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Exodus 21:2-11

EXODUS—NOTE ON Exodus 21:2 When you buy a Hebrew slave. Despite the use of “buy,” it should be clear that slaves were considered human beings rather than mere possessions, since there is no mention of slaves in the laws governing loss of property (Exodus 21:33). (See notes on 1 Cor. 7:21; Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22; Philemon 1:18.)

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See also Exodus 21:2-11 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Exodus 21:2. _IF THOU BUY A HEBREW SERVANT_] Calmet enumerates _six_ different ways in which a Hebrew might lose his liberty: 1. In extreme _poverty_ they might sell their liberty. Leviticus 25...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    A Hebrew might be sold as a bondman in consequence either of debt Leviticus 25:39 or of the commission of theft Exodus 22:3. But his servitude could not be enforced for more than six full years. Compa...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 21 DIFFERENT JUDGMENTS _ 1. Master and servant (Exodus 21:1)_ 2. Concerning injury to the person (Exodus 21:12) 3. Concerning property (Exodus 21:33) The Three Chapter s which follow the gi...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    EXODUS 21:2 E. THE LAWS OF SLAVERY. In the 19th cent. slaves were bought and sold as chattels in Liverpool. Here we see one of the stages towards the abolition of slavery, _i.e._ regulation, then the...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _If thou buy_ In the Heb. the primary cases (_vv._2, 7, 20, 22 &c.) are introduced by _ki_, -when," the subordinate ones (_vv._3a, 3b, 4, 5; 8, 9, 10, 11, &c.) by _"im_, -if," or _"ô_, -or if"; but th...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Exodus 20:22 to Exodus 23:33 _The Book of the Covenant_ The -Book of the Covenant" (see Exodus 24:7 in explanation of the name) is the oldest piece of Hebrew legislation that we possess. The laws co...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Hebrew _male_slaves. Their term of service is fixed for six years (_v._2). A slave is to leave his master's service exactly as he entered it: if he entered it without a wife, he is to leave it without...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The law of slavery. Cf. Deuteronomy 15:12-18; Leviticus 25:39-55 (H and P), where there are other regulations on the same subject, in some respects differing remarkably from those of Ex., and springin...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    IF THOU BUY AN HEBREW SERVANT, &C.— The laws respecting male and female Hebrew servants, or slaves, are here delivered first; no doubt, to impress the just feelings of humanity towards them. Tertullia...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE TEXT OF EXODUS TRANSLATION 21NOW THESE ARE THE ORDINANCES WHICH THOU SHALT SET BEFORE them. (2) If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _IF THOU BUY AN HEBREW SERVANT, SIX YEARS HE SHALL SERVE: AND IN THE SEVENTH HE SHALL GO OUT FREE FOR NOTHING._ If thou buy an Hebrew servant. Though slavery was recognized in Israel, and the mention...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT (CONTINUED) I-ii. Regulations regarding the Treatment of Hebrew Slaves. Slavery was universal in ancient times, and the Mosaic Law does not abolish it. Among the Hebrews, howe...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    IF THOU BUY AN HEBREW SERVANT] A man might voluntarily sell himself for debt (Leviticus 25:39), or he might be judicially sold for theft (see Exodus 22:3), or he might be sold by his parents (Exodus 2...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    EXODUS: *ISRAEL BECOMES A NATION GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS TO MOSES EXODUS CHAPTER S 19 TO 40 _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 21 *HEBREW SLAVES – VERSES 1-11 V1 The *LORD continued to speak to...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    IF THOU BUY AN HEBREW SERVANT. — Ancient society was founded upon slavery. “The ultimate elements of the household,” says Aristotle, “are the master and his slave, the husband and his wife, the father...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    כִּ֤י תִקְנֶה֙ עֶ֣בֶד עִבְרִ֔י שֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXI. _ THE LESSER LAW (continued)._ PART II.--RIGHTS OF THE PERSON. Exodus 21:1. The first words of God from Sinai had declared that He was Jehovah Who brought them out of slavery. And in t...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE LESSER LAW. Exodus 20:18 - Exodus 23:33. With the close of the Decalogue and its universal obligations, we approach a brief code of laws, purely Hebrew, but of the deepest moral interest, confes...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    At this point we have certain laws which apply the principles of the Decalogue to life. The first movement has to do with the laws of the person. This begins with the relation of slaves to their maste...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for (a) nothing. (a) Paying no money for his freedom....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Servant, or slave. A man might sell himself and his children. But if they were females, under age, God prescribes how they are to be treated, ver. 7. --- Six years: in case he were brought immediatel...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Oh! that this precept was duly considered in its whole extent, by those who deal in human traffic. Observe, how the Lord himself interposeth by it to induce mercy. Deu_15:12; Deu_15:18....