The Meaning of Deuteronomy 15:12 Explained

Deuteronomy 15:12

KJV: And 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.

YLT: When thy brother is sold to thee, a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, and he hath served thee six years -- then in the seventh year thou dost send him away free from thee.

Darby: If thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, have been sold unto thee, he shall serve thee six years, and in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.

ASV: If thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[And] 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. 

What does Deuteronomy 15:12 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 15

1  The seventh year a year of release for the poor
7  one must be generous in lending or giving
12  A Hebrew servant, except by choice, must be freed in the seventh year
19  All firstborn males of the cattle are to be sanctified unto the Lord

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 15:12 mean?

If is sold to you your brother a Hebrew [man] or a Hebrewess and serves you six years then in the year seventh you shall let him go free from you
כִּֽי־ יִמָּכֵ֨ר לְךָ֜ אָחִ֣יךָ הָֽעִבְרִ֗י א֚וֹ הָֽעִבְרִיָּ֔ה וַעֲבָֽדְךָ֖ שֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֑ים וּבַשָּׁנָה֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ת תְּשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ חָפְשִׁ֖י מֵעִמָּֽךְ

יִמָּכֵ֨ר  is  sold 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָכַר  
Sense: to sell.
לְךָ֜  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
אָחִ֣יךָ  your  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
הָֽעִבְרִ֗י  a  Hebrew  [man] 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עִבְרִי  
Sense: a designation of the patriarchs and the Israelites adj.
הָֽעִבְרִיָּ֔ה  a  Hebrewess 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִבְרִי  
Sense: a designation of the patriarchs and the Israelites adj.
וַעֲבָֽדְךָ֖  and  serves  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
שֵׁ֣שׁ  six 
Parse: Number, feminine singular construct
Root: שֵׁשׁ  
Sense: six.
שָׁנִ֑ים  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
וּבַשָּׁנָה֙  then  in  the  year 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ת  seventh 
Parse: Article, Number, ordinal feminine singular
Root: שְׁבִיעִי  
Sense: seventh.
תְּשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ  you  shall  let  him  go 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
חָפְשִׁ֖י  free 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָפְשִׁי  
Sense: free.
מֵעִמָּֽךְ  from  you 
Parse: Preposition-m, second person masculine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.