Exodus 21:3 - If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself. If he is married, then his wife shall go out with him.
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What does "Exodus 21:3" mean?
This verse from Exodus 21:3 outlines the conditions of freedom for a Hebrew slave. Let's break it down:
"If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself." This means if a man was single when he became a slave (likely due to debt), then upon completing his term of service (usually six years, according to Exodus 21:2), he would be released as a single man.
"If he is married, then his wife shall go out with him." This means if the man was already married when he became a slave, his wife would also be freed with him after his term of service.
In Essence: The verse is about the freedom of a Hebrew slave and dictates whether his wife is freed along with him. If he was single when he became a slave, he would be freed alone. If he was married when he became a slave, his wife would be freed with him.
Important Considerations:
This Law Protects Existing Marriages: The law acknowledges and protects the existing marital status of the slave. It ensures that families are not unnecessarily broken up due to servitude.
Context within Exodus 21: It is very important to read this verse within the full context of Exodus 21. The following verses (4-6) introduce a further exception: if the master gave the slave a wife while he was in servitude, and they had children, the wife and children remain the master's property, and the slave must leave alone unless he chooses to remain and have his ear pierced as a sign of perpetual servitude.
In conclusion, Exodus 21:3 established a basic principle of freedom for slaves, acknowledging and protecting their marital status at the time of their servitude, while subsequent verses introduce further complexity depending on the circumstances that arose during that servitude.
Exodus 21:3 - If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself. If he is married, then his wife shall go out with him.
What does "Exodus 21:3" mean?
This verse from Exodus 21:3 outlines the conditions of freedom for a Hebrew slave. Let's break it down:
"If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself." This means if a man was single when he became a slave (likely due to debt), then upon completing his term of service (usually six years, according to Exodus 21:2), he would be released as a single man.
"If he is married, then his wife shall go out with him." This means if the man was already married when he became a slave, his wife would also be freed with him after his term of service.
In Essence: The verse is about the freedom of a Hebrew slave and dictates whether his wife is freed along with him. If he was single when he became a slave, he would be freed alone. If he was married when he became a slave, his wife would be freed with him.
Important Considerations:
This Law Protects Existing Marriages: The law acknowledges and protects the existing marital status of the slave. It ensures that families are not unnecessarily broken up due to servitude.
Context within Exodus 21: It is very important to read this verse within the full context of Exodus 21. The following verses (4-6) introduce a further exception: if the master gave the slave a wife while he was in servitude, and they had children, the wife and children remain the master's property, and the slave must leave alone unless he chooses to remain and have his ear pierced as a sign of perpetual servitude.
In conclusion, Exodus 21:3 established a basic principle of freedom for slaves, acknowledging and protecting their marital status at the time of their servitude, while subsequent verses introduce further complexity depending on the circumstances that arose during that servitude.