Exodus 21:4 kjv

If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.

Exodus 21:4 nkjv

If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.

Exodus 21:4 niv

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.

Exodus 21:4 esv

If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out alone.

Exodus 21:4 nlt

"If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave and they had sons or daughters, then only the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master.

Exodus 21 verses

Exodus 21 4 Meaning

Exodus 21:4 details a specific legal consequence within the "Book of the Covenant" concerning Hebrew servants. It stipulates that if a master gives a male Hebrew servant a wife during his period of servitude, and she bears him children, both the wife and her offspring remain the property of the master when the male servant is released after six years. The male servant, in such a scenario, departs from his service alone, without his family. This clause addresses the complex intersection of servitude, marriage, family, and property rights within ancient Israelite law. The wife in this context is generally understood to be a non-Hebrew female slave owned by the master, as Israelite daughters were not typically given to servants in this manner.

Exodus 21 4 Context

Exodus 21:4 is part of the "Book of the Covenant" (Exod 20:22 - 23:33), which elaborates on the Ten Commandments given at Mount Sinai, providing specific civil and social laws for the newly formed nation of Israel. It immediately follows the initial regulation concerning Hebrew male servants (Exod 21:2-3), which establishes the six-year term of service. This verse addresses a particular circumstance arising from the master's provision of a non-Hebrew wife to a Hebrew servant. In ancient Near Eastern societies, dependents and offspring were often considered part of the household's property. The Israelite law, while reflecting some of these customs, simultaneously established humanitarian boundaries and recognized the inherent dignity of even the lowest members of society to a degree unique among contemporary cultures. The distinction between Israelite debt-servants and foreign "slaves" (who could be perpetual possessions) is crucial here, as it clarifies why the "given wife" and children would remain with the master if they were non-Hebrew chattel. This law sought to bring order to potentially complex familial relationships arising from servitude, balancing the master's rights (who provided the wife and resources for her and the children) with the Hebrew servant's right to freedom after his prescribed term.

Exodus 21 4 Word analysis

• If his master (Hebrew: וְאִם-בְּעָלָיו, və'im bə'alav): "If" indicates a conditional clause, addressing a specific scenario. Ba'al (master, owner, husband) signifies a legal authority figure with proprietary rights over servants and dependents. This highlights the master's dominant legal standing in the relationship.
• has given him (Hebrew: נָתַן לוֹ, natan lo): "Given" implies an active role of the master in providing the wife, not the servant acquiring one independently. This suggests the woman was likely a foreign female slave belonging to the master, whose status as property determined the status of her children.
• a wife (Hebrew: אִשָּׁה, isha): While isha can mean both "woman" or "wife," in this context, it clearly refers to a woman intended to be his partner and to bear children. The nature of this "wife" is key: she is generally understood not to be a free Israelite woman but a female slave, potentially a captured one or bought, who legally belongs to the master.
• and she has borne him (Hebrew: וְיָלְדָה לוֹ, və'yaldah lo): Emphasizes the procreative outcome. The act of bearing children directly to the male servant forms the basis for the next clause's legal determination regarding their status.
• sons or daughters (Hebrew: בָּנִים אוֹ בָנוֹת, banim o vanot): Specific inclusion of both male and female offspring, confirming that the legal status applies to all children born from this union.
• the wife and her children (Hebrew: הָאִשָּׁה וִילָדֶיהָ, ha'isha viyeladeha): Clearly defines the subjects of the subsequent ownership clause. Their status is legally linked. The possessive "her children" highlights their dependence on the mother's status which, in turn, is tied to the master.
• shall be her master’s (Hebrew: תִּהְיֶה לַאֲדֹנֶיהָ, tihye la'adonèha): Directly states the ownership transfer or confirmation. Adoneha (her master) reinforces that the children's status derives from the mother's legal belonging to the master. This underscores the master's enduring proprietary rights over the "given" female slave and her offspring.
• and he shall go out by himself (Hebrew: וְהוּא יֵצֵא בְגַפּוֹ, və'hu yetse v'gappo): "Go out" signifies his release from servitude. "By himself" (v'gappo, literally "in his body" or "alone," implying "bare-handed" from Exod 21:3) highlights the male servant's solitary departure. He only leaves with what he came with originally, reinforcing that the family, if "given" by the master, does not belong to him when he goes free. This ensures the master retains control over his initial investment and property (the wife and subsequent children).

Exodus 21 4 Bonus section

The distinct legal treatment between Israelite and non-Israelite servants is fundamental to understanding Exodus 21:4. Israelite debt-servants were viewed differently from foreign slaves. They were seen as God's property, "redeemed" from Egypt (Lev 25:42), and their servitude was limited to six years, after which they were to be released, ideally with provisions (Deut 15:13-14). Foreign slaves, however, could be perpetual possessions and were often obtained through purchase or war (Lev 25:44-46). Thus, the "wife" in verse 4, given by the master, is consistently interpreted by scholars as a non-Israelite female slave. Her legal status as the master's perpetual property would naturally extend to her children, ensuring the master's ownership. This intricate system balanced God's ultimate ownership over Israelites with the pragmatic needs of a society dealing with debt, poverty, and war, while still setting humanitarian limits largely absent in surrounding nations. The option in Exod 21:5-6 highlights the weight of personal choice and familial attachment within these legal frameworks, elevating the value of relationship beyond strict legalistic definitions of property.

Exodus 21 4 Commentary

Exodus 21:4 lays out a precise legal protocol concerning the master's rights and the servant's freedom within a specific domestic context. It addresses a potential dilemma where a master's provision of a wife to his Hebrew servant could complicate the servant's release. The law clearly stipulates that if the master provides the wife, who is usually understood to be another slave (likely foreign or acquired), then that wife and any children she bears belong to the master, and the Hebrew servant must depart alone. This clause might appear harsh, as it separates a family, yet it defines the boundaries of ownership and contractual servitude in ancient Israel. It reflects a society where "slaves" could be acquired property, and their offspring inherited that status.

However, it is crucial to understand this within the broader Mosaic Law. This law is set against a backdrop where the Israelite debt-servant always had a pathway to freedom, distinguishing Israel from other nations where servitude could be life-long without hope. Furthermore, this very verse (21:4) serves as the setup for the next two verses (21:5-6), which offer a profound alternative: the male servant, out of love for his family, has the option to renounce his freedom and bind himself to perpetual servitude with his family. This demonstrates a tension: while the law clearly defines property rights and limits the freedom of those not initially free Israelites, it also presents an opportunity for a bond of love and loyalty to transcend personal liberty. It balances a societal structure that acknowledged forms of "ownership" with the deeper values of relationship and, significantly, places a profound moral choice into the servant's own hands, highlighting agency even within bondage. The law's underlying principle attempts to prevent conflict over legal title to offspring and ensures the master retains control over his property, yet it implicitly acknowledges the powerful human bonds that could lead a person to choose lifelong servitude for family.