translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: EXO

label: NET translator note

text: The verbs in both the conditional clause and the following ruling are imperfect tense: “If you buy…then he will serve.” The second imperfect tense (the ruling) could be taken either as a specific future or an obligatory imperfect. Gesenius explains how the verb works in the conditional clauses here (see GKC 497 §159. bb ).


text: The adverb חִנָּם ( hinnam ) means “gratis, free”; it is related to the verb “to be gracious, show favor” and the noun “grace.”


text: The tense is imperfect, but in the conditional clause it clearly refers to action that is anterior to the action in the next clause. Heb “if he comes in single, he goes out single,” that is, “if he came in single, he will go out single.”


text: Heb “with his back” meaning “alone.”


text: The phrase says, “if he was the possessor of a wife”; the noun בַּעַל ( ba ’ al ) can mean “possessor” or “husband.” If there was a wife, she shared his fortunes or his servitude; if he entered with her, she would accompany him when he left.


text: The imperfect with the infinitive absolute means that the declaration is unambiguous, that the servant will clearly affirm that he wants to stay with the master. Gesenius says that in a case like this the infinitive emphasizes the importance of the condition on which some consequence depends (GKC 342-43 §113. o ).


text: Or taken as a desiderative imperfect, it would say, “I do not want to go out free.”


text: The word is הָאֱלֹהִים ( ha ’ elohim ). S. R. Driver ( Exodus , 211) says the phrase means “to God,” namely the nearest sanctuary in order that the oath and the ritual might be made solemn, although he does say that it would be done by human judges. That the reference is to Yahweh God is the view also of F. C. Fensham, “New Light on Exodus 21:7 and 22:7 from the Laws of Eshnunna,” JBL 78 (1959): 160-61. Cf. also ASV, NAB, NASB, NCV, NRSV, NLT. Others have made a stronger case that it refers to judges who acted on behalf of God; see C. Gordon, “ אלהים in its Reputed Meaning of Rulers, Judges,” JBL 54 (1935): 134-44; and A. E. Draffkorn, “Ilani/Elohim,” JBL 76 (1957): 216-24; cf. KJV, NIV.


text: Or “till his life’s end” (as in the idiom: “serve him for good”).


text: The word אָמָה (’ amah ) refers to a female servant who would eventually become a concubine or wife; the sale price included the amount for the service as well as the bride price (see B. Jacob, Exodus , 621). The arrangement recognized her honor as an Israelite woman, one who could be a wife, even though she entered the household in service. The marriage was not automatic, as the conditions show, but her treatment was safeguarded come what may. The law was a way, then, for a poor man to provide a better life for a daughter.


text: Heb “and if unpleasant ( רָעָה , ra ’ ah ) in the eyes of her master.”


text: The verb יָעַד ( ya ’ ad ) does not mean “betroth, espouse” as some of the earlier translations had it, but “to designate.” When he bought the girl, he designated her for himself, giving her and her family certain expectations.


text: The verb is a Hiphil perfect with vav ( ו ) consecutive from פָדָה ( padah , “to redeem”). Here in the apodosis the form is equivalent to an imperfect: “let someone redeem her” – perhaps her father if he can, or another. U. Cassuto says it can also mean she can redeem herself and dissolve the relationship ( Exodus , 268).


text: Heb “he has no authority/power,” for the verb means “rule, have dominion.”


text: Or “after the manner of” (KJV, ASV); NRSV “shall deal with her as with a daughter.”


text: “wife” has been supplied.


text: The translation of “food” does not quite do justice to the Hebrew word. It is “flesh.” The issue here is that the family she was to marry into is wealthy, they ate meat. She was not just to be given the basic food the ordinary people ate, but the fine foods that this family ate.


text: The construction uses a Hiphil participle in construct with the noun for “man” (or person as is understood in a law for the nation): “the one striking [of] a man.” This is a casus pendens (independent nominative absolute); it indicates the condition or action that involves further consequence (GKC 361 §116. w ).


