Exodus 21:5
3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
4 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.
And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
7 And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
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
- But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,’
- KJV
- And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
- WEB
- But if the servant shall plainly say, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children. I will not go out free;’
- ASV
- But if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
- DARBY
- But if the bondman shall say distinctly, I love my master, my wife, and my children, I will not go free;
- BLB
- And if the servant surely declares, ‘I love my lord, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’
- ÅB
- Men dersom slaven sier: Jeg holder av min herre, min hustru og mine barn, jeg vil ikke være fri og gå bort,
- OTB
- Men hvis tjeneren erklærer: ‘Jeg har hengivenhet for min herre, min kone og mine barn; jeg vil ikke dra som en fri mann,’
- B1930
- Men dersom trælen sier: Jeg holder av min herre, min hustru og mine barn, jeg vil ikke være fri og gå bort,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Corinthians 5:14–15
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
Read in contextDeuteronomy 15:16–17
And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;
Read in contextIsaiah 26:13
O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.
Read in context