What does Exodus 21:4 teach about the rights of servants and their families? Setting the Verse in Context Exodus 21 opens with God’s civil regulations for Israel directly after the Ten Commandments. Verses 2-6 outline the limits of Hebrew servitude, stressing that service is temporary and humane. Verse 4 sits in the middle of that paragraph and clarifies how marriage and family are handled when a servant’s wife was provided by the master. What the Verse Says “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 the man shall go out alone.” (Exodus 21:4) Key Observations • The servant’s marriage took place under the master’s oversight. • Any children born of that union were considered part of the master’s household. • At the end of the mandatory six-year term (v. 2), the male servant could leave, but he did not automatically take wife and children unless further steps were taken (vv. 5-6). • The passage never condones harshness; instead it regulates and limits a practice common in the ancient Near East. Rights Affirmed in Exodus 21:4 • Right to Freedom After Service: The male servant’s freedom after six years is non-negotiable (v. 2). Exodus 21:4 presumes he may “go out,” underscoring that servitude is temporary, not perpetual. • Right to Marry: Masters could arrange marriages, but the very mention validates the servant’s right to a family life while in service. • Right of the Master to Retain Household Members He Provided: If the wife was already the master’s slave, both she and her children remained his property. This protected the master from economic loss when he had invested resources to support the new family. • Right of the Servant to Choose Permanent Status: Verses 5-6 give the servant the option to stay voluntarily so the family can remain intact. This is not forced servitude; it is a personal decision, marked by the public ear-piercing ritual at the doorpost. • Protection for the Wife and Children: Remaining with the master ensured their ongoing provision, housing, and societal status. Broader Biblical Balance • Exodus 21:2-6 shows freedom after six years, with voluntary lifelong service only by choice. • Deuteronomy 15:12-17 repeats this law and adds that the freed servant must receive generous provisions (“you shall furnish him liberally,” v. 14). • Leviticus 25:39-43 forbids treating Hebrew servants ruthlessly and emphasizes they are God’s servants first. • New Testament passages (Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 4:1) call masters to fairness, underscoring that God judges both parties. • 1 Corinthians 7:21 encourages bond-servants to gain freedom if possible, showing liberty is preferable when attainable. Principles for Today • God defends human dignity even within fallen social structures, setting limits, rights, and protections. • Family ties matter to God; He provided a legal path for a servant to preserve his household. • Ownership and stewardship are distinct: earthly masters possess legal rights, yet ultimate ownership belongs to God (Psalm 24:1). • The voluntary lifelong servant foreshadows wholehearted devotion to Christ (Psalm 40:6-8; Hebrews 10:5-10). Our Savior chose the posture of a servant so we could be free (Philippians 2:5-8). |
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