Exodus 21:4 (KJV)

What does Exodus 21:4 mean?

Exodus 21:4 explains that if a servant is given a wife by his master and they have children together, the wife and children remain the master's property when the servant's term ends, and only the servant himself is set free. This rule is part of the laws given to Israel about servitude and family rights within that system.

In this passage, God is giving instructions to Moses for the Israelites about how to handle situations involving Hebrew servants. The verse addresses a scenario where a master (the person in charge) gives a wife to a male servant during his period of service. If the servant's wife and children were acquired during his servitude, they do not automatically go free with him; instead, the servant leaves alone unless he makes a different legal choice described in the following verses.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 21:4

• אֲדוֹן (’adon, "master"): This word highlights the authority the master has over the servant's family situation, emphasizing the legal rights in this context.
• נָתַן (natan, "given"): The use of this word shows that the wife was provided by the master, making her status different from a wife the servant might have had before entering service.
• אִשָּׁה (ishah, "wife"): This term clarifies that the woman is recognized as a wife, but her legal standing is tied to how she became connected to the servant.
• יָלַד (yalad, "born"): This word refers to the children born during the servant's time in service, showing that their status is also determined by the circumstances of their birth.

Why Exodus 21:4 matters

• Exodus 21:4 clears up that the freedom of a servant at the end of his term did not automatically extend to a wife and children acquired during servitude, which helps explain the social and legal structure of ancient Israel.
• The verse highlights the difference between a wife brought into the marriage by the servant and one given by the master, which affects the family's future.
• Understanding this rule helps make sense of the following verses, where the servant can choose to stay with his family by becoming a permanent servant, showing the personal and legal complexities involved.