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Exodus 21:5 net — But if the servant should declare,‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’

NET Bible

"But if the servant should declare,‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’"

— Exodus 21:5, NET Bible

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Exodus 21:5 in Other Translations

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Exodus 21 — Context

2

Hebrew Servants“If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years, but in the seventh year he will go out free without paying anything.

3

If he came in by himself he will go out by himself; if he had a wife when he came in, then his wife will go out with him.

4

If his master gave him a wife, and she bore sons or daughters, the wife and the children will belong to her master, and he will go out by himself.

5

But if the servant should declare,‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’

6

then his master must bring him to the judges, and he will bring him to the door or the doorpost, and his master will pierce his ear with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.

7

“If a man sells his daughter as a female servant, she will not go out as the male servants do.

8

If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to a foreign nation, because he has dealt deceitfully with her.

Exodus 21:5 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Exodus 21:5 say?
Exodus 21:5 in the NET Bible reads: “But if the servant should declare,‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’”
Where is Exodus 21:5 in the Bible?
Exodus 21:5 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Exodus, chapter 21, verse 5.
Who wrote Exodus?
Exodus is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). It was written c. 1446–1406 BC.
What is the book of Exodus about?
Exodus tells of Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. Through the plagues, the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the covenant at Sinai, God reveals himself as Redeemer and comes to dwell among his people in the tabernacle.
What are the major themes of Exodus?
Exodus explores themes including Deliverance, Covenant, Law, God's Presence, Worship, Redemption. These themes shape the meaning and context of Exodus 21:5.
What translation should I read Exodus 21:5 in?
Exodus 21:5 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Exodus 21:5?
Exodus 21:5 reads (NET): “But if the servant should declare,‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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