Exodus 21:8 (KJV)

What does Exodus 21:8 mean?

Exodus 21:8 says that if a man who has taken a female servant as a potential wife is not pleased with her, he must allow her to be redeemed (bought back), and he cannot sell her to a foreign people because he has not treated her honestly. This rule protects the woman from being sold off unfairly if the arrangement does not work out.

In this verse, God is giving Moses laws for the Israelites about how to treat female servants, especially those taken as wives or concubines. The verse addresses a situation where a master has betrothed a servant girl to himself but later decides he does not want her. The law requires that she be given the chance to regain her freedom through redemption and forbids selling her to outsiders, highlighting concern for her dignity and fair treatment.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 21:8

• "Please" (רַע, ra‘): This word means "bad" or "evil," so the phrase is often understood as "if she does not please" or "if she is displeasing" to her master, emphasizing that the master's rejection is not just a matter of preference but of dissatisfaction.
• "Betrothed" (יָעַד, ya‘ad): This word means "to appoint" or "to designate," and here it refers to the master formally choosing the servant as a wife or concubine, not just as a worker.
• "Redeemed" (פָּדָה, padah): This means "to be bought back" or "ransomed." The law requires the master to allow her to be redeemed, giving her or her family a way out if the arrangement fails.
• "Deceitfully" (בָּגַד, bagad): This word means "to act treacherously" or "to deal unfaithfully." The verse points out that the master has not dealt honestly with her, so he loses the right to sell her to a foreign nation.

Why Exodus 21:8 matters

• Exodus 21:8 clarifies that female servants who are betrothed have legal protections and cannot simply be sold off if the arrangement ends, countering the idea that they were mere property.
• The verse shows that the law recognized the vulnerability of women in servitude and set boundaries to prevent abuse or exploitation, especially by forbidding sale to foreign nations.
• This law fits into a larger section where God gives detailed instructions to ensure justice and compassion in the treatment of servants, highlighting the value placed on fairness and dignity.