Berean Standard Bible
Exodus 21:7
7And if a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as the menservants do.
Exodus 21:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
- New International Version (NIV)“If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“And if a man sells his daughter to be a female slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.
Context of Exodus 21:7
5But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,’ 6then his master is to bring him before the judges. And he shall take him to the door or doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he shall serve his master for life. And if a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as the menservants do. 8If 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. 9And if he chooses her for his son, he must deal with her as with a daughter.
Read all of Exodus 21Exodus 21:7 word by word
וְכִֽי־יִמְכֹּ֥ר אִ֛ישׁ אֶת־בִּתּ֖וֹ לְאָמָ֑ה לֹ֥א תֵצֵ֖א כְּצֵ֥את הָעֲבָדִֽים׃Read the interlinear
- And ifכִּיkîy · forH3588
- a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
- sellsמָכַרmâkar · to sellH4376
- his daughterבַּתbath · daughterH1323
- as a servantאָמָה'âmâh · maidservantH519
- she is notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- to go freeיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- as the menservants doעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
Cross-references for Exodus 21:7
- Nehemiah 5:5We 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.”
- Exodus 21:2If 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.
Commentaries on Exodus 21:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7If a man sell his daughter - This the Jews allowed no man to do but in extreme distress - when he had no goods, either movable or immovable left, even to the clothes on his back; and he had this permission only while she was unmarriageable. It may appear at first view strange that such a law should have been given; but let it be remembered, that this servitude could extend, at the utmost, only to six years; and that it was nearly the same as in some cases…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7A man might, in accordance with existing custom, sell his daughter to another man with a view to her becoming an inferior wife, or concubine. In this case, she was not “to go out,” like the bondman; that is, she was not to be dismissed at the end of the sixth year. But women who were bound in any other way, would appear to have been under the same conditions as bondmen. See Deuteronomy 15:17.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-9A female slave was treated differently from a male slave. She may have been sold with the expectation that she would become a concubine (a secondary wife). Releasing her after seven years would not necessarily protect her. If she were sent away, she might have to return to her father. Her father had already sold her, which suggests he did not want her. Marriage would also be unlikely for a former concubine. She might even be forced into prostitution. For…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-367-11. if a man sell his daughter--Hebrew girls might be redeemed for a reasonable sum. But in the event of her parents or friends being unable to pay the redemption money, her owner was not at liberty to sell her elsewhere. Should she have been betrothed to him or his son, and either change their minds, a maintenance must be provided for her suitable to her condition as his intended wife, or her freedom instantly granted.Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 21:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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