◄ Exodus 21:8 ►
If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself, he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her.
Study Bible
If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself
In the ancient Near Eastern context, this refers to a situation where a female servant or slave was intended to become a concubine or wife. The term "displeasing" suggests that the master found some fault or reason not to fulfill this intention. This reflects the patriarchal society of the time, where women often had limited rights and were subject to the decisions of male authority figures. The designation for himself implies a betrothal-like arrangement, highlighting the seriousness of the commitment.

he must allow her to be redeemed
The concept of redemption here is significant, as it provides a means for the woman to regain her freedom or be transferred to another household. This reflects the broader biblical theme of redemption, where God provides a way for His people to be delivered from bondage. The provision for redemption underscores the value placed on human dignity and the protection of individuals from exploitation.

He has no right to sell her to foreigners
This restriction emphasizes the importance of keeping the covenant community intact and protecting its members from being sold into potentially harsher conditions outside of Israel. It reflects the broader biblical principle of caring for the vulnerable and maintaining the integrity of the community. The prohibition against selling to foreigners also aligns with the laws given to Israel to remain distinct from surrounding nations.

since he has broken faith with her
Breaking faith indicates a breach of trust or covenant, which is a serious matter in biblical terms. This phrase suggests that the master has failed to honor his commitment, which is a violation of the ethical and moral standards expected within the community. This concept of faithfulness is echoed throughout Scripture, where God is portrayed as the ultimate example of faithfulness, and His people are called to reflect that character in their relationships.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hebrew Servant Girl
The subject of the verse, a young woman sold into servitude, often due to poverty or debt.

2. Master
The man who has taken the servant girl with the intention of making her his wife or concubine.

3. Redemption
The process by which the servant girl can be bought back or freed, typically by her family.

4. Foreigners
Non-Israelites to whom the servant girl cannot be sold, emphasizing the protection of her rights within the covenant community.

5. Covenant Community
The broader context of Israelite society, governed by laws given by God to Moses.
Teaching Points
Value of Human Dignity
This verse underscores the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect, regardless of their social status.

Faithfulness in Relationships
The master's obligation not to sell the servant girl to foreigners reflects the importance of faithfulness and integrity in all relationships.

Redemption and Restoration
The provision for redemption highlights God's desire for restoration and freedom, pointing to the ultimate redemption found in Christ.

Protection of the Vulnerable
The law protects the servant girl from being exploited, reminding us of our responsibility to protect and advocate for the vulnerable in society.

Community Responsibility
The role of the community in the redemption process emphasizes the importance of communal support and accountability.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of redemption in Exodus 21:8 relate to the broader biblical theme of redemption through Christ?

2. In what ways does this verse challenge us to consider the dignity and rights of those who are marginalized in our society today?

3. How can we apply the principle of faithfulness in relationships, as seen in this verse, to our personal and professional lives?

4. What role does the community play in ensuring justice and protection for the vulnerable, according to this passage and related scriptures?

5. How can understanding the historical and cultural context of this verse enhance our interpretation and application of biblical principles in contemporary settings?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 25:47-55
Discusses the redemption of individuals sold into servitude, emphasizing the importance of family and community in the redemption process.

Deuteronomy 15:12-15
Provides additional laws regarding Hebrew servants, highlighting the importance of fair treatment and eventual freedom.

Galatians 3:28
In the New Testament, Paul speaks of equality in Christ, which can be seen as a fulfillment of the principles of justice and dignity found in the Old Testament laws.
Sermons
Regulations for the Treatment of SlavesD. Young Exodus 21:1-11
Hebrew Bond-ServiceJ. Orr Exodus 21:2-12
Degraded Condition of Girls in AfricaExodus 21:7-11
People
Moses
Places
Mount Sinai
Topics
FALSE, Betrothed, Broken, Dealing, Dealt, Deceitfully, Designated, Displeasing, Doesn't, Espoused, Evil, Faith, Faithlessly, Foreign, Foreigners, Free, Married, Master, Nation, Payment, Please, Pleasing, Power, Price, Ransomed, Redeemed, Seeing, Selected, Sell, Strange, Treacherously, Unacceptable, Unfairness, Unfaithfully
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 21:8