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    "In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai." Up to this point all the dealings of God have been the...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 19 THROUGH 23. But having thus terminated the course of grace, the scene changes entirely. They do not keep the feast on the mountain, whither God, as He had...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    IF THOU BUY AN HEBREW SERVANT,.... Who sells himself either through poverty, or rather is sold because of his theft, see Exodus 22:3 and so the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it, "when ye shall buy f...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing._ Ver. 2. _In the seventh year._] No longer might they serve, because they were God's ser...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _If thou buy a Hebrew servant_ Either sold by himself or his parents through poverty, or by the judges for his crimes, yet even such a one was to continue in slavery but _seven years_ at the most. See...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Lawes for men seruants. 5 For the seruant whose eare is boared. 7 For women seruants. 12 For manslaughter. 16 For stealers of men. 17 For cursers of parents. 18 For smiters. 22 For a hurt by...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    If thou buy an Hebrew servant, as a slave, six years he shall serve in this capacity; and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing, the idea being that he has earned his freedom by his six year...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    PRECEPTS REGULATING THE MASTER'S RELATION TO SLAVES...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    C. FIRST FORM OF THE LAW OF THE POLITICAL COMMONWEALTH Exodus 21:1 to Exodus 23:33 _a. Right of Personal Freedom (according to Bertheau, ten in number)_ 1Now these _are_ the judgments [ordinances] w...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    RESPONSIBILITIES OF MASTERS (vs.1-11) Moses is now given an expanded view of the law on Chapter s 21-23. Special duties of masters are first considered. They may think they have full authority over t...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-11 The laws in this chapter relate to the fifth and sixth commandments; and though they differ from our times and customs, nor are they binding on us, yet they explain the moral law, and the rules...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    If thou buy an Hebrew servant; of which practice see JEREMIAH 34:14. This was allowed in two cases: 1. When a man for his crimes was condemned by the judges to be sold; of which see Exodus 22:3 2 King...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    The study of this section of our book is eminently calculated to impress the heart with a sense d God's unsearchable wisdom and infinite goodness. It enables one to form some idea of the character of...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Exodus 21:2 buy H7069 (H8799) Hebrew H5680 servant H5650 serve H5647 (H8799) six H8337 years H8141 seventh...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO SLAVES AND VIOLENCE TO FELLOWMEN (EXODUS 21:2). It is always difficult to appreciate the ancient mind and its working, but there is a case here for seeing a chiastic patter...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    EXPANSION OF THE TEN WORDS OF THE COVENANT (EXODUS 20:22 TO EXODUS 23:33). In this section, which is composed of elements put together mainly in chiastic form (see later), Yahweh expands on the Ten W...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Laws concerning servants. Injuries to the person. CHARACTERS: God, Moses. CONCLUSION: The great God of heaven stoops to take interest in the detail affairs between man and man and makes re...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Exodus 21:1. _These are the judgments._ In this chapter we enter upon the fifty seven precepts of the civil law of the Hebrew nation. They are the laws of patriarchal society; and are here arranged an...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _If thou buy an Hebrew servant._ SLAVERY AND SOVEREIGNTY These judgments of God are the declarations of human rights. I. These judgments dealt with an existing institution. The circumstances under...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Exodus 21:1. Judgments.] Here begins the second part of “The Book of the Covenant” (ch. Exodus 24:7), the entire contents of which seem to range themselves thus:— 1. Safeguards of wo...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT.—_Continued_. I. _Laws connected with the rights of persons_ (Exodus 21:1). The regulations of this section concern— 1. Slavery ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Exodus chapter twenty-one, God said to Moses, Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them (Exodus 21:1). Now the judgments are really for the judges. You remember they appointed seve...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    an Hebrew Exodus 12:44 Exodus 22:3 Genesis 27:28 Genesis 27:36 Lev

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    If thou buy an Hebrew servant — Either sold by him or his parents through poverty, or by the judges for his crimes, yet even such a one was to continue in slavery but seven years at the most....

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