Keluaran 21:7-9

21:7 “If a man sells his daughter ¹  as a female servant, ²  she will not go out as the male servants do. 21:8 If she does not please ³  her master, who has designated her ⁴  for himself, then he must let her be redeemed. ⁵  He has no right ⁶  to sell her to a foreign nation, because he has dealt deceitfully ⁷  with her. 21:9 If he designated her for his son, then he will deal with her according to the customary rights ⁸  of daughters.

[21:7]  ¹ sn This paragraph is troubling to modern readers, but given the way that marriages were contracted and the way people lived in the ancient world, it was a good provision for people who might want to find a better life for their daughter. On the subject in general for this chapter, see W. M. Swartley, Slavery, Sabbath, War, and Women, 31-64.

[21:7]  ² tn The word אָמָה (’amah) refers to a female servant who would eventually become a concubine or wife; the sale price included the amount for the service as well as the bride price (see B. Jacob, Exodus, 621). The arrangement recognized her honor as an Israelite woman, one who could be a wife, even though she entered the household in service. The marriage was not automatic, as the conditions show, but her treatment was safeguarded come what may. The law was a way, then, for a poor man to provide a better life for a daughter.

[21:8]  ³ tn Heb “and if unpleasant (רָעָה, ra’ah) in the eyes of her master.”

[21:8]  ⁴ tn The verb יָעַד (ya’ad) does not mean “betroth, espouse” as some of the earlier translations had it, but “to designate.” When he bought the girl, he designated her for himself, giving her and her family certain expectations.

[21:8]  ⁵ tn The verb is a Hiphil perfect with vav (ו) consecutive from פָדָה (padah, “to redeem”). Here in the apodosis the form is equivalent to an imperfect: “let someone redeem her” – perhaps her father if he can, or another. U. Cassuto says it can also mean she can redeem herself and dissolve the relationship (Exodus, 268).

[21:8]  ⁶ tn Heb “he has no authority/power,” for the verb means “rule, have dominion.”

[21:8]  ⁷ sn The deceit is in not making her his wife or concubine as the arrangement had stipulated.

[21:9]  ⁸ tn Or “after the manner of” (KJV, ASV); NRSV “shall deal with her as with a daughter.”