Leviticus 25:42-44

25:42 Since they are my servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt, they must not be sold in a slave sale. 1  25:43 You must not rule over him harshly, 2  but you must fear your God.

25:44 “‘As for your male and female slaves 3  who may belong to you – you may buy male and female slaves from the nations all around you. 4 

1 tn Or perhaps reflexive Niphal rather than passive, “they shall not sell themselves [as in] a slave sale.”

2 tn Heb “You shall not rule in him in violence”; cf. NASB “with severity”; NIV “ruthlessly.”

3 tn Heb “And your male slave and your female slave.” Smr has these as plural terms, “slaves,” not singular.

4 tn Heb “ from the nations which surround you, from them you shall buy male slave and female slave.”