Deuteronomy 24:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Do not exploit hired servants, whether Israelite or immigrant, who are poor and needy.
The Context of Deuteronomy 24:14
Labor law protecting workers in precarious circumstances.
What Does Deuteronomy 24:14 Mean?
The law explicitly extends protection to hired servants in vulnerable economic positions, and crucially, extends this protection equally to foreigners and citizens. 'Oppress' implies systematic mistreatment, wage theft, overwork, or neglect of basic needs.
Naming both 'brethren' and 'strangers' establishes that the covenant community's moral law applies to all who live within its gates—vulnerability is the criterion for protection, not ethnic status.
Deuteronomy 24:14 in the Original Language
אָשֵׁר (asher), 'that'—here meaning 'who'; emphasizes the status of poverty as the basis for the law's protection.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 24:14
What does Deuteronomy 24:14 mean?
Do not exploit hired servants, whether Israelite or immigrant, who are poor and needy.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 24:14?
Labor law protecting workers in precarious circumstances.