Exodus 21:7-11 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 21:1-11

The Exod. 21:1 is the general title of the laws contained in this and the two following chapters, some of them relating to the religious worship of God, but most of them relating to matters between man and man. Their government being purely a Theocracy, that which in other states is to be settled by human prudence was directed among them by a divine appointment, so that the constitution of their government was peculiarly adapted to make them happy. These laws are called judgments, because they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:7

And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant ,.... That is, if an Israelite, as the Targum of Jonathan, sells his little daughter, as the same Targum, and so Jarchi and Aben Ezra, one that is under age, that is not arrived to the age of twelve years and a day, and this through poverty; he not being able to support himself and his family, puts his daughter out to service, or rather sells her to be a servant: she shall not go out as the menservants do ; that are sold, before... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:8

If she please not her master ,.... "Be evil in the eyes of her master" F16 רעה בעיני "mala in oculis", Montanus; "mala videbitur in oculis", Junius & Tremellius; "mala fuerit in oculis", Drusius. ; and he has no liking of her, and love to her, not being agreeable in her person, temper, or conduct, so that he does not choose to make her his wife: who hath betrothed her to him ; but not completed the marriage, as he promised, when he bought her, or at least gave reason to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:9

And if he have betrothed her unto his son ,.... Not caring to betroth and marry her himself, as being more suitable in age for his son than for himself: he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters ; as if she was his daughter, and give her a dowry: or the son shall treat her after the manner the daughters of Israel are treated when married, by giving her food, raiment, and the duty of marriage, so Jarchi: or after the manner of the daughters of Israel that are virgins, and who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:10

If he take him another wife ,.... The father takes another wife for his son, or the son takes another wife to himself after he has betrothed and married his father's maidservant: her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish ; neither deny it her in whole, nor lessen it in part, but give her her full due of each. What is meant by the two former words is easy, and admits of no difficulty, the latter is differently interpreted. Some take it to signify no other than... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:11

And if he do not these three unto her ,.... Not the three things last mentioned; though this sense, Aben Ezra says, many of their interpreters give, which is rejected by him, so do some Christian expositors; but these three things are, espousing her to himself, or to his son, or redeeming her by the hand of her father; that is, letting her be redeemed by him, as the Targum of Jonathan; and so Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Ben Melech: the meaning is, if one or other of these things are not done: ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:7

If a man sell his daughter - This the Jews allowed no man to do but in extreme distress - when he had no goods, either movable or immovable left, even to the clothes on his back; and he had this permission only while she was unmarriageable. It may appear at first view strange that such a law should have been given; but let it be remembered, that this servitude could extend, at the utmost, only to six years; and that it was nearly the same as in some cases of apprenticeship among us, where... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:9

Betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her - He shall give her the same dowry he would give to one of his own daughters. From these laws we learn, that if a man's son married his servant, by his father's consent, the father was obliged to treat her in every respect as a daughter; and if the son married another woman, as it appears he might do, Exodus 21:10 , he was obliged to make no abatement in the privileges of the first wife, either in her food, raiment, or duty of marriage.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:11

These three - Her food, שארה sheerah , her flesh, for she must not, like a common slave, be fed merely on vegetables. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:7

Verse 7 From this passage, as well as other similar ones, it plainly appears how many vices were of necessity tolerated in this people. It was altogether an act of barbarism that fathers should sell their children for the relief of their poverty, still it could not be corrected as might have been hoped. Again, the sanctity of the marriage-vow should have been greater than that it should be allowable for a master to repudiate his bond-maid, after he had betrothed her to himself as his wife; or,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 21:1-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:7

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