Exodus 21:6-16

6 then his master shall bring him unto the judges. He shall also bring him to the door or unto the doorpost, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him for ever.

7 "And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.

8 If she please not her master who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed. To sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.

9 And if he has betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.

10 If he take for himself another wife, her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage shall he not diminish.

11 And if he does not do these three unto her, then shall she go out free, without money.

12 "He that smiteth a man so that he die shall be surely put to death.

13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand, then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.

14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor to slay him with guile, thou shalt take him from Mine altar, that he may die.

15 "And he that smiteth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death.

16 "And he that stealeth a man and selleth him, or if he shall be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

Exodus 21:6-16 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.