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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 21:2 If 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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/21-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/02_Exo_21_02.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 21:2 - Laws for Servants" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. 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But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/21.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“If you buy a Hebrew slave, he may serve for no more than six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/21.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/21.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />If 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/21.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall leave as a free man without a payment <i>to you.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“If you purchase a Hebrew servant [because of his debt or poverty], he shall serve six years, and in the seventh [year] he shall leave as a free man, paying nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“When you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for six years; then in the seventh he is to leave as a free man without paying anything.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for six years; then in the seventh he is to leave as a free man without paying anything.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />If you buy a Hebrew slave, he must remain your slave for six years. But in the seventh year you must set him free, without cost to him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Whenever you buy a Hebrew slave, he will be your slave for six years. In the seventh year he may leave as a free man, without paying for his freedom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve you for six years. In the seventh year he is to be set free without having to pay anything. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"When you acquire a Hebrew servant, he is to serve for six years, and in the seventh he is to go out a free man without paying anything. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years, but in the seventh year he will go out free without paying anything.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years and in the seventh he shall go out free without paying anything.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />If thou shalt buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall depart free for nothing.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />If 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free without paying anything. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />When you buy a Hebrew servant, he serves [for] six years, and in the seventh he goes out as a freeman for nothing;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'When thou buyest a Hebrew servant -- six years he doth serve, and in the seventh he goeth out as a freeman for nought;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />If thou shalt buy a Hebrew servant, six years shall he serve: and in the seventh he shall go forth free gratuitously.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years shall he serve thee: in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />If you buy a Hebrew servant, six years shall he serve you; in the seventh, he shall depart freely, without charge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />When you purchase a Hebrew slave, he is to serve you for six years, but in the seventh year he shall leave as a free person without any payment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />When you buy a male Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, but in the seventh he shall go out a free person, without debt.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />When you buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve you; and in the seventh year he shall go out free from your house without price.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />When you will buy a Hebrew Servant, six years he will serve you and in the seventh he will go forth as a son of freedom from your presence.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve; and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years shall he serve thee, and in the seventh year he shall go forth free for nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/21-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=5155" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/21.htm">Laws for Servants</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>“These are the ordinances that you are to set before them: <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">If</a> <a href="/hebrew/7069.htm" title="7069: ṯiq·neh (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- A primitive root; to erect, i.e. Create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase; by implication to own.">you buy</a> <a href="/hebrew/5680.htm" title="5680: ‘iḇ·rî (N-proper-ms) -- Perhaps desc. of Eber, also another name for an Isr. Patronymic from Eber; an Eberite or descendant of Eber.">a Hebrew</a> <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: ‘e·ḇeḏ (N-ms) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">servant,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5647.htm" title="5647: ya·‘ă·ḇōḏ (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To work, serve. A primitive root; to work; by implication, to serve, till, enslave, etc.">he is to serve you</a> <a href="/hebrew/8337.htm" title="8337: šêš (Number-fs) -- Masculine shishshah; a primitive number; six (see suws) beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. Sixth.">for six</a> <a href="/hebrew/8141.htm" title="8141: šā·nîm (N-fp) -- A year. (in plura or shanah; from shanah; a year.">years.</a> <a href="/hebrew/7637.htm" title="7637: ū·ḇaš·šə·ḇi·‘iṯ (Conj-w, Prep-b, Art:: Number-ofs) -- Seventh (an ord. number). Or shbi iy; ordinal from shib'iym. seventh.">But in the seventh year,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3318.htm" title="3318: yê·ṣê (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to go out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.">he shall go</a> <a href="/hebrew/2670.htm" title="2670: la·ḥā·p̄ə·šî (Prep-l, Art:: Adj-ms) -- Free. From chaphash; exempt.">free</a> <a href="/hebrew/2600.htm" title="2600: ḥin·nām (Adv) -- Out of favor. From chen; gratis, i.e. Devoid of cost, reason or advantage.">without paying anything.