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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Exodus 21:4–11

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.
And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
¶ And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.
And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.
If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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8 selected · 2 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

16 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 5

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:14–15Rank 1 from verse 5
    Open

    14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

    15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

  2. Deuteronomy 15:16–17Rank 2 from verse 5
    Open

    16And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;

    17Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.

  3. Isaiah 26:13Rank 3 from verse 5
    Open

    13O Lord our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

From verse 6

  1. Deuteronomy 15:17Rank 1 from verse 6
    Open

    17Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.

  2. Leviticus 25:40Rank 2 from verse 6
    Open

    40But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile:

  3. 1 Samuel 28:2Rank 3 from verse 6
    Open

    2And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

  4. Deuteronomy 19:17–18Rank 4 from verse 6
    Open

    17Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;

    18And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;

  5. 1 Kings 12:7Rank 5 from verse 6
    Open

    7And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.

From verse 7

  1. Nehemiah 5:5Rank 1 from verse 7
    Open

    5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

  2. Exodus 21:2–3Rank 2 from verse 7
    Open

    2If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

    3If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.

From verse 8

  1. Deuteronomy 20:7Rank 1 from verse 8
    Open

    7And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.

  2. Deuteronomy 21:11–14Rank 2 from verse 8
    Open

    11And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;

    12Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;

    13And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.

    14And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.

  3. Exodus 8:29Rank 3 from verse 8
    Open

    29And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.

  4. Genesis 28:8Rank 4 from verse 8
    Open

    8And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;

  5. Judges 14:3Rank 5 from verse 8
    Open

    3Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.

From verse 10

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:1–6Rank 1 from verse 10
    Open

    1NOW concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

    2Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

    3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

    4The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

    5Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

    6But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Exodus 21:4

COMBINED MEANING

master

↗

One possessing authority, ownership, command, supervision, or superior skill: an owner, employer, household head, teacher, leader, ship commander, or lord.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

children

↗

Sons or daughters; descendants; or persons likened to children by age, relation, or character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Exodus 21:5

COMBINED MEANING

servant

↗

One who serves another; a worker, attendant, subject, bondservant, or appointed minister.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

love

↗

Sense 1: Affection, attachment, delight, goodwill, commitment, or devotion. Sense 2: To regard with affection or devotion. Sense 3: A beloved person.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

master

↗

One possessing authority, ownership, command, supervision, or superior skill: an owner, employer, household head, teacher, leader, ship commander, or lord.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

children

↗

Sons or daughters; descendants; or persons likened to children by age, relation, or character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

free

↗

Sense 1: At liberty; released or exempt from bondage, confinement, service, obligation, dominion, guilt, or other restraint. Sense 2: Unrestrained, unobstructed, or at liberty to act or proceed. Sense 3: Willing, voluntary, liberal, or unreserved. Sense 4: Given or received without price, payment, or purchase.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Exodus 21:6

COMBINED MEANING

master

↗

One possessing authority, ownership, command, supervision, or superior skill: an owner, employer, household head, teacher, leader, ship commander, or lord.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

post

↗

Sense 1: An upright structural support or side member of a door, gate, temple, or building. Sense 2: A swift runner or messenger carrying news from place to place.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ear

↗

Sense 1: The organ of hearing. Sense 2: The seed-bearing head of grain.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

serve

↗

To work for, obey, attend, minister to, worship, or fulfil a purpose.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for ever

↗

1. Without end; for all time. 2. Continually or permanently throughout the duration in view.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ever

↗

At any time; always or continually; throughout all time or for ever.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Exodus 21:7

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sell

↗

1. To transfer for a price. 2. To betray or surrender into another's power.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Exodus 21:8

COMBINED MEANING

please

↗

Sense 1: To give pleasure or satisfaction to; to be agreeable or acceptable to; to gratify. Sense 2: To choose, desire, will, or see fit.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

master

↗

One possessing authority, ownership, command, supervision, or superior skill: an owner, employer, household head, teacher, leader, ship commander, or lord.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

betrothed

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of betroth, meaning to bind by promise of marriage; to affiance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Cawdrey 1604 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

let

↗

Sense 1: To allow or permit; in older KJV use, also to hinder or restrain. Sense 2: To lower or send down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

redeemed

↗

Sense 1: Bought back, recovered, or released by payment, substitute, or appointed valuation. Sense 2: Rescued, freed, or delivered from bondage, evil, enemies, death, sin, the curse, or another stated power.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

sell

↗

1. To transfer for a price. 2. To betray or surrender into another's power.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

strange

↗

Foreign; belonging to another country. Wonderful; causing surprise; exciting curiosity.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

power

↗

Sense 1: Ability, strength, force, or effective capacity to act, prevail, or produce an effect. Sense 2: Authority, right, permission, rule, dominion, or control. Sense 3: A person, authority, host, spiritual being, or other agent possessing or manifesting power.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

seeing

↗

1. As a connective, because, since, or in view of a stated fact. 2. Perceiving with the eyes; observing. 3. Recognizing, discerning, understanding, or foreseeing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

dealt

↗

To deal: to distribute, allot, act toward another, or conduct a matter.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

deceitfully

↗

A deceitful manner; fraudulently; with deceit; in a manner or with a view to deceive.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Exodus 21:9

COMBINED MEANING

betrothed

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of betroth, meaning to bind by promise of marriage; to affiance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Cawdrey 1604 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

son

↗

1. A male child or descendant. 2. One belonging to, related to, or characterized by the person, people, place, condition, or quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

deal

↗

Sense 1: A portion, share, or measured quantity. Sense 2: To distribute, conduct oneself, or act toward another.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

after

↗

1. Later than or following in time or order. 2. Behind. 3. In pursuit of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Exodus 21:10

COMBINED MEANING

take

↗

To receive, seize, carry, accept, choose, or lay hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

another

↗

1. In "one another" and like reciprocal or distributive constructions, each the other, or one in relation to the other or others. 2. One other, one more, or a different or additional person or thing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

duty

↗

That which a person owes to another; that which a person is bound, by any natural, moral or legal obligation, to pay, do or perform.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

marriage

↗

Sense 1: The covenant union of a man and a woman as husband and wife. Sense 2: The celebration of that union.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

diminish

↗

To make or become less; to reduce, lessen, take away from, withhold part of, or decrease in amount, extent, strength, rank, or number.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Exodus 21:11

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

free

↗

Sense 1: At liberty; released or exempt from bondage, confinement, service, obligation, dominion, guilt, or other restraint. Sense 2: Unrestrained, unobstructed, or at liberty to act or proceed. Sense 3: Willing, voluntary, liberal, or unreserved. Sense 4: Given or received without price, payment, or purchase.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

without

↗

Outside or on the exterior; beyond a boundary; lacking, absent, free from, not accompanied by, or apart from the person, thing, condition, means, or relation named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

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READ THE PASSAGE

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Suggested context · Exodus 21:1–11

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

21:1NOW these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.

21:2If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

21:3If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.

21:4If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.

Selected passage

21:5And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:

Selected passage

21:6Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

Selected passage

21:7¶ And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.

Selected passage

21:8If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.

Selected passage

21:9And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.

Selected passage

21:10If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.

Selected passage

21:11And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.

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