Exodus 21:11

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

Exodus 21:11 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 21:11

And if he do not these three unto her
Not the three things last mentioned; though this sense, Aben Ezra says, many of their interpreters give, which is rejected by him, so do some Christian expositors; but these three things are, espousing her to himself, or to his son, or redeeming her by the hand of her father; that is, letting her be redeemed by him, as the Targum of Jonathan; and so Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Ben Melech: the meaning is, if one or other of these things are not done,

then shall she go out free without money;
be dismissed from her servitude, and not obliged to pay anything for her freedom; the Targum of Jonathan adds, he shall give her a bill of divorce; that is, the son to whom she had been betrothed, and another wife taken by him, and she denied the above things; which favours the first sense.

Exodus 21:11 In-Context

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 her conjugal rights.

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

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

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