Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version 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. New Living Translation “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. English Standard Version 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. Berean Standard Bible 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. King James Bible 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. New King James Version 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 American Standard Bible If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall leave alone. NASB 1995 “If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out alone. NASB 1977 “If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out alone. Legacy Standard Bible If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out alone. Amplified Bible If his master gives him a wife, and she gives birth to sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall leave [your service] alone. Christian Standard Bible If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children belong to her master, and the man must leave alone. Holman Christian Standard Bible If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children belong to her master, and the man must leave alone.” American Standard Version If his master give him a wife and she bear him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. Contemporary English Version If you give him a wife, and they have children, only the man himself must be set free; his wife and children remain the property of his owner. English Revised Version If his master give him a wife, and she bear him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. GOD'S WORD® Translation If his master gives him a wife and she gives birth to sons or daughters, the wife and her children belong to the master, and the slave must leave by himself. Good News Translation If his master gave him a wife and she bore him sons or daughters, the woman and her children belong to the master, and the man is to leave by himself. International Standard Version If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and children belong to her master, and he is to go out by himself. Majority Standard Bible 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. NET Bible If his master gave him a wife, and she bore sons or daughters, the wife and the children will belong to her master, and he will go out by himself. New Heart English Bible 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 by himself. Webster's Bible Translation If his master hath given him a wife, and she hath borne him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall depart by himself. World English Bible 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 by himself. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionif his lord gives a wife to him, and she has borne sons or daughters to him—the wife and her children are her lord’s, and he goes out by himself. Young's Literal Translation if his lord give to him a wife, and she hath borne to him sons or daughters -- the wife and her children are her lord's, and he goeth out by himself. Smith's Literal Translation If his lord shall give to hint a wife, and she brought to him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be to her lord, and he shall go forth by himself. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut if his master gave him a wife, and she hath borne sons and daughters: the woman and her children shall be her master's: but he himself shall go out with his raiment. Catholic Public Domain Version But if his lord gave him a wife, and she has borne sons and daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her lord. Yet still, he himself will go out with his clothing. New American Bible But if his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children belong to her master and the man shall leave alone. New Revised Standard Version 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. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIf his master has given him a wife and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be his master's and he shall go out alone. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And if his Master will give him a woman and she shall bear to him sons and daughters, the wife and her children will be his Master’s and he will go forth alone. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917If his master give him a wife, and she bear him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. Brenton Septuagint Translation Moreover, if his master give him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters, the wife and the children shall be his master's; and he shall go forth alone. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Laws for Servants…3If he arrived alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrived with a wife, she is to leave with him. 4If 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. 5But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,’… Cross References Leviticus 25:39-46 If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor. / Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. / Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers. ... Deuteronomy 15:12-18 If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free. / And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. / You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. ... 1 Corinthians 7:21-23 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity. / For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. / You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Galatians 4:1-7 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything. / He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father. / So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world. ... Ephesians 6:5-9 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. / And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. / Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, ... Colossians 3:22-25 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord. / Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men, / because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ... 1 Timothy 6:1-2 All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited. / Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles. Philemon 1:15-16 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— / no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord. Genesis 29:18-20 Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” / Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.” / So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her. Genesis 31:41 Thus for twenty years I have served in your household—fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks—and you have changed my wages ten times! 