Exodus 21:2 kjv

If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

Exodus 21:2 nkjv

If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing.

Exodus 21:2 niv

"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.

Exodus 21:2 esv

When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.

Exodus 21:2 nlt

"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.

Exodus 21 verses

Exodus 21 2 Meaning

Exodus 21:2 outlines the fundamental law regarding Hebrew servants in ancient Israel. It stipulates that if a person acquires a Hebrew male servant, that servant is to serve for a period of six years. Crucially, in the seventh year, the servant is to be released, going out freely, without any ransom or payment required for their freedom. This statute highlights a protective measure, limiting servitude and upholding a principle of periodic liberation rooted in God's redemptive character.

Exodus 21 2 Context

Exodus 21:2 marks the beginning of the "Book of the Covenant" (Exodus 21:1-23:19), which immediately follows the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). After laying down the foundational moral and ethical principles, God provides specific statutes and judgments (Hebrew: mishpatim) that elaborate on how these broad commands are to be applied in the daily life, legal system, and social interactions of Israel. This particular verse addresses a widespread societal practice of servitude prevalent in the ancient Near East, but God's law fundamentally transforms it by placing stringent limitations and humane provisions. It differentiates the Israelite system from the often brutal and absolute chattel slavery practiced by surrounding nations, demonstrating God's character as a God of justice, compassion, and liberation, especially for the vulnerable and indebted, a direct contrast to Israel's recent experience as slaves in Egypt. This section initiates the legal code that differentiates Israel's society as distinct and set apart under God's covenant.

Exodus 21 2 Word analysis

• If thou buyest: The Hebrew word is ki tikneh (כִּי תִקְנֶה). Tikneh comes from the root qanah (קָנָה), which means to acquire, purchase, or procure. In this context, it doesn't always imply purchase of a person as mere property, but often the acquisition of labor or service, typically due to debt, poverty, or theft (Exo 22:3-4). This form of servitude was distinct from lifelong, inheritable chattel slavery and often served as a temporary solution for the impoverished to avoid starvation or to repay debts.
• an Hebrew servant: The Hebrew is 'eved 'ivri (עֶבֶד עִבְרִי). The term 'eved (עֶבֶד) is broadly translated as "servant," "slave," or "bondservant." The inclusion of 'ivri (Hebrew) is crucial; it refers to a fellow Israelite, highlighting the distinction from foreign slaves (Lev 25:44). This specific designation limits the conditions under which an Israelite could serve another, emphasizing kinship and the communal identity of God's covenant people. The laws surrounding the 'eved 'ivri were far more humane than those for foreign captives or common slaves in other cultures.
• six years: This period of service directly mirrors the six-day creation week and the weekly Sabbath principle. It is a direct application of divine ordering into social justice, demonstrating that human labor, like creation, has a rhythm set by God. This limitation prevents indefinite servitude and provides a fixed term, allowing the servant to plan for their future freedom.
• he shall serve: The Hebrew word ya'avod (יַעֲבֹד) from the root 'avad (עָבַד), means "to work," "to serve," or "to minister." It implies engaging in labor or performing duties. This is the period of required service as recompense or a means of subsistence.
• and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing: This is uvashshevi'it yeitzei lachofshi chinam (וּבַשְּׁבִיעִית יֵצֵא לַחׇפְשִׁי חִנָּם).
  • uvashshevi'it: "And in the seventh." This directly refers to the Sabbath principle applied to the servitude cycle, emphasizing divine intervention in the cycle of labor and rest, even for servants.
  • yeitzei: From the root yatsa (יָצָא), meaning "to go out," "to depart," "to be released." This term denotes a definitive and unencumbered departure, signifying liberation.
  • lachofshi: From the root chofshi (חׇפְשִׁי), meaning "free" or "liberated." This is not a partial release but full, unconditional freedom.
  • chinam: Meaning "for nothing," "freely," "gratuitously," "without cost." This is the cornerstone of the servant's release: no payment or redemption is required from the servant or their family. Their freedom is an act of divine grace reflected in the law.

Words-group analysis:

• "If thou buyest an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve": This phrase establishes the parameters of temporary indentured servitude within Israel. It immediately sets a legal boundary for the length of service for a fellow Israelite, distinguishing it sharply from perpetual or hereditary slavery. This temporary nature ensures that the status of 'servant' is not an inherent identity but a temporary condition of circumstance.
• "and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing": This powerful concluding phrase enshrines the principle of God's redemptive grace into Israelite society. The release "for nothing" emphasizes that freedom is a right guaranteed by God's law, not something earned or paid for at the end. It links directly to the Creator's pattern of work and rest (Sabbath) and symbolizes Israel's own liberation from Egypt, providing a perpetual reminder of God's deliverance and justice. This phrase prevents the cycle of debt from trapping an Israelite indefinitely and ensures regular social resets.

Exodus 21 2 Bonus section

• Unique to Israel: This law, particularly the "free for nothing" clause and the fixed term for internal servitude, was remarkably progressive and humane compared to other ancient Near Eastern law codes like the Code of Hammurabi, which had harsher stipulations and less explicit protections for slaves, often differentiating only based on class. Israel's law inherently reflected a concern for the vulnerable and sought to prevent generational poverty and oppression among its own people.
• Shadow of Christ's Liberation: The concept of freedom "for nothing" (chinam) foreshadows the spiritual redemption offered through Jesus Christ. Believers are "bought with a price" (1 Cor 7:23, referring to Christ's sacrifice), but their personal freedom from sin's bondage is granted freely, without their earning it. Just as the Hebrew servant was released due to a divine decree, not his own merit or payment, so too is salvation given by grace.
• Practical application of Covenant Law: The placement of this law immediately after the Ten Commandments signifies that living out the ethical principles (like "you shall not steal" or "you shall not covet") had tangible, detailed applications in Israel's social and economic life. God's holiness permeated every sphere, not just ritual.

Exodus 21 2 Commentary

Exodus 21:2 is a profound expression of Yahweh's ethical demands and distinguishes the Mosaic Law from all other ancient Near Eastern legal codes concerning servitude. While surrounding cultures codified harsh, often lifelong, and inheritable chattel slavery, God’s law for Israel radically limited and humanized the institution of temporary servitude for its own people. This law wasn't abolishing servitude, which was an entrenched economic reality for debt relief or subsistence in the ancient world, but rather regulating and redeeming it with divine justice and compassion. The seven-year cycle reflects God's cosmic order of Sabbath (six days of labor, seventh for rest), reminding Israel that even the economic activities of society must align with divine principles of release and refreshment. The stipulation "for nothing" is particularly significant, underscoring that a Hebrew's freedom is an act of grace, not a further burden, echoing God's free deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Exo 20:2). This legal framework not only protected the impoverished from perpetual oppression but also served as a constant ethical challenge to masters to embody the character of their liberating God. It set a precedent for humane treatment, emphasizing dignity and eventual full restoration for fellow Israelites, safeguarding their status as "Yahweh's servants" above all earthly servitude.