Exodus 21:9 kjv
And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.
Exodus 21:9 nkjv
And if he has betrothed her to his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters.
Exodus 21:9 niv
If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter.
Exodus 21:9 esv
If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter.
Exodus 21:9 nlt
But if the slave's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave but as a daughter.
Exodus 21 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 15:12 | "If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years... then you shall let him go free from you." | Establishes general rules for Hebrew servants, distinguishing Ex 21:7-11's case. |
| Lev 25:39-41 | "If your brother becomes poor beside you and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave: He shall be with you as a hired worker..." | Principles for treating poor brethren with dignity, not as property. |
| Prov 14:31 | "Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him." | Highlighting divine displeasure over oppression and honor through generosity to the poor. |
| Prov 31:8-9 | "Open your mouth for the speechless, for the rights of all who are desolate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy." | A call for justice and advocacy for the vulnerable. |
| Zech 7:9-10 | "Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor..." | Emphasizing social justice, kindness, and protection for vulnerable groups. |
| Deut 24:14-15 | "You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy... lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it become a sin for you." | Prohibition against oppressing laborers, reinforcing equitable treatment. |
| Jas 1:27 | "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." | New Testament call for practical care for the vulnerable, echoing OT values. |
| Deut 21:10-14 | Laws regarding female captives of war, mandating specific procedures and respectful treatment if taken as wives, prohibiting treating them as property after abandonment. | Similar protective laws for women brought into the household. |
| Num 27:1-11 | The case of Zelophehad's daughters, who were granted inheritance rights, indicating that daughters had legal standing and protection for their livelihood. | Establishes rights of daughters, even in unique situations like inheritance. |
| Ps 68:5 | "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation." | God's character as defender and provider for the vulnerable. |
| Jer 31:9 | "...for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn." | God's loving and protective fatherly relationship with His people. |
| Eph 5:25, 28-29 | "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church... he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it..." | Principles of a husband's loving care and provision for his wife. |
| Col 3:19 | "Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them." | Command for husbands to treat wives with gentleness, implying dignity. |
| Matt 7:12 | "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." | The "Golden Rule" applies universally to all interpersonal interactions. |
| Lk 4:18-19 | Jesus declares His mission to preach good news to the poor, release to the captives, and freedom to the oppressed. | Demonstrates God's compassion and commitment to social justice. |
| Mal 2:13-16 | Warning against treachery against wives, emphasizing the sanctity of marriage and protection for wives. | Upholding the sanctity of marital covenants and preventing abuse. |
| Gen 24:67 | Isaac brings Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent, and she became his wife, and he loved her. | Example of a beloved wife's full integration into a family. |
| Gen 29:18-30 | Jacob working for Rachel and Leah. While culturally different, it highlights the process of gaining a wife and related obligations. | Cultural aspect of obtaining a wife. |
| Ex 21:7 | "When a man sells his daughter as a servant, she shall not go out as the male servants do." | Immediate preceding context, setting up the special rules for female servants. |
| Ex 21:10-11 | Details obligations if the son later takes another wife, ensuring continued rights for the first; if these obligations aren't met, she can go free without payment. | Outlines further protections and the seriousness of the marital designation. |
| Lev 18:6-18 | Laws concerning unlawful sexual relations, including incest, reinforcing the purity and sanctity of family relations. | Protecting family structure and defining permissible relations. |
Exodus 21 verses
Exodus 21 9 Meaning
Exodus 21:9 states that if a master designates a Hebrew female servant, purchased from her father, to become a wife for his son, he is legally and morally bound to treat her with the same full rights and dignity as if she were his own biological daughter. This command elevates her status from mere servant or property to that of a family member, ensuring her proper care, provision, and societal standing within the household.
Exodus 21 9 Context
Exodus chapter 21 introduces the "Book of the Covenant" (Ex 20:22-23:33), which elaborates on the Ten Commandments, providing specific civil and social laws for Israel as a nation established by God. This section immediately follows the foundational commands received at Sinai, demonstrating how divine principles are to be applied in daily life. Verses 7-11 specifically address the unique situation of a Hebrew man selling his daughter into servitude. This desperate act, often driven by severe poverty, placed the daughter in a vulnerable position. Unlike a male servant, she was not guaranteed freedom after six years because her future was intricately tied to a potential marital relationship within the master's household. Exodus 21:9 is a pivotal point in this context, legislating a protective measure for this specific young woman if she is designated for the master's son. The broader historical and cultural context is the Ancient Near East, where many cultures treated female slaves as chattel with minimal rights. Israelite law, however, aimed to establish a higher standard of humane treatment, prioritizing dignity and covenantal responsibility even for those in servitude, setting it apart from surrounding legal codes.
