Exodus 21:7

To be a maidservant] The word denotes a slavewife, a consort of inferior rank, like Hagar (Genesis 16:3). Her position was permanent. She did not go out at the end of six years, which would have been a degradation. If she were the wife of the master of the house, she was to be treated as a wife; if of the son, as a daughter. If she were dismissed, it must be in an honourable way (Exodus 21:8; Exodus 21:11), and without repayment of the purchase money.