Deuteronomy 15:16 kjv
And 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;
Deuteronomy 15:16 nkjv
And if it happens that he says to you, 'I will not go away from you,' because he loves you and your house, since he prospers with you,
Deuteronomy 15:16 niv
But if your servant says to you, "I do not want to leave you," because he loves you and your family and is well off with you,
Deuteronomy 15:16 esv
But if he says to you, 'I will not go out from you,' because he loves you and your household, since he is well-off with you,
Deuteronomy 15:16 nlt
"But suppose your servant says, 'I will not leave you,' because he loves you and your family, and he has done well with you.
Deuteronomy 15 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 15:12 | "If any of your people, male or female Hebrew, is sold to you... in the seventh year you must let them go free." | Law of servant release. |
| Exod 21:2 | "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go out free..." | Similar law for servant release. |
| Exod 21:5-6 | "But if the servant declares, 'I love my master and my wife and children...I will not go out free.' Then his master must take him..." | Direct parallel, describing the ear-piercing ritual for voluntary permanent service. |
| Lev 25:39-43 | "If any of your fellow Israelites become poor... do not make them work as slaves... treat them as hired workers..." | Laws promoting humane treatment and limited duration of servitude for Israelites. |
| Jer 34:12-16 | "I made a covenant with your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, saying... 'Let everyone set their Hebrew slaves free...'" | Condemnation of breaking the covenant to free servants. |
| Psa 40:6-8 | "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have opened; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, 'Here I am, I have come... I desire to do your will, my God...'" | Messianic interpretation, "ears you have opened/pierced" linked to Christ's willing obedience and voluntary servanthood. |
| Isa 50:4-7 | "The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue... He awakens my ear morning by morning... The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious..." | Description of the suffering Servant's (Christ's) willing obedience and attentiveness. |
| Phil 2:7-8 | "...rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant... he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!" | Christ's ultimate example of voluntary humility and servanthood. |
| Eph 6:5-8 | "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ... serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord..." | Instructions for slaves/servants to serve willingly and devotedly. |
| Col 3:22-25 | "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything... do it with sincerity of heart and with reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart..." | Similar instructions on conscientious and willing service. |
| Phlm 1:15-16 | "Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother." | Master-servant relationship transformed by Christian love (Onesimus). |
| 1 Cor 7:21-24 | "Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so... you were bought at a price..." | Spiritual freedom transcends earthly status; service to Christ. |
| Matt 20:26-28 | "...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..." | Christ's teaching on servant leadership and His own example. |
| John 15:15 | "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends..." | Shift in relationship with Christ for His disciples, from servant to friend, implying deep mutual knowledge and love. |
| Rom 6:18 | "...you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness." | Spiritual paradox of freedom leading to willing servitude to God. |
| Rom 1:1 | "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus..." | Paul identifying himself as a devoted, willing servant. |
| James 1:1 | "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ..." | James's identification as a devoted servant. |
| Psa 116:16 | "Truly I am your servant, LORD; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have loosed my bonds." | The psalmist identifies as God's willing bondservant, set free yet choosing to serve. |
| Neh 5:1-12 | Account of economic distress leading to Israelites selling themselves or their children into servitude, and Nehemiah's intervention for justice. | Historical example of the social conditions that led to temporary servitude and the importance of compassionate leaders. |
| Lev 25:10 | "Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you..." | Broader law of general release and restoration of property, underpinning the values of periodic release. |
| Deut 15:1 | "At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts." | Immediate context of the Sabbatical year and economic relief. |
Deuteronomy 15 verses
Deuteronomy 15 16 Meaning
This verse describes a specific exception to the general rule of releasing Hebrew servants in their seventh year of service. If, despite having the right to freedom, a servant expresses a desire to remain with the master, it is to be permitted. The verse attributes this decision to the servant's genuine love and affection for the master and their family, coupled with a deep sense of well-being and contentment experienced within that household. It paints a picture of a benevolent relationship, where the servant thrives under the master's care.
Deuteronomy 15 16 Context
Deuteronomy 15 is largely concerned with economic and social justice within the Israelite community, particularly related to the seventh year, known as the sabbatical year (shemitah). This year commanded the cancellation of debts (Deut 15:1-6) and the release of Hebrew servants (Deut 15:12-18). The overarching principle is mercy and compassion, ensuring that poverty and prolonged servitude do not become permanent conditions among God's people, distinguishing them from surrounding nations where perpetual slavery was common. Verse 16 presents a unique scenario within this framework: the voluntary decision of a servant to remain, illustrating an ideal for servant-master relations rooted in mutual respect, care, and genuine affection, transforming what might be a burden into a cherished bond. This provision ensures that humane treatment is reciprocated and valued.