Exodus 21 9 Word analysis
And if (וְאִם - v'im): Introduces a conditional clause, signifying a specific legal scenario or possibility within the broader regulations for servants.
he designates her (יִיעֲדֶנָּה - yi'adenna): Derived from the root ya'ad, meaning "to appoint," "assign," "betroth," or "designate." This is not a mere casual intention but a formal act of setting her aside for the son with marital prospects. It implies a significant commitment.
for his son (לִבְנֹו - livno): Specifically indicates the intended beneficiary of the designation. The Hebrew preposition l often signifies "for" or "to." This clarifies the specific familial recipient, which in turn defines the resulting relationship.
he must treat her (יַעֲשֶׂה-לָּהּ - ya'aseh-lah): From asah meaning "to do," "make," "deal with." This is an imperative, demanding specific action or conduct from the master towards the woman.
as a daughter (כְּמִשְׁפַּט הַבָּנֹות - k'mishpat habbanot):
- as (כְּ - k') meaning "like" or "according to."
- the right/custom/manner of (מִשְׁפַּט - mishpat): A key legal and ethical term in Hebrew scripture, signifying a judgment, ordinance, custom, or proper due. It conveys what is right, just, and expected according to law and established social practice. Here, it refers to the legal rights and expected care afforded to a family member, not just sustenance as a slave.
- the daughters (הַבָּנֹות - habbanot): Specifies the group whose legal standing and customary treatment she is to receive. This signifies full integration into the family, extending beyond basic provisions to include aspects of dignity, security, and potential inheritance/well-being usually reserved for biological children. This phrase is a powerful polemic against the reduced status of female slaves in other cultures.
Word-Group Analysis:
- "he designates her for his son": This phrase establishes a binding pre-marital agreement, shifting the woman's status from a general servant to one intended specifically for a familial relationship with the master's son. This act imposes immediate and long-lasting legal and relational obligations on the master.
- "he must treat her as a daughter": This is the core command. "Treat her" goes beyond physical care; it includes upholding her dignity, respecting her, and providing for her overall well-being as if she were a full member of the family by birthright. "As a daughter" highlights inclusion, protection, and legal standing that stands in stark contrast to mere servant status, demanding a complete change in perspective and behavior towards her. It encompasses not just provision of food, clothing, and shelter, but also the love, honor, and social integration due to a daughter.
Exodus 21 9 Bonus section
The specific laws in Exodus 21:7-11 for the female Hebrew slave distinguish her from the male Hebrew slave (Ex 21:2-6), who was automatically freed after six years. The rationale for this difference stems from a compassionate concern for the woman's welfare; her "sale" was implicitly a path to secure her future through marriage within the purchasing family, thus providing long-term security rather than a return to poverty after a short term of service. This law underscores the sacred value of human life and dignity even in difficult circumstances. The Hebrew "misphat" (rights, judgment) found throughout these laws illustrates God's demand for equity and fairness in all aspects of life, especially for those who lack power or status. The protective nature of these regulations also stands in stark contrast to the often harsh and exploitative legal codes found in contemporary Mesopotamian societies, highlighting God's unique moral standard for His people.
Exodus 21 9 Commentary
Exodus 21:9 unveils a foundational principle of God's law: compassion and justice for the vulnerable, even within the complex social structures of the ancient world. When a desperate father sold his daughter, usually due to extreme poverty, she did not become mere chattel. If the master intended her as a wife for his son, she was immediately granted the elevated status of a "daughter" within the household. This meant she was entitled to the full measure of care, respect, and rights that his biological daughters received, encompassing provision, protection, and dignity. This law specifically aimed to prevent exploitation and ensured that the young woman's future was secured within the family, not leaving her vulnerable or dispensable. It underscored the covenantal imperative to deal justly and mercifully with all, embodying a spirit of humane treatment that transcended typical master-servant relationships of the time. The implication is that marriage to the son would confer full familial rights, requiring the same kind of relational obligation as a father owes his own children.