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.

DEUTERONOMY 24:7KJV
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Deuteronomy 24:7 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 24:7 mean?

Deuteronomy 24:7 says that if someone is caught kidnapping a fellow Israelite and treating them as property or selling them, that person must be put to death, removing this evil from the community. The verse treats kidnapping and human trafficking as a serious crime deserving the highest penalty.

Moses is speaking to the Israelites, giving them laws for living together as God’s people before they enter the promised land. This command addresses the crime of stealing a person—specifically a fellow Israelite—and making profit from them, showing how seriously the law treats the dignity and freedom of each person in the community.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 24:7

  • "Stealing" (גָּנַב, ganav): This word means to steal or kidnap, and here it clearly refers to taking a person, not just property. The law singles out kidnapping as a grave offense.
  • "Maketh merchandise of him" (עָמַל, amal): This word often means to exploit or make profit from someone. The verse is not just about the act of kidnapping, but also about using the person for gain.
  • "Put...away" (בָּעַר, ba‘ar): This verb means to remove or purge, emphasizing that such evil must be completely eliminated from among the people, not tolerated or overlooked.

Why Deuteronomy 24:7 matters

  • Deuteronomy 24:7 clarifies that the law values each person's freedom and life, treating kidnapping as a crime against the whole community, not just the victim.
  • The verse shows that justice in Israel was meant to protect the vulnerable and prevent the abuse of power, especially against those who could be exploited.
  • This law connects to the wider passage by showing that Israel’s society was to be built on respect for each person’s dignity, setting a high standard for how people were to treat one another.

Where else these words appear

“merchandise” Hebrew H6014 · used in 3 verses

  • Deuteronomy 21:14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.
  • Psalms 129:7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.

“thief” Hebrew H1590 · used in 17 verses

  • Exodus 22:2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
  • Psalms 50:18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
  • Jeremiah 48:27 For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.

“stealing” Hebrew H1589 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 30:33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
  • Exodus 21:16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
  • 2 Chronicles 22:11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest,(for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.

“selleth” Hebrew H4376 · used in 74 verses

  • Genesis 25:31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
  • Leviticus 25:39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:
  • Nehemiah 5:8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.