Exodus 21:6-16

6 then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently.

7 "¹If a man sells his daughter as a female slave, she is not to go free ²as the male slaves do.

8 "If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He does not have authority to sell her to a foreign people because of his unfairness to her.

9 "If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters.

10 "If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her food, her clothing, or ³her conjugal rights.

11 "If he will not do these three things for her, then she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.

Personal Injuries

12 "⁴He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.

13 "⁵But if he did not lie in wait for him, but ⁶God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee.

14 "⁷If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him craftily, you are to take him even from My altar, that he may die.

15 "He who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

16 "⁸He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death.

Exodus 21:6-16 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.

Cross References

• 1. Nehemiah 5:5
• 2. Exodus 21:2, 3
• 3. 1 Corinthians 7:3, 5
• 4. Genesis 9:6; Leviticus 24:17; Numbers 35:30; Matthew 26:52
• 5. Numbers 35:10-34; Deuteronomy 19:1-13; Joshua 20:1-9
• 6. 1 Sam 24:4, 10, 18
• 7. Deuteronomy 19:11, 12; 1 Kings 2:28-34
• 8. Deuteronomy 24:7

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "the judges who acted in God's name"
• [b]. Lit "go out"
• [c]. Lit "go out"
• [d]. Lit "bad"
• [e]. Another reading is "so that he did not designate her"
• [f]. Lit "dealing treacherously"
• [g]. Lit "flesh"
• [h]. Lit "he who"
• [i]. Lit "steals"
• [j]. Lit "hand"