What is the meaning of Exodus 21:10? If he takes another wife - Scripture frankly acknowledges that some men in ancient Israel chose polygamy, and God set protective boundaries for the vulnerable. - The husband’s choice comes with immediate, non-negotiable obligations toward his first wife. The Lord refuses to let her be sidelined (compare Deuteronomy 21:15-17; Malachi 2:14-16). - Even though Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19:4-6 reveal God’s creational pattern of one man and one woman, Exodus 21:10 shows His justice meeting people where they were, insisting on covenant faithfulness and dignity for every wife. He must not reduce the food - “Food” speaks of daily sustenance—meals, nourishment, the basics that keep a person healthy. • God had already demonstrated His heart to feed His people (Exodus 16:4-18); now He demands the husband mirror that care. • Neglecting family provision is treated as a serious moral failure (Proverbs 27:23-27; 1 Timothy 5:8). - The command is proactive: keep the standard of provision the same as before the second marriage. No cutting corners, no rationing to save costs. Clothing - Clothing represents protection from the elements, modesty, and social dignity. • Jacob vowed that God’s faithfulness included “clothing to wear” (Genesis 28:20). • The virtuous wife’s household “is clothed in scarlet” (Proverbs 31:21), showing abundance, not bare minimum. - The husband must continue supplying garments that fit the season and her status as his wife—tangible evidence that she is still honored. Or marital rights of his first wife - “Marital rights” encompass sexual intimacy, affection, and the personal attention due within the covenant (1 Corinthians 7:3-5; Deuteronomy 24:5; Proverbs 5:18-19). - By binding this into law, God protects the first wife from emotional abandonment and from being relegated to a servant role. - The husband’s heart, time, and body are not his alone; they belong covenantally to his wife, and that responsibility does not shrink because he complicates his household. summary Exodus 21:10 sets ironclad limits around a husband’s freedom: if he takes another wife, he must still provide the same food, the same clothing, and the same conjugal attention to his first wife. The verse exposes God’s unwavering concern for justice and faithfulness in marriage. Even in less-than-ideal settings, the Lord shields the vulnerable, upholds the dignity of women, and calls husbands to consistent, sacrificial care. |
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