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Exodus 21:8

King James Version (KJV)

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— D.L. Moody

Exodus 21:8

Verse 8 of 36

Scripture focus

If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.

Exodus 21:8 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Exodus 21:8

Theological / Devotional

If she please not. If the one who purchased the female slave should refuse to make her his concubine, or secondary wife, then, literally, “he shall allow her redemption.” He was to look for someone to buy her from him and so relieve him of the marriage obligation (v. 11; cf. Lev. 25:48).

He shall have no power. Both the first purchaser and the one who “redeemed” her must be Hebrews and not foreigners. No Hebrew was ever to marry a foreigner (Deut. 7:1-3). By promising to make the girl his secondary wife and failing to do so, her first purchaser “dealt deceitfully,” that is, violated his promise.

By SdaBc