Exodus 21:4
2 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.
3 If he arrived alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrived with a wife, she is to leave with him.
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.
5 But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,’
6 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.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.
- 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.
- WEB
- 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 by himself.
- ASV
- If his master give him a wife and she bear him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master`s, and he shall go out by himself.
- DARBY
- If his master have given him a wife, and she have borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out alone.
- BLB
- If his lord gives to him a wife, and she bears to him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be unto her lord, and he shall go out by himself.
- ÅB
- Dersom hans herre gir ham en hustru, og hun føder ham sønner eller døtre, da skal hustruen og barna høre hennes herre til, og han skal gå enslig bort.
- OTB
- Hvis hans herre gir ham en kone og hun føder ham sønner eller døtre, skal konen og hennes barn tilhøre hennes herre, og han skal dra alene.
- B1930
- Dersom hans herre gir ham en hustru, og hun føder ham sønner eller døtre, da skal hustruen og barna høre hennes herre til, og han skal gå enslig bort.