</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>If he arrived alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrived with a wife, she is to leave with him.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39-43</a></span><br />If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor. / Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. / Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/15-12.htm">Deuteronomy 15:12-18</a></span><br />If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free. / And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. / You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/34-14.htm">Jeremiah 34:14</a></span><br />Every seventh year, each of you must free his Hebrew brother who has sold himself to you. He may serve you six years, but then you must let him go free. But your fathers did not listen or incline their ear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/5-5.htm">Nehemiah 5:5</a></span><br />We 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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-21.htm">1 Corinthians 7:21-23</a></span><br />Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity. / For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. / You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-1.htm">Galatians 4:1-7</a></span><br />What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything. / He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father. / So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/18-23.htm">Matthew 18:23-35</a></span><br />Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. / As he began the settlements, a debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him. / Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/4-18.htm">Luke 4:18-19</a></span><br />“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, / to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/61-1.htm">Isaiah 61:1-2</a></span><br />The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, / to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philemon/1-15.htm">Philemon 1:15-16</a></span><br />For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— / no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-11.htm">Colossians 3:11</a></span><br />Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/6-5.htm">Ephesians 6:5-9</a></span><br />Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. / And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. / Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/6-1.htm">1 Timothy 6:1-2</a></span><br />All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited. / Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/titus/2-9.htm">Titus 2:9-10</a></span><br />Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, / not stealing from them, but showing all good faith, so that in every respect they will adorn the teaching about God our Savior.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/6-16.htm">Romans 6:16-18</a></span><br />Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? / But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed. / You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">If you buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.</p><p class="hdg">an Hebrew</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/12-44.htm">Exodus 12:44</a></b></br> But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/22-3.htm">Exodus 22:3</a></b></br> If the sun be risen upon him, <i>there shall be</i> blood <i>shed</i> for him; <i>for</i> he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/27-28.htm">Genesis 27:28,36</a></b></br> Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: … </p><p class="hdg">and in the</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/25-40.htm">Leviticus 25:40-43,45</a></b></br> <i>But</i> as an hired servant, <i>and</i> as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, <i>and</i> shall serve thee unto the year of jubile: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/15-1.htm">Deuteronomy 15:1,12-15,18</a></b></br> At the end of <i>every</i> seven years thou shalt make a release… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/31-10.htm">Deuteronomy 31:10</a></b></br> And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of <i>every</i> seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/20-17.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/genesis/47-22.htm">Buy</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-14.htm">Buyest</a> <a href="/exodus/18-27.htm">Depart</a> <a href="/exodus/6-6.htm">Free</a> <a href="/colossians/3-11.htm">Freeman</a> <a href="/exodus/6-3.htm">Hebrew</a> <a href="/exodus/12-44.htm">Money</a> <a href="/exodus/5-11.htm">Nought</a> <a href="/titus/1-14.htm">Paying</a> <a href="/exodus/13-13.htm">Payment</a> <a href="/exodus/20-17.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/exodus/20-5.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/exodus/20-11.htm">Seventh</a> <a href="/exodus/20-11.htm">Six</a> <a href="/exodus/12-44.htm">Slave</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/21-5.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-11.htm">Buy</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-14.htm">Buyest</a> <a href="/exodus/21-3.htm">Depart</a> <a href="/exodus/21-3.htm">Free</a> <a href="/exodus/21-26.htm">Freeman</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/15-12.htm">Hebrew</a> <a href="/exodus/21-11.htm">Money</a> <a href="/exodus/21-11.htm">Nought</a> <a href="/exodus/21-11.htm">Paying</a> <a href="/exodus/21-8.htm">Payment</a> <a href="/exodus/21-4.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/exodus/21-6.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/exodus/23-11.htm">Seventh</a> <a href="/exodus/23-10.htm">Six</a> <a href="/exodus/21-5.htm">Slave</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 21</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-1.htm">Laws for men servants</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-5.htm">For the servant whose ear is bored</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-7.htm">For women servants</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-12.htm">For manslaughter</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-16.htm">For kidnappers</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-17.htm">For cursers of parents</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-18.htm">For smiters</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-22.htm">For a hurt by chance</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-28.htm">For an ox that gores</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-33.htm">For him who is an occasion of harm</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/21.