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Exodus 21

World English Bible

WEB

1“Now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them: 2“If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free without paying anything. 3If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself. If he is married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4If 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. 5But if the servant shall plainly say, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children. I will not go out free;’ 6then his master shall bring him to God, and shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him forever. 7“If a man sells his daughter to be a female servant, she shall not go out as the male servants do. 8If she doesn’t please her master, who has married 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. 9If he marries her to his son, he shall deal with her as a daughter. 10If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marital rights. 11If he doesn’t do these three things for her, she may go free without paying any money. 12“One who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death, 13but not if it is unintentional, but God allows it to happen; then I will appoint you a place where he shall flee. 14If a man schemes and comes presumptuously on his neighbor to kill him, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die. 15“Anyone who attacks his father or his mother shall be surely put to death. 16“Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. 17“Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. 18“If men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he doesn’t die, but is confined to bed; 19if he rises again and walks around with his staff, then he who struck him shall be cleared; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for his healing until he is thoroughly healed. 20“If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, the man shall surely be punished. 21Notwithstanding, if his servant gets up after a day or two, he shall not be punished, for the servant is his property. 22“If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman’s husband demands and the judges allow. 23But if any harm follows, then you must take life for life, 24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25burning for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise. 26“If a man strikes his servant’s eye, or his maid’s eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake. 27If he strikes out his male servant’s tooth, or his female servant’s tooth, he shall let the servant go free for his tooth’s sake. 28“If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull shall surely be stoned, and its meat shall not be eaten; but the owner of the bull shall not be held responsible. 29But if the bull had a habit of goring in the past, and this has been testified to its owner, and he has not kept it in, but it has killed a man or a woman, the bull shall be stoned, and its owner shall also be put to death. 30If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed. 31Whether it has gored a son or has gored a daughter, according to this judgment it shall be done to him. 32If the bull gores a male servant or a female servant, thirty shekels of silver shall be given to their master, and the ox shall be stoned. 33“If a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and doesn’t cover it, and a bull or a donkey falls into it, 34the owner of the pit shall make it good. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall be his. 35“If one man’s bull injures another’s, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live bull, and divide its price; and they shall also divide the dead animal. 36Or if it is known that the bull was in the habit of goring in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall surely pay bull for bull, and the dead animal shall be his own.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Exodus Chapter 21 provides a series of laws and regulations that govern the social and moral conduct of the Israelites. This chapter begins with guidelines concerning Hebrew servants, emphasizing the importance of fair treatment and the conditions under which a servant may be freed. The laws reflect God's concern for justice and compassion, as seen in verses 2-6, where a servant who has served six years is to be released in the seventh year, unless he chooses to remain with his master out of love. This highlights the principle of freedom and the value of personal choice in service, which can be seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate freedom found in Christ (#Jesus) (Galatians 5:1).

The chapter continues with various laws addressing personal injury, property damage, and the treatment of animals. For instance, verses 12-14 outline the consequences for someone who unintentionally kills another person, emphasizing the distinction between accidental and intentional acts. The laws also include provisions for restitution, ensuring that justice is served and that victims are compensated for their losses. This reflects God's desire for a just society where individuals are held accountable for their actions. Additionally, the chapter addresses issues of violence and the sanctity of life, reminding the Israelites of the seriousness of their conduct and the need for a community built on respect and responsibility. Overall, Exodus 21 serves as a foundational text for understanding God's standards for justice and mercy within the community of His people.

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Referenced by

  1. Leviticus 20:9v17Leviticus 20:9 prescribes the death penalty for anyone who curses their father or mother, a law that is also found in Exodus 21:17, emphasizing the seriousness of honoring one's parents as part of the covenant community's moral code.
  2. Leviticus 24:17-22v23Leviticus 24:17-22 outlines the principle of 'an eye for an eye,' which is also found in Exodus 21:23-25, emphasizing justice and the principle of equitable retribution.
  3. Leviticus 25:39-40v2Leviticus 25:39-40 discusses the treatment of Hebrew servants, paralleling Exodus 21:2, which outlines the laws for Hebrew slaves, emphasizing the humane treatment and eventual release of servants.
  4. Deuteronomy 15:12v2Deuteronomy 15:12 discusses the release of Hebrew slaves after six years, which is also found in Exodus 21:2, establishing the principle of freedom and renewal.
  5. Deuteronomy 21:10-14v7Deuteronomy 21:10-14 outlines the treatment of female captives, ensuring their rights and dignity. Similarly, Exodus 21:7-11 provides laws for the protection of female servants.
  6. Deuteronomy 22:8v28Deuteronomy 22:8 commands the building of a parapet for a roof to prevent bloodguilt from accidental falls, emphasizing the responsibility for others' safety. Similarly, Exodus 21:28-29 discusses the responsibility of an owner for an ox that gores someone, highlighting the principle of accountability for preventing harm.
  7. 1 Kings 1:50v141 Kings 1:50 shows Adonijah seeking refuge at the altar, which relates to Exodus 21:14 where the altar is a place of asylum, though not for premeditated murderers, highlighting themes of mercy and justice.
  8. Jeremiah 34:8-9v2Jeremiah 34:8-9 discusses the covenant to release Hebrew slaves, which echoes the law given in Exodus 21:2 about releasing Hebrew slaves after six years of service.
  9. Hosea 3:2v32Hosea 3:2 mentions the price Hosea paid for Gomer, which is similar to the price of a slave in Exodus 21:32, highlighting the theme of redemption.

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