Deuteronomy 24 14

Deuteronomy 24:14 kjv

Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:

Deuteronomy 24:14 nkjv

"You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates.

Deuteronomy 24:14 niv

Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.

Deuteronomy 24:14 esv

"You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns.

Deuteronomy 24:14 nlt

"Never take advantage of poor and destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns.

Deuteronomy 24 verses

Deuteronomy 24 14 Meaning

Deuteronomy 24:14 issues a strict divine command against the oppression of hired laborers who are poor and needy. It specifically prohibits exploiting, defrauding, or withholding what is due to them. This protection applies universally within Israel's land, whether the laborer is a fellow Israelite (one of your "brothers") or a non-Israelite resident alien living in their towns. The verse emphasizes immediate and fair treatment of the most vulnerable in society, recognizing their complete reliance on their daily wages for survival.

Deuteronomy 24 14 Context

Deuteronomy 24 forms a series of specific, humanitarian, and ethical laws, highlighting Israel's commitment to justice and compassion under God's covenant. This chapter covers a variety of socio-economic issues, ranging from divorce and property rights to loans and harvest ethics. Verse 14 is part of a broader section (verses 6-15) dealing with vulnerable people in economic transactions. It immediately follows the prohibition against taking essential tools for livelihood (like a millstone) as security for a loan, and directly precedes the command to pay a hired servant their wages by the end of each day. Historically, Israel was instructed to establish a just society that distinctively protected the marginalized, contrasting sharply with the often exploitative practices of surrounding Ancient Near Eastern cultures. This law reflects God's character as a protector of the oppressed and reiterates Israel's past experience as enslaved laborers in Egypt.

Deuteronomy 24 14 Word analysis

• You shall not oppress (לֹא־תַעֲשֹׁק - lo taʿăshōq):

  • ʿashaq (עָשַׁק): This Hebrew verb means to oppress, defraud, exploit, coerce, or wrong. It implies taking unfair advantage of another's position, powerlessness, or dependence. It goes beyond simple withholding and implies a deeper injustice of exploitation.
  • Significance: A strong prohibition directly against an active wrong, indicating that such an act is an egregious violation of covenant ethics.

• a hired servant (שָׂכִיר - śāḵîr):

  • Meaning: Refers specifically to a wage-earner or day laborer. Unlike permanent servants or slaves, these individuals depend on immediate payment for their daily work to meet their and their family's needs.
  • Significance: Pinpoints the specific category of worker whose livelihood is most precarious and whose financial vulnerability is highest.

• who is poor and needy (עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן - ʿānî wĕʾeḇyôn):

  • ʿānî (עָנִי): One who is afflicted, humble, or lowly, often associated with economic deprivation.
  • ʾeḇyôn (אֶבְיוֹן): Signifies one who is truly destitute, lacking basic necessities and utterly dependent.
  • Significance: These two terms amplify the severity of the prohibition by specifically identifying the most vulnerable of hired servants – those with no reserves, whose next meal literally depends on the day's wage.

• whether he is one of your brothers (מֵאַחֶיךָ - mēʾaḥeḵā):

  • Meaning: Referring to a fellow Israelite, a member of the covenant community.
  • Significance: Underscores the expectation of justice and solidarity within the believing community, emphasizing intra-community responsibility.

• or one of the aliens who are in your land within your towns (אוֹ מִגֵּרְךָ בְּאַרְצְךָ בְּשְׁעָרֶיךָ - ʾō miggērḵā bəʾarṣəḵā bišʿārêḵā):

  • gēr (גֵּר): A sojourner or resident alien; a non-Israelite who has taken up legal residence within the community.
  • bəʾarṣəḵā bišʿārêḵā: "in your land, within your gates/towns." This specifies that the law applies universally to all legally residing within Israel's boundaries.
  • Significance: Extends the command's protective scope beyond the immediate covenant community, reflecting God's impartial justice and the ethical requirement to care for the vulnerable stranger, recalling Israel's own historical status as aliens in Egypt. This was distinctive in the ancient world, where resident aliens often had fewer rights.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy": This phrase combines the act of oppression with the extreme vulnerability of the victim. It directly addresses the potential abuse of economic power against those who are economically disadvantaged and rely on their daily labor for sustenance. This underscores a foundational principle of social justice rooted in divine command.
  • "whether he is one of your brothers or one of the aliens who are in your land within your towns": This phrase delineates the universal application of the law within the land of Israel. It emphasizes that ethical conduct regarding labor and fair treatment transcends ethnic, national, or religious distinctions for anyone legally residing and contributing to the society. This showcases the comprehensive and inclusive nature of God's covenant ethics for Israel.

Deuteronomy 24 14 Bonus section

• The law in Deuteronomy 24:14-15 forms part of what is often referred to as "social safety net" provisions in the Mosaic Law, designed to prevent the exacerbation of poverty and protect basic human dignity.
• The urgency conveyed by this command sets a high moral standard for labor relations, reflecting the New Testament principles of righteous dealing and prompt payment to those who work.
• By prohibiting such oppression, the Law implicitly warns against the spiritual danger of injustice, indicating that mistreatment of the poor attracts divine attention and displeasure, potentially leading to the poor person's cry going up to God, to which He responds with swift judgment (cf. Exod 22:27, Jas 5:4).
• The phrase "within your towns" (bišʿārêḵā) evokes the gates of ancient cities, which were centers for commerce, justice, and social interaction. This emphasizes that this ethical standard was to be upheld openly and publicly across all parts of Israelite society.

Deuteronomy 24 14 Commentary

Deuteronomy 24:14 is a cornerstone of biblical social justice, embedding divine compassion into the practical economic life of Israel. It’s a powerful prohibition against exploiting the weakest members of society—the poor, daily wage earners. In a context where there were no welfare systems or protective unions, delaying or withholding wages from a "hired servant who is poor and needy" was akin to a life-threatening act, as their daily earnings directly provided for their and their family's immediate survival. The command extends this protection not only to fellow Israelites, emphasizing community solidarity, but notably also to resident aliens within their land. This latter inclusion is profoundly significant, demonstrating God's universal concern for human dignity and instructing Israel to live as an example of righteous impartiality, remembering their own past as strangers in Egypt. This law establishes a crucial principle: power and wealth should never be used to gain unjust advantage over the vulnerable, but rather to uphold their rights and well-being, reflecting the character of a just and compassionate God.