Deuteronomy 15:16

16 But if he say, I will not go out, for he loveth thee, and thine house(hold), and he feeleth that it is well to him with thee, (But if thy slave saith, I will not leave thee, for I love thee, and thy family, and he feeleth that it is good for him to be with thee,)

Deuteronomy 15:16 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 15:16

And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from
thee
Out of his house, nor quit his service:

because he loveth thee and thine house;
his master and his family, and so loath to leave them, but chooses rather to stay with them than have his liberty; hence the Jews say ^F11, if his master has not a wife and children, his ear is not to be bored:

because he is well with thee; lives well with him,
is well used by him, wants for nothing, and enjoys peace and quietness, and has everything to make him happy as such a state will admit of, and with the which he is well contented, and highly pleased. This is an emblem of the cheerful and constant obedience of the people of Christ to him their master, flowing from love to him; whom they love above all persons and things, with all their heart and soul, and his house also, the place of his worship, his ordinances, truths, ministers and children; and therefore choose to be where they are, finding that they are there well used, fare well, having bread enough and to spare, spiritual provisions in plenty; are well clothed with the righteousness of Christ, have the good company of the saints and excellent in the earth, in whom is all their delight; and, above all, the presence of their Lord and master, and the smiles of his countenance.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 Maimon. in Misn. Kiddushin, c. 1. sect. 2.

Deuteronomy 15:16 In-Context

14 but thou shalt give him lifelode in the way, of thy flocks, and of thy cornfloor, and of thy presser, in which thy Lord God hath blessed thee. (but thou shalt give them sustenance for the way, out of thy flocks, and from thy threshing floor, and thy winepress, yea, out of all in which the Lord thy God hath blessed thee.)

15 Have thou mind that also thou servedest in the land of Egypt, and thy Lord God delivered thee, and therefore I command now (this) to thee. (Remember that thou were slaves in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God set thee free, and so now I command this to thee.)

16 But if he say, I will not go out, for he loveth thee, and thine house(hold), and he feeleth that it is well to him with thee, (But if thy slave saith, I will not leave thee, for I love thee, and thy family, and he feeleth that it is good for him to be with thee,)

17 thou shalt take an awl, and thou shalt pierce (it through) his ear in(to) the door of thine house, and (then) he shall serve thee till into the world; also thou shalt do in like manner to an handmaid (and thou shalt treat a slave-girl in the same manner).

18 Thou shalt not turn away from them thine eyes, when thou shalt deliver them free, for by the hire of an hired man they served thee by six years; that thy Lord God bless thee, in all the works which thou doest. (Thou shalt not turn away thine eyes from them, when thou shalt set them free, for they have served thee for six years at half the cost, or at half the wages, of a hired servant; and then the Lord thy God shall bless thee, in all the works which thou doest.)