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/exodus/21.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>If you buy a Hebrew servant,</b><br>In ancient Israel, servitude was a common practice, often resulting from poverty or debt. A Hebrew servant was typically a fellow Israelite who sold themselves into servitude to pay off debts or to provide for their family. This practice is distinct from slavery as understood in other historical contexts, as it was regulated by the Law of Moses to ensure humane treatment. The term "buy" here indicates a contractual agreement rather than ownership of a person, reflecting the economic and social structures of the time.<p><b>he is to serve you for six years.</b><br>The six-year period of service reflects a structured and limited term, emphasizing the temporary nature of this servitude. This regulation ensured that servitude did not become a permanent state, protecting the dignity and rights of the servant. The number six often symbolizes human labor and effort in biblical numerology, as seen in the six days of creation and the six days of work before the Sabbath rest.<p><b>But in the seventh year,</b><br>The seventh year is significant in biblical theology, often associated with rest and release. This concept is rooted in the creation narrative, where God rested on the seventh day, and is further developed in the Sabbath laws and the Year of Jubilee. The seventh year served as a reminder of God's provision and the importance of rest and freedom.<p><b>he shall go free without paying anything.</b><br>The release of the servant without payment underscores the principle of grace and redemption. This provision ensured that the servant was not burdened with further debt upon release, reflecting God's desire for His people to live in freedom. This practice foreshadows the ultimate redemption found in Jesus Christ, who offers freedom from the bondage of sin without cost to the believer. The concept of freedom without payment is echoed in the New Testament, where salvation is described as a free gift of God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/h/hebrew_servant.htm">Hebrew Servant</a></b><br>A fellow Israelite who, due to poverty or debt, sells himself into servitude. This was a common practice in ancient Israel as a means of survival or debt repayment.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/s/six_years_of_service.htm">Six Years of Service</a></b><br>The period during which the Hebrew servant is obligated to serve his master. This reflects a structured and limited time of servitude, emphasizing the temporary nature of this arrangement.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/seventh_year.htm">Seventh Year</a></b><br>The year of release, symbolizing freedom and restoration. This reflects the broader biblical principle of Sabbath rest and liberation.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelite_society.htm">Israelite Society</a></b><br>The cultural and legal context in which these laws were given, reflecting God's covenant relationship with His people and His concern for justice and mercy.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/mosaic_law.htm">Mosaic Law</a></b><br>The body of laws given to Moses on Mount Sinai, which includes civil, ceremonial, and moral laws for the Israelites.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_concern_for_justice_and_mercy.htm">God's Concern for Justice and Mercy</a></b><br>The law reflects God's heart for justice and mercy, ensuring that servitude is not perpetual and that individuals are restored to freedom.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_principle_of_rest_and_release.htm">The Principle of Rest and Release</a></b><br>The seventh year of release mirrors the Sabbath principle, reminding us of the importance of rest and renewal in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/freedom_in_christ.htm">Freedom in Christ</a></b><br>Just as the Hebrew servant is set free, believers are reminded of the spiritual freedom they have in Christ, who liberates us from the bondage of sin.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/generosity_and_compassion.htm">Generosity and Compassion</a></b><br>The release of servants calls us to practice generosity and compassion, ensuring that we treat others with dignity and respect.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_provision.htm">Trust in God's Provision</a></b><br>The law encourages trust in God's provision, as releasing servants requires faith that God will provide for both the servant and the master.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_21.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 21</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_lifelong_servitude_ethical.htm">In Exodus 21:2–6, how is the practice of permanently marking a servant’s ear and lifelong servitude reconciled with moral or ethical standards? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_bible's_stance_on_slavery.htm">What is the Bible's stance on slavery?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_christianity_oppose_abolition.htm">Why did Christianity historically resist abolitionism?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_the_bible_allow_slavery.htm">Why does the Bible condone slavery in some passages?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) <span class= "bld">If thou buy an Hebrew servant.</span>--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 and his children" (<span class= "ital">Pol. i.</span> 2, ? 