2 Kings 4:1 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!” Nehemiah 5:5 We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.” Jeremiah 34:8-17 After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD / that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage. / So all the officials and all the people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their menservants and maidservants and no longer hold them in bondage. They obeyed and released them, ... Matthew 18:25 Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. Luke 12:45-46 But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk. / The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. Treasury of Scripture 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. no reference Jump to Previous Alone Bear Bears Belong Born Borne Children Daughters Depart Free Gets Gives Lord's Master Master's Property Servant WifeJump to Next Alone Bear Bears Belong Born Borne Children Daughters Depart Free Gets Gives Lord's Master Master's Property Servant WifeExodus 21 1. Laws for men servants5. For the servant whose ear is bored 7. For women servants 12. For manslaughter 16. For kidnappers 17. For cursers of parents 18. For smiters 22. For a hurt by chance 28. For an ox that gores 33. For him who is an occasion of harm If his master gives him a wife In ancient Israel, slavery was a common practice, and this passage addresses the situation of a Hebrew servant. The master had the authority to give a wife to his servant, often another servant or slave. This reflects the patriarchal and hierarchical structure of society at the time, where the master had significant control over the lives of his servants. The giving of a wife by the master indicates a contractual relationship, where the servant's personal life was intertwined with his service. and she bears him sons or daughters the woman and her children shall belong to her master and only the man shall go free Persons / Places / Events 1. Hebrew ServantA man who has sold himself into servitude, often due to debt or poverty, and is subject to the laws of servitude outlined in Exodus. 2. Master The owner of the servant, who has the authority to give the servant a wife and make decisions regarding the family unit within the context of servitude. 3. Wife and Children The family given to the servant by the master, who remain under the master's ownership according to the law. 4. Israelite Society The cultural and legal context in which these laws were given, reflecting the social and economic structures of ancient Israel. 5. Mosaic Law The broader legal framework given to the Israelites through Moses, of which this law is a part, aiming to regulate social justice and relationships. Teaching Points Understanding Servitude in ContextThe laws of servitude in Exodus reflect the economic realities of ancient Israel and are not endorsements of slavery as understood in modern terms. They were designed to protect the rights of servants and ensure humane treatment. God's Sovereignty and Provision Even within the constraints of servitude, God's laws provided structure and protection, demonstrating His care for all individuals, regardless of their social status. Family and Community Responsibility The passage highlights the importance of family and community responsibility, as the master is responsible for the welfare of the servant's family. Spiritual Freedom in Christ While the law provided for physical servitude, the New Testament reveals a spiritual freedom in Christ that transcends earthly bonds, calling believers to live as free people in service to God. Justice and Compassion The laws remind us of the need for justice and compassion in our dealings with others, encouraging us to treat everyone with dignity and respect.(4) If his master have given him a wife.--If, however, the Hebrew slave, being previously unmarried, had been allowed by his master to take to wife one of his female slaves, then, when the husband claimed his freedom the wife could not claim hers. Both she and her children remained in the slave condition.Verse 4. - If his master have given him a wife. If the slave was unmarried when he went into servitude, or if his wife died, and his master then gave him a wife from among his female slaves, the master was not to lose his property in his female slave by reason of having permitted the marriage. When the man claimed his freedom at the end of the sixth year, he was to "go out" alone. Should children have been born, they were also to be the property of the master and to remain members of his household. No doubt these provisos, which cannot be regarded as unjust, had the effect of inducing many Hebrew slaves not to claim their release (vers. 5, 6). Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Ifאִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not his master אֲדֹנָיו֙ (’ă·ḏō·nāw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller gives יִתֶּן־ (yit·ten-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set him a wife אִשָּׁ֔ה (’iš·šāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female and she bears וְיָלְדָה־ (wə·yā·lə·ḏāh-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage him sons בָנִ֖ים (ḇā·nîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1121: A son or א֣וֹ (’ōw) Conjunction Strong's 176: Desire, if daughters, בָנ֑וֹת (ḇā·nō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 1323: A daughter the woman הָאִשָּׁ֣ה (hā·’iš·šāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female and her children וִילָדֶ֗יהָ (wî·lā·ḏe·hā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 3206: Something born, a lad, offspring shall belong to תִּהְיֶה֙ (tih·yeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be her master, לַֽאדֹנֶ֔יהָ (la·ḏō·ne·hā) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller and [only] the man וְה֖וּא (wə·hū) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are shall go free. יֵצֵ֥א (yê·ṣê) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim Links Exodus 21:4 NIVExodus 21:4 NLT Exodus 21:4 ESV Exodus 21:4 NASB Exodus 21:4 KJV Exodus 21:4 BibleApps.com Exodus 21:4 Biblia Paralela Exodus 21:4 Chinese Bible Exodus 21:4 French Bible Exodus 21:4 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 21:4 If his master gives him a wife (Exo. Ex) |
    |