Deuteronomy 15 16 Word analysis
- "But if": Hebrew
ki(כִּי). Functions here as "but if," introducing a conditional clause that sets forth an exception to the preceding rule. It highlights a particular situation or alternative. - "your servant": Hebrew
‘avdecha(עַבְדְּךָ), fromʿeved(עֶבֶד), meaning "servant," "slave," or "bondservant." In the context of Deuteronomy 15, it specifically refers to a fellow Israelite who has entered temporary servitude due to debt or poverty, subject to specific laws for their release and humane treatment, distinguishing them from foreign slaves. - "says to you": Hebrew
yomar(יֹאמַר), "he will say." Emphasizes the servant's initiative and explicit vocal declaration of their desire, highlighting their agency in this decision. - "‘I do not want to leave you,’": Hebrew
Lo’ ’eṣe’(לֹא אֵצֵא), "I will not go out" or "I will not depart." This phrase is a strong statement of intention, directly refusing the freedom offered. It underscores the servant's active choice. - "because he loves you": Hebrew
ki ’ahaveka(כִּי אֲהֵבֶךָ).kihere means "because."’ahavekacomes from’ahav(אָהַב), meaning "to love," denoting deep affection, loyalty, and devotion. This is a profound reason for the servant's choice, indicating a personal, emotional bond that transcends mere contractual obligation or economic necessity. It speaks to a relationship cultivated by humane treatment and mutual regard. - "and your family": Hebrew
wə’et-betheka(וְאֶת־בֵּיתֶךָ), "and your household/house." This extends the servant's affection and loyalty beyond the individual master to the entire domestic unit, suggesting full integration and a sense of belonging within the family structure. It implies a household where the servant is not merely an employee but part of the family circle. - "and is well off with you": Hebrew
ki-ṭov lo ‘immakh(כִּי טוֹב לֹו עִמָּךְ), literally "for good is to him with you."ṭov(טוֹב) means "good," "beneficial," "prosperous," or "pleasant." This indicates the servant's contentment and flourishing. It implies the master's consistent provision, just treatment, and the overall positive living conditions that contribute to the servant's well-being and sense of security, beyond mere subsistence. This tangible benefit complements the emotional bond, showing the relationship is genuinely positive and supportive.
Deuteronomy 15 16 Bonus section
- The scenario presented in Deut 15:16 and Exod 21:5-6 represents a kind of voluntary, lifelong
bondservantstatus that was highly esteemed. It indicated loyalty, contentment, and a desire to remain part of a flourishing household, contrasting sharply with coercive or oppressive forms of slavery. - The "ear-piercing" ceremony mentioned in Exod 21:6 and Deut 15:17, while not in verse 16 itself, is the physical symbol of this free-willed, permanent commitment. An ear pierced to a doorpost marked the servant as forever identifying with that house, choosing its security and affection over independence.
- Theologically, this verse can be interpreted as an illustration of our relationship with God: believers, having been "bought with a price" (1 Cor 6:20), are freed from sin but choose to serve Christ out of love and gratitude, finding their truest "well-being" and purpose in His household and His service (Rom 6:18, Psa 116:16). This willing servitude contrasts with reluctant obedience or forced submission.
- The laws in Deuteronomy reflect a humanitarian ideal, a societal structure designed to minimize long-term hardship and ensure that human dignity was maintained even within social strata, providing checks and balances against the abuse of power. The allowance for voluntary extended service shows a remarkable sensitivity to individual circumstances and relational dynamics.
Deuteronomy 15 16 Commentary
Deuteronomy 15:16 offers a profound insight into the nuanced approach to servitude within the Mosaic Law, emphasizing personal choice and relational depth over mere legal mandates. It demonstrates that the laws governing Hebrew servitude were not designed for exploitation but aimed at social welfare, rehabilitation, and maintaining dignity. The verse reveals an ideal scenario where a master-servant relationship blossoms into one of mutual affection and beneficial cohabitation. The servant's decision to forgo statutory freedom stems not from coercion or inability to survive independently, but from a genuine bond of love (ahavah) and a recognition of genuine prosperity and contentment (ṭov) found within the master's household. This willingly chosen, enduring commitment, symbolized by the ear-piercing ritual in the subsequent verse (Exod 21:6), stands as a powerful testament to the transformative potential of love and just treatment, prefiguring Christ's own voluntary servanthood to humanity and God, and inviting believers to serve God not out of obligation but out of an overwhelming love for Him and the abundance He provides. This concept underscores that the highest form of service is not compelled, but freely offered from a heart of devotion and gratitude.