2 "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything. 3 If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

Other Translations of Exodus 21:2-4

King James Version

2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. 3 If he came in by himself, by himself: Heb. with his body he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.

English Standard Version

2 When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. 3 If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out alone.

The Message

2 "When you buy a Hebrew slave, he will serve six years. The seventh year he goes free, for nothing. 3 If he came in single he leaves single. If he came in married he leaves with his wife. 4 If the master gives him a wife and she gave him sons and daughters, the wife and children stay with the master and he leaves by himself.

New King James Version

2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing. 3 If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.

New Living Translation

2 "If you buy a Hebrew slave, he may serve for no more than six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom. 3 If he was single when he became your slave, he shall leave single. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife must be freed with him. 4 "If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave and they had sons or daughters, then only the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 21:2-4

Commentary on Exodus 21:1-11

(Read Exodus 21:1-11)

The laws in this chapter relate to the fifth and sixth commandments; and though they differ from our times and customs, nor are they binding on us, yet they explain the moral law, and the rules of natural justice. The servant, in the state of servitude, was an emblem of that state of bondage to sin, Satan, and the law, which man is brought into by robbing God of his glory, by the transgression of his precepts. Likewise in being made free, he was an emblem of that liberty wherewith Christ, the Son of God, makes free from bondage his people, who are free indeed; and made so freely, without money and without price, of free grace.

7 "If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do.

Other Translations of Exodus 21:7

King James Version

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

English Standard Version

7 "When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.

The Message

7 "When a man sells his daughter to be a handmaid, she doesn't go free after six years like the men.

New King James Version

7 "And if a man sells his daughter to be a female slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.

New Living Translation

7 "When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 21:7

Commentary on Exodus 21:1-11

(Read Exodus 21:1-11)

The laws in this chapter relate to the fifth and sixth commandments; and though they differ from our times and customs, nor are they binding on us, yet they explain the moral law, and the rules of natural justice. The servant, in the state of servitude, was an emblem of that state of bondage to sin, Satan, and the law, which man is brought into by robbing God of his glory, by the transgression of his precepts. Likewise in being made free, he was an emblem of that liberty wherewith Christ, the Son of God, makes free from bondage his people, who are free indeed; and made so freely, without money and without price, of free grace.

8 If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself,[1] he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her.

Other Translations of Exodus 21:8

King James Version

8 If she please please...: Heb. be evil in the eyes of, etc 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.

English Standard Version

8 If she does not please her master, who has designated herOr so that he has not designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her.

The Message

8 If she doesn't please her master, her family must buy her back; her master doesn't have the right to sell her to foreigners since he broke his word to her.

New King James Version

8 If she does not please her master, who has betrothed her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has dealt deceitfully with her.

New Living Translation

8 If she does not satisfy her owner, he must allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 21:8

Commentary on Exodus 21:1-11

(Read Exodus 21:1-11)

The laws in this chapter relate to the fifth and sixth commandments; and though they differ from our times and customs, nor are they binding on us, yet they explain the moral law, and the rules of natural justice. The servant, in the state of servitude, was an emblem of that state of bondage to sin, Satan, and the law, which man is brought into by robbing God of his glory, by the transgression of his precepts. Likewise in being made free, he was an emblem of that liberty wherewith Christ, the Son of God, makes free from bondage his people, who are free indeed; and made so freely, without money and without price, of free grace.