1). In any consideration of the rights of persons, those of the slave class naturally presented themselves first of all, since they were the most liable to infraction. Slaves might be either natives or foreigners. A Hebrew could become a slave--(1) through crime (<a href="/exodus/22-3.htm" title="If the sun be risen on him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.">Exodus 22:3</a>); (2) through indebtedness (<a href="/leviticus/25-39.htm" title="And if your brother that dwells by you be waxen poor, and be sold to you; you shall not compel him to serve as a bondservant:">Leviticus 25:39</a>); (3) through his father's right to sell him (<a href="/nehemiah/5-5.htm" title="Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children: and, see, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought to bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.">Nehemiah 5:5</a>). Foreign slaves might be either prisoners taken in war, or persons bought of their owners (<a href="/leviticus/25-45.htm" title="Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall you buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.">Leviticus 25:45</a>). The rights of Hebrew slaves are here specially considered.<p><span class= "bld">Six years shall he serve.</span>--The Hebrew was not to be retained in slavery for a longer space than six years. If a jubilee year occurred before the end of the six years, then he regained his freedom earlier (<a href="/context/leviticus/25-39.htm" title="And if your brother that dwells by you be waxen poor, and be sold to you; you shall not compel him to serve as a bondservant:">Leviticus 25:39-41</a>); but in no case could he be retained more than six years in the slave condition, except by his own consent, formally given (<a href="/exodus/21-5.htm" title="And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:">Exodus 21:5</a>). This law was an enormous advance upon anything previously known in the slave legislation of the most civilised country, and stamps the Mosaic code at once as sympathising with the slave, and bent on ameliorating his lot. It has been thought strange by some that slavery was not now abrogated; but even Christianity, fifteen hundred years later, did not venture on so complete a social revolution. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> ? <span class="cmt_word">If thou buy an Hebrew servant</span>. Slavery, it is clear, was an existing institution. The law of Moses did not make it, but found it, and by not forbidding, allowed it. The Divine legislator was content under the circumstances to introduce mitigations and alleviations into the slave condition. Hebrews commonly became slaves through poverty (<a href="/leviticus/25-35.htm">Leviticus 25:35, 39</a>), but sometimes through crime (<a href="/exodus/22-3.htm">Exodus 22:3</a>). <span class="cmt_word">In</span> <span class="cmt_word">the seventh he shall go out.</span> Not in the Sabbatical year, but at the commencement of the seventh year after he became a slave. If the jubilee year happened to occur, he might be released sooner (<a href="/leviticus/25-40.htm">Leviticus 25:40</a>); but in any case his servitude must end when the sixth year of it was completed. This was an enormous boon, and had nothing, so far as is known, correspondent to it in the legislation of any other country. Nor was this all. When he went out free, his late master was bound to furnish him with provisions out of his flock, and out of his threshing floor, and out of his winepress (<a href="/deuteronomy/15-12.htm">Deuteronomy 15:12-14</a>), so that he might have something wherewith to begin the world afresh. The humane spirit of the legislation is strikingly marked in its very first enactment. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/21-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">If</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you buy</span><br /><span class="heb">תִקְנֶה֙</span> <span class="translit">(ṯiq·neh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7069.htm">Strong's 7069: </a> </span><span class="str2">To erect, create, to procure, by purchase, to own</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a Hebrew</span><br /><span class="heb">עִבְרִ֔י</span> <span class="translit">(‘iḇ·rî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5680.htm">Strong's 5680: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hebrews -- perhaps descendant of Eber, also another name for an Israelite</span><br /><br /><span class="word">servant,</span><br /><span class="heb">עֶ֣בֶד</span> <span class="translit">(‘e·ḇeḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5650.htm">Strong's 5650: </a> </span><span class="str2">Slave, servant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he is to serve you</span><br /><span class="heb">יַעֲבֹ֑ד</span> <span class="translit">(ya·‘ă·ḇōḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5647.htm">Strong's 5647: </a> </span><span class="str2">To work, to serve, till, enslave</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for six</span><br /><span class="heb">שֵׁ֥שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(šêš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8337.htm">Strong's 8337: </a> </span><span class="str2">Six (a cardinal number)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">years.</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁנִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(šā·nîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8141.htm">Strong's 8141: </a> </span><span class="str2">A year</span><br /><br /><span class="word">But in the seventh [year],</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבַ֨שְּׁבִעִ֔ת</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇaš·šə·ḇi·‘iṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7637.htm">Strong's 7637: </a> </span><span class="str2">Seventh (an ordinal number)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he shall go</span><br /><span class="heb">יֵצֵ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(yê·ṣê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3318.htm">Strong's 3318: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, bring, out, direct and proxim</span><br /><br /><span class="word">free</span><br /><span class="heb">לַֽחָפְשִׁ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(la·ḥā·p̄ə·šî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2670.htm">Strong's 2670: </a> </span><span class="str2">Exempt</span><br /><br /><span class="word">without paying anything.</span><br /><span class="heb">חִנָּֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(ḥin·nām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2600.htm">Strong's 2600: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gratis, devoid of cost, reason, advantage</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/21-2.htm">OT Law: Exodus 21:2 If you buy a Hebrew servant he (Exo. 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