CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://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=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Exodus 21 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/exodus/21.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/exodus/21-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > Exodus 21</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../exodus/20.htm" title="Exodus 20">◄</a> Exodus 21 <a href="../exodus/22.htm" title="Exodus 22">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/exodus/21.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Laws Concerning Servants</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>“These are the ordinances that you are to set before them.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>“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="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>If he came in by himself,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:3 Lit. with his body; i.e. single, and so throughout the chapter">a</a></span> he is to go out by himself. If he was married, his wife is to go out with him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and children belong to her master, and he is to go out by himself. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>But if the servant, in fact, says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children, and I won’t go out a free man,’ <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>then his master is to bring him before the judges<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:6 Or before God">b</a></span> and he is to bring him to the door or to the doorpost. His master is to pierce his ear with an awl, and he is to serve him permanently.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>“When a man sells his daughter as a servant, she won’t go out as the male servants do.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:7 The Heb. lacks as the male servants do">c</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>If she’s displeasing to<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:8 Lit. bad in the eyes of">d</a></span> her master who selected her for himself,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:8 i.e. as a secondary wife also called a mistress or concubine">e</a></span> he must let her be redeemed. He does not have the right to sell her to foreign people, because he has dealt unfairly<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:8 Or treacherously">f</a></span> with her. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>If he has selected her for his son,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:9 i.e. as a secondary wife also called a mistress or concubine">g</a></span> he is to treat her according to the ordinance for daughters. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>If he takes another woman for himself, he may not withhold from the first<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:10 The Heb. lacks from the first">h</a></span> her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>If he does not do these three things for her, she may go out without paying anything at all.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:11 The Heb. lacks at all">i</a></span> </p> <p class="heading">Laws Concerning Personal Injury and Homicide</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies is certainly to be put to death. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>If he didn’t lie in wait, but God let him fall into his reach,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:13 Lit. hand; i.e. the event was not premeditated by the accused">j</a></span> then I’ll appoint for you a place to which he may flee. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>If a man acts deliberately against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you are to take him to die even if he’s at<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:14 Lit. even from">k</a></span> my altar.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>“Whoever strikes his father or his mother is certainly to be put to death.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>“Whoever kidnaps a person, whether he has sold him or whether the victim<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:16 Lit. he">l</a></span> is still in his possession, is certainly to be put to death.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>“Whoever curses his father or his mother is certainly to be put to death.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>“If people quarrel and one strikes the other with a rock or his fist, and he does not die but ends up<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:18 Lit. falls">m</a></span> in bed, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>and the injured person<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:19 Lit. he">n</a></span> then gets up and walks around outside with the help of his staff,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:19 Lit. with his staff">o</a></span> the one who struck him is not liable, except that he is to compensate him for his loss of time<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:19 Lit. his rest">p</a></span> and take care of his complete recovery.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>“If a man strikes his male or female servant with a stick and he or she dies as a direct result,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:20 Lit. under his hand">q</a></span> the master must be punished.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:20 Lit. suffer vengeance">r</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>But if the servant<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:21 Lit. he">s</a></span> survives a day or two, the master<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:21 Lit. he">t</a></span> is not to be punished because the servant<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:21 Lit. he">u</a></span> is his property.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>“If two men are fighting and they strike a pregnant woman and her children are born prematurely,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:22 Lit. children come out">v</a></span> but there is no harm, he is certainly to be fined as the husband of the woman demands of him, and he will pay as the court decides.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:22 Or according to the assessment">w</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>If there is harm, then you are to require<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:23 Lit. give">x</a></span> life for life, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>burn for burn, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>“If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant and destroys it, he is to release him as a free man in exchange for his eye. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>If he knocks out the tooth of his male<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:27 Lit. male servant">y</a></span> or female servant,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:27 Lit. tooth of his female servant">z</a></span> he is to release him as a free man in exchange for his tooth.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>“If an ox gores a man or woman so that they die, the ox is certainly to be stoned and its flesh may not be eaten, but the owner of the ox is free from liability. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>But if the ox has gored previously, and its owner has been warned about it but didn’t restrain it, and it kills a man or woman, the ox is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>If a fine is imposed on him, he may pay all that was imposed on him as a ransom for his life. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>This same ordinance applies<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:31 Lit. It shall be done to him according to this ordinance">aa</a></span> if it gores a son or daughter.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>“If the ox gores a male or female servant, the owner is to give 30 shekels<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:32 I.e., a unit of weight equal to about 16 barley grains; about 0.025 ounces or 0.5 grams; cf. Num 3:47; Num 18:16">bb</a></span> of silver to the servant’s<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:32 Lit. his">cc</a></span> master, and the ox is to be stoned. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>If a man opens a pit or digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or donkey falls into it,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="21:33 Lit. there">dd</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>the owner of the pit is to make restitution. He is to pay money to its owner, and the dead animal will become his.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>“If a man’s ox strikes his neighbor’s ox and it dies, they are to sell the live ox and divide the money. They also are to divide the dead animal. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>But if it was known that the ox had gored previously, and its owner didn’t restrain it, he shall certainly repay ox for ox, and the dead ox will become his.”</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 21:3 Lit. <i>with his body</i>; i.e. single, and so throughout the chapter<br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 21:6 Or <i>before God</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 21:7 The Heb. lacks <i>as the male servants do</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 21:8 Lit. <i>bad in the eyes of</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 21:8 i.e. as a secondary wife also called a mistress or concubine<br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 21:8 Or <i>treacherously</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 21:9 i.e. as a secondary wife also called a mistress or concubine<br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 21:10 The Heb. lacks <i>from the first</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 21:11 The Heb. lacks <i>at all</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 21:13 Lit. <i>hand</i>;i.e. <i>the event was not premeditated by the accused</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 21:14 Lit. <i>even from</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 21:16 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 21:18 Lit. <i>falls</i><br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 21:19 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 21:19 Lit. <i>with his staff</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 21:19 Lit. <i>his rest</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 21:20 Lit. <i>under his hand</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 21:20 Lit. <i>suffer vengeance</i><br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 21:21 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">t</span> 21:21 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">u</span> 21:21 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">v</span> 21:22 Lit. <i>children come out</i><br /><span class="fnb">w</span> 21:22 Or <i>according to the assessment</i><br /><span class="fnb">x</span> 21:23 Lit. <i>give</i><br /><span class="fnb">y</span> 21:27 Lit. <i>male servant</i><br /><span class="fnb">z</span> 21:27 Lit. <i>tooth of his female servant</i><br /><span class="fnb">aa</span> 21:31 Lit. <i>It shall be done to him according to this ordinance</i><br /><span class="fnb">bb</span> 21:32 I.e., a unit of weight equal to about 16 barley grains; about 0.025 ounces or 0.5 grams; cf. Num 3:47; Num 18:16<br /><span class="fnb">cc</span> 21:32 Lit. <i>his</i><br /><span class="fnb">dd</span> 21:33 Lit. <i>there</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../exodus/20.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 20"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 20" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../exodus/22.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 22"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 22" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/exodus/21-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/botmenubhnm2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>