The Meaning of Leviticus 25:35 Explained

Leviticus 25:35

KJV: And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.

YLT: 'And when thy brother is become poor, and his hand hath failed with thee, then thou hast kept hold on him, sojourner and settler, and he hath lived with thee;

Darby: And if thy brother grow poor, and he be fallen into decay beside thee, then thou shalt relieve him, be he stranger or sojourner, that he may live beside thee.

ASV: And if thy brother be waxed poor, and his hand fail with thee; then thou shalt uphold him: as a stranger and a sojourner shall he live with thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And if thy brother  be waxen poor,  and fallen in decay  with thee;  then thou shalt relieve  him: [yea, though he be] a stranger,  or a sojourner;  that he may live  with thee. 

What does Leviticus 25:35 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 25:35-55 - Freedom In The Year Of Jubilee
If a man, through misfortune, were forced to sell himself into serfdom to meet his debts, he could not be legally retained after the trumpet had sounded; but was free to return to his home and family. His rich neighbor, during the time of his distress, was not to exact usury on any loan that he might make, but must give him food, lodging, and help, without charge. The poor man was to be treated not as a slave, but as a hired servant and fellow-citizen whose engagement was of a temporary character, and who might be redeemed at any time before the jubilee, through friendly interposition of a relative.
Nothing in modern legislation equals the jubilee in the interests of religion, social order, and liberty. Is it to be believed that when we, in our various distresses, go to our Heavenly Father, we shall fare any worse than the poor peasant did at the hands of his rich neighbor? And in Jesus have we not one nigh of kin who will redeem us at all costs? [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 25

1  the Sabbath of the seventh year
8  The jubilee in the fiftieth year
14  Of oppression
18  A blessing of obedience
23  The redemption of land
29  Of houses
35  Compassion to the poor
39  The usage of bondmen
47  The redemption of servants

What do the individual words in Leviticus 25:35 mean?

And if becomes poor one of your brothers and falls into poverty - among you then you shall help him like a stranger or a sojourner that he may live with you
וְכִֽי־ יָמ֣וּךְ אָחִ֔יךָ וּמָ֥טָה יָד֖וֹ עִמָּ֑ךְ וְהֶֽחֱזַ֣קְתָּ בּ֔וֹ גֵּ֧ר וְתוֹשָׁ֛ב וָחַ֖י עִמָּֽךְ

וְכִֽי־  And  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יָמ֣וּךְ  becomes  poor 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּךְ  
Sense: (Qal) to be low, grow poor, be depressed, be poor.
אָחִ֔יךָ  one  of  your  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
וּמָ֥טָה  and  falls  into  poverty 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: מֹוט  
Sense: to totter, shake, slip.
יָד֖וֹ    - 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
עִמָּ֑ךְ  among  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
וְהֶֽחֱזַ֣קְתָּ  then  you  shall  help 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
גֵּ֧ר  like  a  stranger 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֵּר  
Sense: sojourner.
וְתוֹשָׁ֛ב  or  a  sojourner 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: תֹּושָׁב  
Sense: sojourner, stranger.
וָחַ֖י  that  he  may  live 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
עִמָּֽךְ  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.