Exodus 21:1-11

Regulations Regarding Hebrew Slaves

1 "And these are the regulations that you will set before them.

2 'If you buy a Hebrew slave, he will serve six years, and in the seventh he will go out as free for nothing.

3 If he comes in single, he will go out single. If he is the husband of a wife, his wife will go out with him.

4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears for him sons or daughters, the wife and her children will belong to her master, and [the slave] will go out single.

5 But if the slave explicitly says, "I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,"

6 his master will present him to God and bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his master will pierce his ear with an awl, and he will serve him forever.

7 " 'And if a man sells his daughter as a slave woman, she will not go out as male slaves go out.

8 If {she does not please her master} who selected her, he will allow her to be redeemed; he has no authority to sell her to foreign people, since he has dealt treacherously with her.

9 And if he selects her for his son, he shall do for her according to the regulations for daughters.

10 If he takes for himself another, he will not reduce her food, her clothing, or her right of cohabitation.

11 And if he does not do for her these three, she shall go out for nothing; there will not be silver [paid for her].

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "for no payment"
• [b]. Or "present him to the judges"
• [c]. Literally "bad in the eyes of her master"
• [d]. Or "money"