With the beginning of a new section, translators are advised to reintroduce Moses as the speaker.

Your brother: a fellow Israelite, male or female.

Hebrew: this word is not used very often, so translators are urged to use it here rather than “Israelite.” In general “Hebrew” refers to a person’s race; “Israelite” refers to nationality.

Is sold to you: Good News Translation translates “sell themselves” (with the alternative “are sold” in footnote). Both translations are possible, based on the form of the Hebrew verb and the context. Translations vary: the reflexive form “sell themselves” is the choice of New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy; the passive is used in New Revised Standard Version (with alternative in footnote), New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje. The context favors the reflexive sense, and it is recommended that it be followed. Good News Translation follows this option, with “sell themselves to you as slaves.”

As noted by commentaries “slave” (which appears in verse 15) may in some cultures not be appropriate for this kind of servitude; in English, at least, the only option is “indentured servant,” which is rarely used and would be inappropriate in a common language translation. In verse 17 Revised Standard Version “bondman” and “bondwoman” translate two different words (not simply the masculine and feminine forms of the same noun). Something more than “servant” is required, and “slave” may be the only option. Perhaps we may express this as “sell themselves to you as their masters and work for no pay,” meaning that they had no freedom to seek work elsewhere.

Shall serve you: the verb should mean more than the work done by modern domestic helpers, as noted above. They would be the property of their masters and receive no pay.

In the seventh year: the text does not give the exact time, but it is assumed that it would happen at the beginning of the seventh year.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .