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Exodus 21:5 But if the servant declares, 'I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,'
<!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 21:5 But if the servant declares, 'I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,'</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/21-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/02_Exo_21_05.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 21:5 - Laws for Servants" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But if the servant declares, 'I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,'" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></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="/vmenus/exodus/21-5.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="/bmc/exodus/21-5.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="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/exodus/">Exodus</a> > <a href="/exodus/21.htm">Chapter 21</a> > Verse 5</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><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/21-4.htm" title="Exodus 21:4">◄</a> Exodus 21:5 <a href="/exodus/21-6.htm" title="Exodus 21:6">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/exodus/21.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/21.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />“But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/21.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But the slave may declare, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children. I don’t want to go free.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/21.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/21.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/21.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not leave as a free man,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />“But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out as a free man,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not leave as a free man,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“But if the slave declares, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I do not want to leave as a free man,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But if the slave declares: ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I do not want to leave as a free man,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />But if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But suppose the slave loves his wife and children and his owner so much that he won't leave them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />But if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />But if he makes this statement: 'I hereby declare my love for my master, my wife, and my children. I don't want to leave as a free man,'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But if the slave declares that he loves his master, his wife, and his children and does not want to be set free, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />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="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But if the servant declares, ?I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But if the servant should declare, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But if the servant shall plainly say, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I will not go out free;'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not depart free:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />But if the servant shall plainly say, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children. I will not go out free;’ <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And if the servant really says: I have loved my lord, my wife, and my sons—I do not go out free,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'And if the servant really say: I have loved my lord, my wife, and my sons -- I do not go out free;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And if saying, the servant shall say, I loved my lord, my wife and my sons; I will not go forth free:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And if the servant shall say: I love my master and my wife and children, I will not go out free: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And if the servant will say, ‘I love my lord, and my wife and children, I will not depart freely,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />If, however, the slave declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children; I will not leave as a free person,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But if the slave declares, “I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out a free person,”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And if the servant shall say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And if a Servant will say, “I Love my Master and my wife and my children; I am not going out a son of freedom”:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />But if the servant shall plainly say: I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And if the servant should answer and say, I love my master and wife and children, I will not go away free;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/21-5.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=5182" 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">4</span>If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free. <span class="reftext">5</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: wə·’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">But if</a> <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: hā·‘e·ḇeḏ (Art:: N-ms) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">the servant</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ā·mōr (V-Qal-InfAbs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">declares,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: yō·mar (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> <a href="/hebrew/157.htm" title="157: ’ā·haḇ·tî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To love. Or raheb; a primitive root; to have affection for.">‘I love</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/113.htm" title="113: ’ă·ḏō·nî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- Lord. Or adon; from an unused root; sovereign, i.e. Controller.">my master</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’iš·tî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">and my wife</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bā·nāy (N-mpc:: 1cs) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">and children;</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">I do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/3318.htm" title="3318: ’ê·ṣê (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs) -- A primitive root; to go out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.">want to go</a> <a href="/hebrew/2670.htm" title="2670: ḥā·p̄ə·šî (Adj-ms) -- Free. From chaphash; exempt.">free,’</a> </span><span class="reftext">6</span>then his master is to bring him before the judges. And he shall take him to the door or doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he shall serve his master for life.…<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="/deuteronomy/15-16.htm">Deuteronomy 15:16-17</a></span><br />But if your servant says to you, ‘I do not want to leave you,’ because he loves you and your household and is well off with you, / then take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he will become your servant for life. And treat your maidservant the same way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39-42</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="/1_samuel/12-19.htm">1 Samuel 12:19</a></span><br />They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/34-9.htm">Jeremiah 34:9-10</a></span><br />that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage. / So all the officials and all the people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their menservants and maidservants and no longer hold them in bondage. They obeyed and released them,<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="/2_kings/4-1.htm">2 Kings 4:1</a></span><br />Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/50-1.htm">Isaiah 50:1</a></span><br />This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-24.htm">Matthew 6:24</a></span><br />No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/16-13.htm">Luke 16:13</a></span><br />No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/6-16.htm">Romans 6:16</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?<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/4-7.htm">Galatians 4:7</a></span><br />So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/6-5.htm">Ephesians 6:5-8</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="/colossians/3-22.htm">Colossians 3:22-24</a></span><br />Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord. / Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men, / because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.<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.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:</p><p class="hdg">and if</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/15-16.htm">Deuteronomy 15:16,17</a></b></br> And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/26-13.htm">Isaiah 26:13</a></b></br> O LORD our God, <i>other</i> lords beside thee have had dominion over us: <i>but</i> by thee only will we make mention of thy name.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_corinthians/5-14.htm">2 Corinthians 5:14,15</a></b></br> For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: … </p><p class="hdg">shall plainly say.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/21-2.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/exodus/21-4.htm">Children</a> <a href="/exodus/10-10.htm">Clearly</a> <a href="/genesis/44-20.htm">Dear</a> <a href="/genesis/22-16.htm">Declares</a> <a href="/exodus/21-4.htm">Depart</a> <a href="/exodus/20-17.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/1-11.htm">Distinctly</a> <a href="/exodus/21-4.htm">Free</a> <a href="/genesis/50-4.htm">Love</a> <a href="/exodus/21-4.htm">Master</a> <a href="/genesis/26-28.htm">Plainly</a> <a href="/exodus/19-5.htm">Really</a> <a href="/exodus/21-4.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/exodus/21-2.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/exodus/16-23.htm">Want</a> <a href="/exodus/21-4.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/21-6.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/exodus/22-24.htm">Children</a> <a href="/leviticus/5-4.htm">Clearly</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/15-16.htm">Dear</a> <a href="/numbers/14-28.htm">Declares</a> <a href="/exodus/21-7.htm">Depart</a> <a href="/exodus/23-5.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/27-8.htm">Distinctly</a> <a href="/exodus/21-7.htm">Free</a> <a href="/exodus/34-6.htm">Love</a> <a href="/exodus/21-6.htm">Master</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/27-8.htm">Plainly</a> <a href="/exodus/22-23.htm">Really</a> <a href="/exodus/21-7.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/exodus/21-7.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-5.htm">Want</a> <a href="/exodus/21-10.htm">Wife</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'; 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This phrase introduces a conditional situation where a servant voluntarily chooses to remain with his master. This reflects a personal decision, emphasizing the servant's autonomy within the legal framework of the time. The declaration is a formal statement, indicating a conscious and deliberate choice.<p><b>‘I love my master</b><br>The relationship between the servant and master here is not merely transactional but can be characterized by genuine affection and loyalty. This love suggests a benevolent master-servant relationship, which was encouraged in the Mosaic Law (<a href="/leviticus/25-43.htm">Leviticus 25:43</a>). It also reflects the ideal of a just and compassionate master, which can be seen as a type of Christ, who is the ultimate Master, loving and caring for His followers.<p><b>and my wife and children;</b><br>The mention of the servant's family highlights the social and familial bonds that could develop during servitude. In some cases, a servant might have been given a wife by the master, and any children born would belong to the master (<a href="/exodus/21-4.htm">Exodus 21:4</a>). This phrase underscores the importance of family unity and the servant's desire to maintain these relationships, even at the cost of personal freedom.<p><b>I do not want to go free,’</b><br>This decision to remain in servitude is significant, as it reflects a prioritization of relationships and stability over personal liberty. It also illustrates the concept of willing servitude, which is echoed in the New Testament where believers are called to be "bondservants" of Christ (<a href="/romans/1.htm">Romans 1:1</a>). The servant's choice can be seen as a foreshadowing of the believer's commitment to Christ, choosing to serve out of love rather than obligation.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/servant.htm">Servant (Hebrew: ?????, 'ebed')</a></b><br>In the context of ancient Israel, a servant could be a Hebrew who sold himself into servitude due to debt or poverty. This verse addresses the situation where a servant chooses to remain with his master after his term of service.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/master.htm">Master (Hebrew: ??????, 'adon')</a></b><br>The master is the one who has authority over the servant. In this context, the relationship is depicted as one that can be based on mutual respect and love.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/w/wife_and_children.htm">Wife and Children</a></b><br>The servant's family, which he may have acquired during his time of service. The decision to stay is often motivated by love and the desire to remain with them.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/d/declaration_of_love.htm">Declaration of Love</a></b><br>The servant's voluntary declaration to remain with his master, which is a significant act of loyalty and love.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/event_of_choosing_bondage.htm">Event of Choosing Bondage</a></b><br>This is a legal and personal decision where the servant chooses to remain in servitude out of love, rather than obligation.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/v/voluntary_servitude_as_an_act_of_love.htm">Voluntary Servitude as an Act of Love</a></b><br>The decision of the servant to remain with his master is a profound act of love and loyalty. It reflects a relationship that transcends mere duty and enters into a covenant of love.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_family_in_decision-making.htm">The Role of Family in Decision-Making</a></b><br>The servant's choice is heavily influenced by his love for his family. This highlights the importance of family bonds and the sacrifices one might make for their well-being.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/freedom_in_choosing_service.htm">Freedom in Choosing Service</a></b><br>True freedom is found in choosing whom or what we serve. The servant's choice to remain is a powerful metaphor for the Christian life, where believers choose to serve Christ out of love.