When an Israelite falls into such severe poverty that he is sold into servitude to a non-Jewish neighbor, a delicate balance of justice, honesty, and equality comes into play. The primary approach among commentators is that, unlike an individual sold to a fellow Israelite, one sold to a non-Jew does not automatically gain freedom after six years of labor [שד״ל, מלבי״ם, ביאור יש״ר, חזקוני, רד״צ הופמן]. However, his ultimate release is absolutely guaranteed by the Jubilee year. The Jubilee serves to restore liberty to all inhabitants of the land, ensuring that not a single person remains in permanent servitude. God's ultimate goal is to unite the entire nation as a single, cohesive body of free individuals [שד״ל].
The process of redeeming the servant involves a strict financial accounting, which is conducted exclusively with the original buyer and not with his heirs. Consequently, if the non-Jewish master passes away, the Hebrew servant is not passed down as inherited property to the master's children. Instead, he immediately purchases his freedom and is released [תורה תמימה, רלב״ג, מלבי״ם, ביאור יש״ר].
A severe moral warning underpins this entire financial calculation. Even though the non-Jewish master lives under Israelite jurisdiction, it is strictly forbidden to free the servant through force or deceit. Robbing or misleading a non-Jew is a grave sin that deeply desecrates God's name. While a wronged Israelite might remain silent, a deceived non-Jew will rightfully complain, casting aspersions on the faith of Israel. Conversely, conducting an honest accounting and returning any mistaken funds sanctifies God's name. This principle echoes Jacob instructing his sons to return the money they found in their sacks in Egypt, and King Solomon praying that God consistently answer the prayers of non-Jews so they would never harbor resentment against the Israelite faith [רש״י, רבנו בחיי, צאינה וראינה, בכור שור].
To further ensure fairness, the redemption must be paid in actual currency rather than goods or bartered items. This prevents the servant's relatives from outsmarting the master by paying with undesirable or unsellable objects [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם]. The redemption price itself is calculated proportionally. The original purchase price is divided by the total number of years remaining until the Jubilee. The servant deducts the value of the years he has already worked and pays the master only for the remaining time [רש״י, ביאור יש״ר].
Throughout this servitude, the individual is legally viewed as a hired laborer working for a fixed term. Because of this status, the master cannot demand a higher rate for the remaining years by claiming that the initial years were merely an unpaid training period; the annual value remains constant and equal [ביאור יש״ר, רלב״ג]. Furthermore, the servant holds the upper hand in the final evaluation. If his market value has decreased over time due to age or illness, he pays the lower, current value. Yet, if his value has increased, he still redeems himself based on the original, cheaper purchase price [רד״צ הופמן]. The specific deduction of funds may also fluctuate depending on the exact timing of the redemption, much like the laws governing a day laborer who leaves a job midway through the work [העמק דבר].
On a broader, national level, this dynamic serves as a powerful symbol for the exile of Israel among the nations. The non-Jewish buyer represents the various empires that have subjugated the Israelites throughout history. In the ultimate future redemption, God will conduct a precise accounting with these nations for the years of oppression. He will compel them to return all the wealth and taxes they extracted from Israel, effectively paying them their rightful wages for their long years of hard labor [שפתי כהן, דעת זקנים].