Exodus 21:2-12

2 Yf thou bye a servaunte that is an hebrue, sixte yeres he shall serue, and the seuenth he shall goo out fre paynge nothinge.

3 Yf he came alone, he shall goo out alone: Yf he came maried, his wife shall go out with hi.

4 And yf his master haue geuen him a wife and she haue borne him sonnes or doughters: then the wife and hir childern shalbe hir masters ad he shall goo out alone.

5 But and yf the servaunte saye I loue my master and my wife and my children, I will not goo out fre.

6 Then let his master bringe him vnto the Goddes ad set him to the doore or the dorepost, ad bore his eare thorow with a naule, ad let him be his servaunte for euer.

7 Yf a man sell his doughter to be a servaunte: she shall not goo out as the men servauntes doo.

8 Yf she please not hir master, so that he hath geuen her to no man to wife, then shal he let hir goo fre: to sell her vnto a straunge nacion shal he haue no power, because he despised her.

9 Yf he haue promysed her vnto his sonne to wife, he shal deale with her as men do with their doughters.

10 Yf he take him another wife, yet hir fode, rayment and dutie off mariage shall he not mynisshe.

11 Yf he do not these thre vnto her, then shal she goo out fre and paye no money.

12 He that smyteth a man that he dye, shalbe slayne for it.

Exodus 21:2-12 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.