Exodus 21:2

KJV

If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

KJV (with Strong's)

If thou buy {H7069} an Hebrew {H5680} servant {H5650}, six {H8337} years {H8141} he shall serve {H5647}: and in the seventh {H7637} he shall go out {H3318} free {H2670} for nothing {H2600}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"If you purchase a Hebrew slave, he is to work six years; but in the seventh, he is to be given his freedom without having to pay anything.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 21:2 introduces the foundational law concerning Hebrew indentured servants, establishing a maximum term of six years for their service. This statute mandates their unconditional release in the seventh year, "for nothing," thereby preventing perpetual bondage and ensuring a cycle of freedom and restoration. This law reflects God's profound concern for justice, mercy, and the inherent dignity of individuals, particularly those facing economic hardship within the covenant community.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Exodus 21:2 marks the beginning of the "Book of the Covenant" (found in [Exodus 20:22-23:33](/exodus/20-22 "Exodus 20:22-23:33 - The Book of the Covenant")), a detailed collection of civil and social laws given to Israel immediately after the foundational [Ten Commandments](/exodus/20 "Exodus 20 - The Ten Commandments"). These specific statutes serve to apply the broad moral principles of the Decalogue to the practicalities of daily life within the nascent Israelite society. The laws concerning servants (Exodus 21:2-11) are strategically placed first, emphasizing the sanctity of human life and liberty, even before regulations on personal injury or property rights. This placement underscores the theological priority of human dignity and the prevention of exploitation within the covenant community.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the Ancient Near East, various forms of servitude and slavery were common, often involving perpetual bondage or extremely harsh conditions. However, the Israelite law, as revealed in [Exodus 21](/exodus/21 "Exodus 21 - Laws for Israelite Society"), presented a radical departure. Unlike chattel slavery, the "Hebrew servant" (עֶבֶד עִבְרִי, *'eved 'ivri*) typically referred to a fellow Israelite who had sold themselves into service due to poverty, debt, or as a form of restitution. This was a temporary, regulated form of indentured labor, not a permanent state of dehumanization. The stipulation of a six-year limit and a seventh-year release directly contrasted with the practices of surrounding nations and was deeply rooted in Israel's own experience of deliverance from slavery in Egypt (cf. [Deuteronomy 5:15](/deuteronomy/5-15 "Deuteronomy 5:15 - Remember You Were Slaves in Egypt")). Furthermore, the pattern of six years of labor followed by a year of rest or release echoes the Sabbath principle, seen in the creation account ([Genesis 2:2-3](/genesis/2-2 "Genesis 2:2-3 - God Rests on the Seventh Day")) and the agricultural Sabbath year for the land ([Leviticus 25:1-7](/leviticus/25-1 "Leviticus 25:1-7 - The Sabbath Year for the Land")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hebrew servant (עֶבֶד עִבְרִי, _'eved 'ivri'_):** This term specifically denotes an Israelite who has entered into a temporary state of servitude, typically due to economic hardship, debt, or as a consequence of theft (cf. [Exodus 22:3](/exodus/22-3 "Exodus 22:3 - If a Thief Cannot Pay")). It distinguishes this individual from foreign slaves or those captured in war, emphasizing their shared covenant identity and thus, their inherent right to eventual freedom within the community. This was a social safety net, not a system of chattel slavery.
* **six years (שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים, _shesh shanim'_):** This phrase establishes a strict and non-negotiable limit on the duration of service. The number six, often associated with human labor and completion before divine rest, underscores the temporary nature of this arrangement and prevents the exploitation of individuals through perpetual bondage. It reflects a divine rhythm for human activity.
* **for nothing (חִנָּם, _chinnam'_):** This adverb emphatically highlights the unconditional nature of the servant's release. It signifies that the servant is not required to pay any sum or fulfill any further obligation to gain their freedom. This "free for nothing" principle underscores God's grace embedded within the legal framework, ensuring that freedom is a gift, not a commodity to be earned or purchased by the one in servitude.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"If thou buy a Hebrew servant,"**: This clause establishes the premise of the law, addressing the scenario where an Israelite acquires the service of another Israelite. The term "buy" here refers to the acquisition of labor or service rights, often in exchange for payment of a debt or for sustenance, rather than the purchase of a person as property. It acknowledges a social reality while immediately setting parameters for ethical engagement.
* **"six years he shall serve:"**: This is the core stipulation of the law, setting a definitive temporal limit on the period of servitude. This six-year term was revolutionary in the ancient world, designed to prevent the indefinite exploitation of the vulnerable and to uphold the dignity of fellow Israelites who, like all of Israel, had been redeemed from bondage in Egypt. It reflects a divine principle of limited labor and eventual rest.
* **"and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing."**: This concluding clause mandates the unconditional release of the servant in the seventh year. The phrase "for nothing" (חִנָּם, *chinnam*) powerfully emphasizes that this freedom is an unmerited gift, not something the servant earns or pays for. This aligns the release with the broader Sabbath principle of rest and liberation, extending divine grace and restoration to the individual.

