When an Israelite is sold into servitude to a non-Jew, the law grants him and his family the right to secure his freedom before the Jubilee year. To facilitate this, a precise economic formula is established to ensure a fair transaction, preventing exploitation while maintaining a logical legal framework. The calculation relies on the time remaining until the Jubilee year [רש"י, ביאור יש"ר]. The redeemer must pay the master a sum strictly proportional to the unworked years, returning the exact balance of the initial investment [ביאור יש"ר]. This payment is always derived from the original purchase price. For instance, if a servant was bought for seventy coins for a seven-year term, securing his freedom would cost ten coins for every year he has left [רלב"ג, ביאור יש"ר].
The primary approach among commentators is that this calculation is designed first and foremost to protect and benefit the servant. Over time, a person's value naturally fluctuates [מלבי"ם, הכתב והקבלה]. A servant who spends years in a master's household gains experience, learns new trades, and produces higher-quality work than when he first arrived [ספורנו, בכור שור, הכתב והקבלה]. Even though his market value has increased, the master is not permitted to demand a higher price for his release based on lost future profits. The cost is always locked to the original, lower purchase price. Conversely, if the servant's physical strength wanes and his value drops over time, the calculation shifts to reflect his current, lower worth [תורה תמימה, מלבי"ם, הכתב והקבלה].
From a different economic perspective, the amount of time remaining also affects the master's potential losses. When many years are left on the term, the master can easily find a replacement worker, making a standard proportional calculation perfectly fair. However, when only a short time remains, releasing the servant causes the master more significant practical damage, as it is much harder to hire a short-term replacement. This reality requires a different adjustment in the calculation to account for the master's immediate loss [העמק דבר].
Beyond the financial math, these rules establish the legal boundaries of buying and securing freedom. When paying the master to release the servant, the redeemer is not limited to using cash; he may also pay with goods or property of equal value [תורה תמימה]. In contrast, the initial purchase of the servant at the beginning of his term must be conducted strictly with money, rather than goods. This rule applies universally, whether the individual was sold by a court or sold himself out of severe poverty [תורה תמימה].
On a spiritual level, the laws governing the release of a servant mirror the national redemption of the Israelites. The fixed deadline of the Jubilee year parallels the predetermined time for ultimate redemption. If the people return to God, their redemption arrives early, much like a servant bought out before his time; if not, it will still arrive at the appointed deadline. Furthermore, the dynamic of the servant standing before his master reflects a person standing in prayer before God, presenting himself as a humble servant asking for his needs and offering praise to His Creator [שפתי כהן].