     6721   redemption, in life

Exodus 21:2-11

     5504   rights

Exodus 21:2-14

     5378   law, OT

Exodus 21:7-9

     5695   girls

Exodus 21:7-11

     5672   concubines
     7447   slavery, in OT

Exodus 21:8-11

     5415   money, uses of

Library
The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws
[Sidenote: First the principle, and then the detailed laws] If the canon of the New Testament had remained open as long as did that of the Old, there is little doubt that it also would have contained many laws, legal precedents, and ecclesiastical histories. From the writings of the Church Fathers and the records of the Catholic Church it is possible to conjecture what these in general would have been. The early history of Christianity illustrates the universal fact that the broad principles are …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

The Kinsman Redeemer
'After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him.'--LEV. xxv. 48. There are several of the institutions and precepts of the Mosaic legislation which, though not prophetic, nor typical, have yet remarkable correspondences with lofty Christian truth. They may be used as symbols, if only we remember that we are diverting them from their original purpose. How singularly these words lend themselves to the statement of the very central truths of Christianity--a slavery …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Non-Resistance
'Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.'--MATT. v. 38-42. The old law …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Discourse of the Building, Nature, Excellency, and Government of the House of God; with Counsels and Directions to the Inhabitants Thereof.
BY JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. 'Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.'--Psalm 26:8 ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Beautiful in its simplicity is this treatise on the Church of Christ, by John Bunyan. He opens, with profound knowledge and eminent skill, all those portions of sacred writ which illustrate the nature, excellency, and government of the house of God, with the personal and relative duties of its inhabitants. It was originally published in …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
BY A.E. GRIMKE. "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:--and so will I go in unto the king, …
Angelina Emily Grimke—An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South

The Doctrine of Non-Resistance to Evil by Force Has Been Professed by a Minority of Men from the Very Foundation of Christianity. Of the Book "What
CHAPTER I. THE DOCTRINE OF NON-RESISTANCE TO EVIL BY FORCE HAS BEEN PROFESSED BY A MINORITY OF MEN FROM THE VERY FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIANITY. Of the Book "What I Believe"--The Correspondence Evoked by it-- Letters from Quakers--Garrison's Declaration--Adin Ballou, his Works, his Catechism--Helchitsky's "Net of Faith"--The Attitude of the World to Works Elucidating Christ's Teaching--Dymond's Book "On War"--Musser's "Non-resistance Asserted"--Attitude of the Government in 1818 to Men who Refused to …
Leo Tolstoy—The Kingdom of God is within you

The Sermon on the Mount - the Kingdom of Christ and Rabbinic Teaching.
It was probably on one of those mountain-ranges, which stretch to the north of Capernaum, that Jesus had spent the night of lonely prayer, which preceded the designation of the twelve to the Apostolate. As the soft spring morning broke, He called up those who had learned to follow Him, and from among them chose the twelve, who were to be His Ambassadors and Representatives. [2500] [2501] But already the early light had guided the eager multitude which, from all parts, had come to the broad level …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes - Examination of their Distinctive Doctrines.
APART from the repulsively carnal form which it had taken, there is something absolutely sublime in the continuance and intensity of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah. It outlived not only the delay of long centuries, but the persecutions and scattering of the people; it continued under the disappointment of the Maccabees, the rule of a Herod, the administration of a corrupt and contemptible Priesthood, and, finally, the government of Rome as represented by a Pilate; nay, it grew in intensity …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not kill.' Exod 20: 13. In this commandment is a sin forbidden, which is murder, Thou shalt not kill,' and a duty implied, which is, to preserve our own life, and the life of others. The sin forbidden is murder: Thou shalt not kill.' Here two things are to be understood, the not injuring another, nor ourselves. I. The not injuring another. [1] We must not injure another in his name. A good name is a precious balsam.' It is a great cruelty to murder a man in his name. We injure others in …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

That Deep Things Ought not to be Preached at all to Weak Souls.
But the preacher should know how to avoid drawing the mind of his hearer beyond its strength, lest, so to speak, the string of the soul, when stretched more than it can bear, should be broken. For all deep things should be covered up before a multitude of hearers, and scarcely opened to a few. For hence the Truth in person says, Who, thinkest thou, is the faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord has appointed over his household, to give them their measure of wheat in due season? (Luke xii. 42). …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia.
Part I. History of the Councils. Reason why two Councils were called. Inconsistency and folly of calling any; and of the style of the Arian formularies; occasion of the Nicene Council; proceedings at Ariminum; Letter of the Council to Constantius; its decree. Proceedings at Seleucia; reflections on the conduct of the Arians. 1. Perhaps news has reached even yourselves concerning the Council, which is at this time the subject of general conversation; for letters both from the Emperor and the Prefects …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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