King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
Complete Jewish Bible:
If he came single, he is to leave single; if he was married when he came, his wife is to go with him when he leaves.
Berean Standard Bible:
If he arrived alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrived with a wife, she is to leave with him.
American Standard Version:
If he come in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he be married, then his wife shall go out with him.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
If he came in{H935} by himself{H1610}, he shall go out{H3318} by himself{H1610}: if he were married{H1167}{H802}, then his wife{H802} shall go out{H3318} with him.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 15:12
- ¶ [And] if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
Deuteronomy 15:14
- Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: [of that] wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 21:3
**Exodus 21:3 Summary:**
This verse is part of the Law of the Hebrew Slave, which is found within the Covenant Code, one of the ancient Israelite law codes contained in the Book of Exodus. The Covenant Code includes regulations that are meant to govern the moral and religious life of Israel, reflecting broader ancient Near Eastern legal traditions while also incorporating unique Israelite theological perspectives.
**Themes:**
1. **Human Dignity and Freedom:** The verse addresses the rights of a Hebrew slave, emphasizing that slavery was not to be a permanent condition. If a slave entered servitude alone, he would leave alone, thus preserving his autonomy.
2. **Family Unity:** The law stipulates that if a slave was married at the time he became a slave, his wife would also be released with him, maintaining the integrity of the family unit. This reflects the value placed on marriage and family in Israelite society.
3. **Justice and Equity:** The regulation ensures that the social status of a person, whether single or married, is considered and respected within the legal system, promoting fair treatment for all individuals.
**Historical Context:**
The Book of Exodus is traditionally understood to have been written during the period of the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt and their subsequent liberation under the leadership of Moses. This particular law would have applied to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land and establish their own society. The laws within Exodus, including those pertaining to slavery, were designed to distinguish the Israelites from their neighbors by instilling a sense of justice and mercy in their social and legal practices.
The historical context of ancient Near Eastern slavery was quite different from modern conceptions. Slavery was an established institution, and the Bible contains laws that both regulate and, in some cases, mitigate its harsher aspects. The provisions in Exodus 21:3 and surrounding verses served to limit the term of servitude and ensure humane treatment, which was relatively progressive for the time.
In summary, Exodus 21:3 reflects the themes of human dignity, family preservation, and fairness within the legal system, and it is set against the backdrop of ancient Near Eastern societal structures where slavery was a common practice. The verse is part of a larger legal code that sought to align the social order of Israel with the ethical principles believed to be mandated by God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H1610
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גַּף
Transliteration: gaph
Pronunciation: gaf
Description: from an unused root meaning to arch; the back; by extension the body or self; [phrase] highest places, himself. - Strong's Number: H3318
There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצָא
Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. - Strong's Number: H1167
There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּעַל
Transliteration: baʻal
Pronunciation: bah'-al
Description: from בָּעַל; a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense); [phrase] archer, [phrase] babbler, [phrase] bird, captain, chief man, [phrase] confederate, [phrase] have to do, [phrase] dreamer, those to whom it is due, [phrase] furious, those that are given to it, great, [phrase] hairy, he that hath it, have, [phrase] horseman, husband, lord, man, [phrase] married, master, person, [phrase] sworn, they of. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.