Exodus 21:8

Exodus 21:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If she please 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 (ESV)If she does not please her master, who has 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)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 (NLT)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.

Context of Exodus 21:8

6then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life. 7“If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. 9If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. 10If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.

Exodus 21:8 word by word

אִם־רָעָ֞ה בְּעֵינֵ֧י אֲדֹנֶ֛יהָ אֲשֶׁר־ל֥וֹ יְעָדָ֖הּ וְהֶפְדָּ֑הּ לְעַ֥ם נָכְרִ֛י לֹא־יִמְשֹׁ֥ל לְמָכְרָ֖הּ בְּבִגְדוֹ־בָֽהּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• If she pleaseעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
• If she pleaseרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: harmfulH7451
• not her masterאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• who hath betrothedיָעַדyâ‛ad · to appointH3259
• her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemedפָּדָהpâdâh · to ransomH6299
• to sellמָכַרmâkar · to sellH4376
• her unto a strangeנׇכְרִיnokrîy · foreignH5237
• nationעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• he shall have no powerמָשַׁלmâshal · to ruleH4910
• seeing he hath dealt deceitfullyבָּגַדbâgad · to act treacherouslyH898

Cross-references for Exodus 21:8

• Genesis 28:8Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac;
• Judges 14:3His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.”
• 1 Samuel 8:6But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord.
• 1 Samuel 18:8Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?”
• Deuteronomy 20:7Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her.”
• Deuteronomy 21:11if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife.
• Exodus 8:29Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the Lord, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only let Pharaoh be sure that he does not act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord.”
• Judges 9:19So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too!
• Job 6:15But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow
• Malachi 2:11Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves by marrying women who worship a foreign god.

Commentaries on Exodus 21:8

• 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 21:8

• Children
• Concubinage
• Daughter
• Divorce
• Servant
• Wife

In the dictionaries

• Book
• Concubine
• Crucifixion
• Determine
• Freedom
• Gore
• Push
• Quit
• Ransom
• Wont

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