Exodus 21:1-11

Hebrew Servants

1 “These are the ordinances that you are to set before them: ¹

2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything.

3 If he arrived alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrived with a wife, she is to leave with him.

4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

5 But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,’

6 then his master is to bring him before the judges. ^[a] And he shall take him to the door or doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he shall serve his master for life.

7 And if a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as the menservants do.

8 If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself, ^[b] he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her.

9 And if he chooses her for his son, he must deal with her as with a daughter.

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

11 If, however, he does not provide her with these three things, she is free to go without monetary payment.

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.

Cross References

• 1. (Deuteronomy 15:12–18)

Footnotes

• [a]. Or before God
• [b]. Or so that he does not designate her for himself