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Exodus 21:5-15

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5 But 1if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free, ’
6 then his master shall bring him to 2God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.
7 “When a man 3sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.
8 If she does not please her master, who has designated her[a] for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her.
9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter.
10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or 4her marital rights.
11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.
12 5“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death.
13 6But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then 7I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee.
14 But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, 8you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.
15 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.
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Exodus 21:5-15 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
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Cross References 8

  • 1. 21:5 Deut. 15:16, 17
  • 2. 21:6 [Ps. 82:6; John 10:34, 35]
  • 3. 21:7 Neh. 5:5
  • 4. 21:10 1 Cor. 7:5
  • 5. 21:12 Gen. 9:6; Lev. 24:17; Num. 35:30, 31; [Matt. 26:52]
  • 6. 21:13 Deut. 19:4, 5; See Num. 35:22-25
  • 7. 21:13 Num. 35:11; Deut. 4:41-43; 19:2, 3; See Josh. 20:2-9
  • 8. 21:14 See 1 Kgs. 2:28-34

Footnotes 1

  • [a] 21:8 Or 'so that he has not designated her'
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025

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