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_ear_piercing.htm">Symbolism of Ear Piercing</a></b><br>The act of piercing the ear symbolizes a permanent commitment. In a spiritual sense, it represents the believer's commitment to Christ, marked by a public declaration of faith.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) <span class= "bld">And if.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">But if.</span><p><span class= "bld">I love my master.</span>--Under every system of slavery affection grows up between the slaves and a master who is indulgent to them. At Rome it was common for slaves to endure the severest torture rather than betray or accuse their owners. If a man has no rights, he is thankful for small mercies, and responds with warm feeling to those who treat him kindly. As the Hebrew form of slavery was of a mild type, masters being admonished to treat their slaves "not as bondservants, but as hired servants" (<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 25:39-40</a>), and, again, "not to rule over them with rigour" (<a href="/leviticus/25-46.htm" title="And you shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your slaves for ever: but over your brothers the children of Israel, you shall not rule one over another with rigor.">Leviticus 25:46</a>), there would naturally be frequent cases where the slave would not wish to "go out." He might actually "love his master;" or he might value the security from want which attaches to the slave condition; or he might be unwilling to break up the family which, by his master's favour, he had been allowed to create. For such cases some provision was necessary. It was made by the law here formulated (<a href="/context/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 21:5-6</a>), which allowed the Hebrew slave, if he liked, to forfeit all claim to freedom, and take upon him permanently the condition of a bondman.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 5, 6.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">I love my master</span>, etc. Affection might grow up between the slave and the master, if he were well treated. The Hebrew form of slavery was altogether of a mild kind. Masters are admonished to treat their slaves "not as bond-servants, but as hired servants or sojourners," and again "not to rule over them with rigour" (<a href="/leviticus/25-39.htm">Leviticus 25:39, 40, 43</a>). Even among the heathen, slaves often bore a true affection to their masters. Or, the slave might be so attached to his wife and children as to be unwilling to separate from them, and might prefer slavery with the solace of their society to freedom without it. For such cases the provision was made, which is contained in ver. 6. On the slave declaring to his master his unwillingness to go free, the master might take him before the judges, or magistrates (literally "gods") as witnesses, and perhaps registrars of the man' s declaration, and might then reconduct him to his house, and by a significant ceremony mark him as his slave "for ever." The ceremony consisted in boring through one of his ears with an awl, and driving the awl into the door or doorpost of the house, thereby attaching him physically to the dwelling of which he became thenceforth a permanent inmate. Almost all commentators assert that some such custom was common in the East in connection with slavery, and refer to Xen. Aaab. 3:1, § 31; Plant. <span class="accented">Poenul</span>. 5:2, 21; Juv. Sat. 1:104; Plutarch. <span class="accented">Vit</span>. <span class="accented">Cic</span>. § 26, etc. But these passages merely show that the Orientals generally - not slaves in particular - had their ears bored for the purpose of wearing earrings, and indicate no usage at all comparable to the Hebrew practice. The Hebrew custom - probably a very ancient one - seems to have had two objects - <p><span class="Text_Heading">1.</span> The declaring by a significant act, that the man belonged to the house; and <p><span class="Text_Heading">2.</span> The permanent marking of him as a slave, dis-entitled to the rights of freemen, <span class="cmt_word">he shall serve him for ever</span>. Josephus (<span class="accented">Ant. Jud.</span> 4:8, § 20) and the Jewish commentators generally maintain that the law of the jubilee release overruled this enactment; but this must be regarded as very doubtful. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/21-5.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">But if</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאִם־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’im-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the servant</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעֶ֔בֶד</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘e·ḇeḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | 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">declares,</span><br /><span class="heb">אָמֹ֤ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·mōr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘I love</span><br /><span class="heb">אָהַ֙בְתִּי֙</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·haḇ·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_157.htm">Strong's 157: </a> </span><span class="str2">To have affection f</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my master</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲדֹנִ֔י</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḏō·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_113.htm">Strong's 113: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sovereign, controller</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and my wife</span><br /><span class="heb">אִשְׁתִּ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(’iš·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and children;</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּנָ֑י</span> <span class="translit">(bā·nāy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I do not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">want to go</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵצֵ֖א</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·ṣê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common 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">חָפְשִֽׁי׃</span> <span class="translit">(ḥā·p̄ə·šî)</span><br /><span class="parse">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 /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/21-5.htm">Exodus 21:5 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/21-5.htm">Exodus 21:5 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/21-5.htm">Exodus 21:5 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/21-5.htm">Exodus 21:5 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/21-5.htm">Exodus 21:5 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/21-5.htm">Exodus 21:5 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/21-5.htm">Exodus 21:5 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/21-5.htm">Exodus 21:5 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/21-5.htm">Exodus 21:5 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/21-5.htm">Exodus 21:5 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/21-5.htm">OT Law: Exodus 21:5 But if the servant shall plainly say (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/21-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 21:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 21:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/21-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 21:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 21:6" /></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><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>