Exodus 21:1-11

1 "These are the ordinances that you must set before them:

Laws about Slaves

2 "When you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for six years; then in the seventh he is to leave as a free man^[a] without paying anything.

3 If he arrives alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrives with^[b] a wife, his wife is to leave with him.

4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children belong to her master, and the man must leave alone.

5 "But if the slave declares: 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I do not want to leave as a free man,'

6 his master is to bring him to the judges^[c] and then bring him to the door or doorpost. His master must pierce his ear with an awl, and he will serve his master for life.

7 "When a man sells his daughter as a slave,^[d] she is not to leave as the male slaves do.

8 If she is displeasing to her master, who chose her for himself, then he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners because he has acted treacherously toward her.

9 Or if he chooses her for his son, he must deal with her according to the customary treatment of daughters.

10 If he takes an additional wife, he must not reduce the food, clothing, or marital rights of the first wife.

11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she may leave free of charge, without any exchange of money.^[e]

Exodus 21:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 21

In this, and the two following chapters, are delivered various laws and precepts, partly of a moral, and partly of a religious, but chiefly of a civil nature, respecting the commonwealth of Israel, and its political good. This chapter treats of servants, and laws relating to them; to menservants, how long they shall serve, and what is to be done to those who are desirous of staying with their masters after their time is up, Ex 21:1-6, to maidservants, and especially betrothed ones, either to a father or a son, Ex 21:7-11, likewise it contains laws concerning the slaughter of men, whether with design or unawares, Ex 21:12-14, and concerning the ill usage of parents, Ex 21:15,17, and man stealing, Ex 21:16 and of mischief that comes by men's quarrelling and fighting, Ex 21:18,19 and by smiting a man or maidservant, Ex 21:20,21,26,27, to a woman with child, that is, by means of men's striving and contending with each other, Ex 21:22-25 and of damages that come by oxen, or to them, Ex 21:28-36.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit to go forth
• [b]. Lit he is the husband of
• [c]. Or to God; that is, to His sanctuary or court
• [d]. Or concubine
• [e]. Without paying a redemption price for her