Exodus 21:1-11

Instructions about slaves

1 These are the case laws that you should set before them:

2 When you buy a male Hebrew slave, he will serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he will go free without any payment.

3 If he came in single, he will leave single. If he came in married, then his wife will leave with him.

4 If his master gave him a wife and she bore him sons or daughters, the wife and her children will belong to her master. He will leave single.

5 However, if the slave clearly states, "I love my master, my wife, and my children, and I don't want to go free,"

6 then his master will bring him before God. He will bring him to the door or the doorpost. There his master will pierce his ear with a pointed tool, and he will serve him as his slave for life.

7 When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shouldn't be set free in the same way as male slaves are set free.

8 If she doesn't please her master who chose her for himself, then her master must let her be bought back by her family. He has no right to sell her to a foreign people since he has treated her unfairly.

9 If he assigns her to his son, he must give her the rights of a daughter.

10 If he takes another woman for himself, he may not reduce her food, clothing, or marital rights.

11 If he doesn't do these three things for her, she will go free without any payment, for no money.

Read Chapter Compare

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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Exodus 21:1-11

Share

Settings

Instructions about slaves

Exodus 21:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 21