13 niv
And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed.
Deuteronomy 15:13 esv
And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed.
Deuteronomy 15:13 nlt
"When you release a male servant, do not send him away empty-handed.
Deuteronomy 15 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 15:12 | "If your brother, a Hebrew man... has served you six years..." | Context of Hebrew servant release |
| Deut 15:14 | "You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock..." | Specifies what to provide generously |
| Deut 15:15 | "You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt..." | Reason for compassion and generosity |
| Exo 21:2 | "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free..." | Original law regarding servant release |
| Lev 25:10 | "You shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants..." | Principle of jubilee liberation |
| Jer 34:8-10 | "Proclaiming liberty to everyone to his brother, and everyone to his neighbor..." | Echoes command for servant release |
| Prov 28:27 | "Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse." | Principle of caring for the needy |
| Isa 58:6-7 | "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness... and to let the oppressed go free... to share your bread with the hungry..." | Holistic justice and release of the oppressed |
| Lev 19:10 | "And you shall not strip your vineyard bare... you shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner." | Law requiring provision for the poor |
| Deut 24:19 | "When you reap your harvest... you shall not go over it again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow." | Further commands for leaving provision |
| Prov 3:27-28 | "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due... if it is in your power to do it." | Encourages generous actions and aid |
| Luke 6:38 | "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over..." | Principle of divine reciprocation for giving |
| 2 Cor 9:6 | "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." | Generosity results in blessing |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." | God as the ultimate provider, a model |
| Psa 23:1 | "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." | God ensures His people are not "empty" |
| Matt 25:35-40 | "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink... As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." | Treating others as one treats Christ |
| Eph 6:9 | "And you masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven..." | New Testament instruction for masters |
| Col 4:1 | "Masters, grant your bondservants justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven." | Justice for servants/employees |
| Psa 37:25 | "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." | God ensures His righteous are not abandoned or "empty" |
| Gen 26:12 | "Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him." | Divine blessing on those who follow His ways |
Deuteronomy 15 verses
Deuteronomy 15 13 Meaning
Deuteronomy 15:13 commands that when a Hebrew servant is released after serving their six years, their master must not send them away empty-handed. This verse is part of God's law to Israel, establishing a humane and just practice of providing resources to the released servant, ensuring they have a foundation for a new start, rather than being cast back into destitution. It reflects a principle of generosity and care, born out of Israel's own experience of deliverance from slavery in Egypt.
Deuteronomy 15 13 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 15 lays out several laws demonstrating Yahweh's compassionate concern for the poor and vulnerable within Israelite society. It begins with the law of the "year of release" (Sabbatical Year), commanding the cancellation of debts every seven years (vv. 1-6), followed by exhortations to generosity towards the poor (vv. 7-11). Directly preceding our verse (v. 12) is the stipulation for freeing Hebrew servants after six years of service. Deuteronomy 15:13, along with verse 14, specifies the humane and benevolent manner in which these servants are to be released, commanding the master to equip them materially. This legal framework stands in stark contrast to many ancient Near Eastern laws regarding servants, highlighting Israel's unique covenant relationship with a merciful God who delivered them from their own servitude in Egypt. This command also serves as a preventative measure, ensuring the newly freed do not immediately fall back into poverty and subsequent re-servitude.
Deuteronomy 15 13 Word analysis
And when thou sendest him out: This emphasizes the master's deliberate act of release. It is not an abandonment but an intentional transition.
sendest him out free: The Hebrew verb used is shalach (שָׁלַח), meaning "to send forth," "to release." The accompanying adjective chofshi (חָפְשִׁי) means "free" or "liberated." This indicates a complete, unburdened freedom, moving from one status to another.
free from thee: This highlights the change in legal and social status. The master relinquishes all claim over the servant, and the servant gains full autonomy.
thou shalt not let him go away empty: This is the core prohibition and implied positive command.
thou shalt not let him go away: Uses a negated form of shalach (תְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּ -teshalchenu), reiterating the master's responsibility for the manner of departure. It’s not just a passive release but an active participation in their departure.empty: The pivotal Hebrew word here is reykam (רֵיקָם), meaning "empty-handed," "with nothing," "unprovided for," "bare." This word signifies a state of complete lack of resources or provisions. Its use here mandates that the master actively furnish the departing servant with resources to start their independent life. It's not merely a lack of material goods, but a state that impedes economic viability and dignity.
Words-group Analysis:
- "And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not...": This structure presents a condition ("when you send out free") and immediately follows with a direct negative command, emphasizing the strictness of the instruction regarding the subsequent action. The repetition of "thou" underlines the direct personal responsibility of the master.
- "...let him go away empty.": This concluding phrase provides the core substance of the command. The concept of "empty" implies both a lack of material provision and, by extension, a lack of ability to thrive. The master is to prevent the servant from entering into a new state of vulnerability. This is a compassionate counter to potential exploitation or neglect at the point of emancipation.
Deuteronomy 15 13 Bonus section
The Hebrew legal code, particularly in Deuteronomy, often provides not just prohibitions but also positive imperatives veiled within negative commands. "Thou shalt not let him go away empty" inherently carries the positive command: "Thou shalt send him away provisioned." This reflects a holistic understanding of liberation, not just ceasing bondage but empowering for future independence. The command embodies foresight, preventing recidivism into servitude by ensuring initial economic stability. It illustrates how the covenant demanded a specific quality of life within Israelite society, prioritizing communal welfare over individual profit when it came to the poor and vulnerable. This concept influences New Testament teachings on generosity and caring for the "least of these" among believers, mirroring God's own abundant provision and release from spiritual bondage.
Deuteronomy 15 13 Commentary
Deuteronomy 15:13 is a testament to the ethical and merciful character of God's law. It elevates the standard of care for the vulnerable beyond what was common in the ancient world. The command to not send a freed servant away "empty" means much more than simply providing food for a journey; it mandates equipping them with sufficient resources from the master's flock, threshing floor, and winepress (as specified in the next verse) to enable them to establish themselves economically. This act of generous provision is rooted in two foundational principles: first, remembering Israel's own experience as slaves delivered by God (Deut 15:15), teaching compassion through shared history; and second, the understanding that giving liberally reflects God's own generosity and leads to blessing. It safeguards the dignity of the freed individual, promoting social stability and preventing them from falling into a cycle of poverty or repeated servitude. It’s a divine imperative for ensuring humane transitions and economic justice, promoting genuine freedom beyond mere liberation from chains.