Deuteronomy 24:7

If a man is caught kidnapping one of his Israelite brothers, whether he treats him as a slave or sells him, the kidnapper must die. So you must purge the evil from among you.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites assembled on the plains of Moab, delivering covenant laws to govern their approaching settlement. The verse sits between prohibitions against seizing livelihood as collateral and instructions for handling ritual impurity.

The words — The text uses גֹּנֵב (go.Nev), literally "stealing," and נֶפֶשׁ (Ne.fesh), meaning "a person" or "life," to define the victim. יִמּצֵא (yi.ma.Tze') denotes that the perpetrator "will be found" or caught in the act.

The thread — This command mirrors Exodus 21:16, which prescribes death for anyone who kidnaps and sells another man. The New Testament echoes the prohibition by listing slave traders among those opposed to sound teaching in 1 Timothy 1:10.

Why it lands — The text mandates execution for those who enslave or sell a fellow Israelite to purge the community of a capital offense. It requires immediate judicial enforcement to protect the vulnerable and preserve communal order.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּי־ki-if יִמָּצֵ֣אyi.ma.Tze'he will be found אִ֗ישׁ'Ishanyone גֹּנֵ֨בgo.Nevstealing נֶ֤פֶשׁNe.fesha person מֵאֶחָיו֙me./'e.Cha/vany of/ countrymen/ his מִבְּנֵ֣יmi./be.Neiany of/ [the] people of יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsrael וְהִתְעַמֶּר־ve./hit.'a.mer-and/ he will treat as a slaveבּ֖וֹb/o<in> <the>/ himוּמְכָר֑וֹu./me.kha.R/oand/ he will sell/ him וּמֵת֙u./Metand/ he will die הַגַּנָּ֣בha./ga.Navthe/ thief הַה֔וּאha./Hu'<the>/ that וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥u./vi.'ar.Taand/ you will remove הָרָ֖עha./Ra'the/ evil מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃mi./kir.Be./chafrom/ midst/ your

King James Version

If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.

Cross-references

Exodus 21:16 Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession.
Exodus 22:1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.
1 Timothy 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching
Revelation 18:13 of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves.
Deuteronomy 19:19 you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. So you must purge the evil from among you.
Ezekiel 27:13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. They exchanged slaves and bronze utensils for your merchandise.