Éxodo 21:10

10 Si le tomare otra, no disminuirá su alimento, ni su vestido, ni el débito conyugal.

Éxodo 21:10 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 21:10

If he take him another wife
The father takes another wife for his son, or the son takes another wife to himself after he has betrothed and married his father's maidservant:

her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish;
neither deny it her in whole, nor lessen it in part, but give her her full due of each. What is meant by the two former words is easy, and admits of no difficulty, the latter is differently interpreted. Some take it to signify no other than an "habitation" F21, that as he was to provide food and raiment for her, so an house to dwell, in; but the generality of interpreters, Jewish and Christian, understand it as we do, of the conjugal duty, the use of the marriage bed, or what the apostle calls due benevolence, ( 1 Corinthians 7:3 ) . The word is thought to have the signification of a fixed time for it; and the Misnic doctors F23 are very particular in assigning the set times of it for different persons; and in those countries where there were, and where there still are, plurality of wives, each had, and have their turns, see ( Genesis 30:15 Genesis 30:16 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F21 (htne) "habitationem ejus", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius; so some in Aben Ezra. Vid. Pfeiffer. "dubia vexata", cent. 1. loc. 97.
F23 Misn. Cetubot, c. 5. sect. 6.

Éxodo 21:10 In-Context

8 Si no agradare á su señor, por lo cual no la tomó por esposa, permitirle ha que se rescate, y no la podrá vender á pueblo extraño cuando la desechare.
9 Mas si la hubiere desposado con su hijo, hará con ella según la costumbre de las hijas.
10 Si le tomare otra, no disminuirá su alimento, ni su vestido, ni el débito conyugal.
11 Y si ninguna de estas tres cosas hiciere, ella saldrá de gracia sin dinero.
12 El que hiriere á alguno, haciéndole así morir, él morirá.
The Reina-Valera Antigua (1602) is in the public domain.