Keluaran 21:16

21:16 “Whoever kidnaps someone ¹  and sells him, ²  or is caught still holding him, ³  must surely be put to death.

Keluaran 21:27

21:27 If he knocks out the tooth of his male servant or his female servant, he will let the servant ⁴  go free as compensation for the tooth.

[21:16]  ¹ tn Heb “a stealer of a man,” thus “anyone stealing a man.”

[21:16]  ² sn The implication is that it would be an Israelite citizen who was kidnapped and sold to a foreign tribe or country (like Joseph). There was always a market for slaves. The crime would be in forcibly taking the individual away from his home and religion and putting him into bondage or death.

[21:16]  ³ tn Literally “and he is found in his hand” (KJV and ASV both similar), being not yet sold.

[21:27]  ⁴ tn Heb “him”; the referent (the male or female servant) has been specified in the translation for clarity.