#### Literary Devices
The passage primarily employs a **Casuistic Law** format, characterized by its "if...then" structure, which applies general moral principles to specific, real-life situations. This legal style ensures clarity and provides practical guidance for the Israelite community. Furthermore, there is a clear **Parallelism** at play, echoing the divine pattern of six days of labor followed by a seventh day of rest, as seen in the creation narrative and the Sabbath commandment. This repetition of the 6+1 cycle reinforces the theological underpinnings of the law, suggesting a divinely ordained rhythm for both work and rest, as well as for periods of servitude and liberation. The law also utilizes **Contrast** by implicitly setting Israelite practice apart from the harsher, often perpetual, forms of servitude prevalent in surrounding Ancient Near Eastern cultures. This contrast highlights God's unique covenant with Israel and His particular concern for human dignity and freedom within that covenant.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 21:2 is a profound testament to God's character as a God of justice, mercy, and liberation. It reveals His deep concern for the vulnerable and His commitment to preventing the exploitation of the poor. The law establishes a divinely ordained rhythm of work and rest, not only for the land but also for human beings, ensuring that even in conditions of servitude, human dignity and the hope of freedom are preserved. This principle of release "for nothing" foreshadows the unmerited grace that is central to God's redemptive plan, reminding Israel that their own freedom from Egyptian bondage was a gift, not earned. It teaches that true freedom is ultimately a divine provision.

* [Deuteronomy 15:12-18](/deuteronomy/15-12 "Deuteronomy 15:12-18 - Laws Concerning the Release of Servants")
* [Leviticus 25:8-12](/leviticus/25-8 "Leviticus 25:8-12 - The Year of Jubilee")
* [Jeremiah 34:8-11](/jeremiah/34-8 "Jeremiah 34:8-11 - Breaking the Covenant of Release")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 21:2, while addressing an ancient social structure, carries timeless principles that resonate deeply with our contemporary lives. It compels us to consider God's unwavering commitment to justice and compassion for the marginalized and indebted. The law's emphasis on limited servitude and unconditional release reminds us that human dignity is paramount and that no one should be perpetually bound by circumstances, debt, or the power of another. It challenges us to examine systems and practices in our own societies that might perpetuate cycles of poverty or exploitation, whether economic, social, or even psychological. Furthermore, the "seventh year" principle invites us to consider the importance of rest, restoration, and periodic release from the burdens that can overwhelm us. It encourages us to cultivate a posture of grace, both in giving and receiving, recognizing that true freedom is often a gift, not something we can earn.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's concern for the "Hebrew servant" in this ancient law inform our responsibility towards the vulnerable and indebted in our modern society?**
* **In what areas of our lives might we be experiencing a form of "servitude" (e.g., debt, workaholism, unhealthy relationships) from which we need to seek a "seventh year" of release and restoration?**
* **What does the phrase "go out free for nothing" teach us about the nature of true freedom, both in a societal context and in our spiritual journey?**

### FAQ
**Is this passage endorsing slavery?**

Answer: No, this passage does not endorse perpetual or chattel slavery as understood in many historical contexts. Instead, it regulates a specific form of indentured servitude among fellow Israelites, often entered into voluntarily due to debt or poverty. The law's primary purpose is to *limit* such servitude, ensuring it is temporary (maximum six years) and culminates in an unconditional release. This stands in stark contrast to the brutal and lifelong slavery practiced by many surrounding nations, highlighting God's unique concern for human dignity and the prevention of exploitation within His covenant people.

**Why is the term "Hebrew servant" used, and what's the significance of the "seventh year"?**

Answer: The term "Hebrew servant" (עֶבֶד עִבְרִי, *'eved 'ivri*) specifically refers to an Israelite who has sold themselves into service, typically as a means of debt repayment or survival during economic hardship. This distinction is crucial, as the laws for foreign slaves were different. The "seventh year" is significant because it aligns with the Sabbath principle, deeply embedded in Israelite theology and law. Just as God rested on the seventh day after creation ([Genesis 2:2-3](/genesis/2-2 "Genesis 2:2-3 - God Rests on the Seventh Day")), and the land was to rest every seventh year ([Leviticus 25:1-7](/leviticus/25-1 "Leviticus 25:1-7 - The Sabbath Year for the Land")), so too was the Hebrew servant to be released. This pattern emphasizes a divine rhythm of work and rest, and ultimately, a cycle of liberation and restoration, reflecting God's redemptive character.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 21:2, with its emphasis on a limited term of servitude and an unconditional release "for nothing," powerfully foreshadows the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Humanity, in its fallen state, is universally enslaved to sin ([Romans 6:17](/romans/6-17 "Romans 6:17 - Slaves to Sin")) and bound by the law's demands, unable to earn its own freedom. Jesus, the ultimate "Servant" of God ([Isaiah 53:11](/isaiah/53-11 "Isaiah 53:11 - The Suffering Servant")), entered into human flesh and perfectly fulfilled the law, offering Himself as the once-for-all sacrifice for sin. Through His atoning work on the cross, He purchased our freedom, not with silver or gold, but with His precious blood ([1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redeemed by Christ's Blood")). This freedom is given to us "for nothing" on our part—it is a gift of unmerited grace ([Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Saved by Grace Through Faith")). Just as the Hebrew servant found release in the seventh year, Christ brings the ultimate Jubilee, proclaiming liberty to the captives and opening the prison to those who are bound ([Luke 4:18](/luke/4-18 "Luke 4:18 - Jesus Proclaims His Mission")). He is our true rest, our Sabbath, offering eternal freedom and spiritual release from the bondage of sin and death to all who believe ([Hebrews 4:9-10](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9-10 - The Sabbath Rest for God's People")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.