text: The Hebrew word וָמֵת ( vamet ) is a Qal perfect with vav consecutive; it means “and he dies” and not “and killed him” (which require another stem). Gesenius notes that this form after a participle is the equivalent of a sentence representing a contingent action (GKC 333 §112. n ). The word shows the result of the action in the opening participle. It is therefore a case of murder or manslaughter.


text: Heb “if he does not lie in wait” (NASB similar).


text: Heb “and God brought into his hand.” The death is unintended, its circumstances outside human control.


text: The word עָרְמָה (’ ormah ) is problematic. It could mean with prior intent, which would be connected with the word in Prov 8:5, 12 which means “understanding” (or “prudence” – fully aware of the way things are). It could be connected also to an Arabic word for “enemy” which would indicate this was done with malice or evil intentions (U. Cassuto, Exodus , 270). The use here seems parallel to the one in Josh 9:4 , an instance involving intentionality and clever deception.


text: Heb “a stealer of a man,” thus “anyone stealing a man.”


text: Literally “and he is found in his hand” (KJV and ASV both similar), being not yet sold.


text: The form is a Piel participle from קָלַל ( qalal ), meaning in Qal “be light,” in Piel “treat lightly, curse, revile, declare contemptible, treat shamefully.” (See its use in Lev 19:14 ; Josh 24:9 ; Judg 9:26-28 ; 1 Sam 3:13; 17:43 ; 2 Sam 16:5-13 ; Prov 30:10-11 ; Eccl 7:21-22; 10:20 .) It is opposite of “honor” ( כָּבֵד , kaved ; Qal “be heavy”; Piel “honor,” as in 20:12 ) and of “bless.” This verse then could refer to any act contrary to the commandment to honor the parents. B. Jacob ( Exodus , 640) cites parallels in Sumerian where people were severely punished for publicly disowning their parents. “21:15, 17 taken together evoke the picture of parents who, physically and verbally, are forcibly turned out of the house (cf. Prov. 19:26 )” (C. Houtman, Exodus , 3:148).


text: Heb “falls to bed.”


text: “and then” has been supplied.


text: The verb is a Hitpael perfect with vav ( ו ) consecutive; it follows the sequence of the imperfect before it – “if he gets up and walks about.” This is proof of recovery.


text: The imperfect tense carries a nuance of obligatory imperfect because this is binding on the one who hit him.


text: Heb “his”; the referent (the injured person) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: The word appears to be the infinitive from the verb “to sit” with a meaning of “his sitting down”; some suggest it is from the verb “to rest” with a meaning “cease.” In either case the point in the context must mean compensation is due for the time he was down.


text: Heb “so that he”; the words “or she” have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.


text: Heb “under his hand.”


text: Heb “will be avenged” (how is not specified).


text: Heb “if he”; the referent (the servant struck and injured in the previous verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “he”; the referent (the owner of the injured servant) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.


text: This last clause is a free paraphrase of the Hebrew, “for he is his money” (so KJV, ASV); NASB “his property.” It seems that if the slave survives a couple of days, it is probable that the master was punishing him and not intending to kill him. If he then dies, there is no penalty other than that the owner loses the slave who is his property – he suffers the loss.


text: This line has occasioned a good deal of discussion. It may indicate that the child was killed, as in a miscarriage; or it may mean that there was a premature birth. The latter view is taken here because of the way the whole section is written: (1) “her children come out” reflects a birth and not the loss of children, (2) there is no serious damage, and (3) payment is to be set for any remuneration. The word אָסוֹן (’ ason ) is translated “serious damage.” The word was taken in Mekilta to mean “death.” U. Cassuto says the point of the phrase is that neither the woman or the children that are born die ( Exodus , 275). But see among the literature on this: M. G. Kline, “ Lex Talionis and the Human Fetus,” JETS 20 (1977): 193-201; W. House, “Miscarriage or Premature Birth: Additional Thoughts on Exodus 21:22-25 ,” WTJ 41 (1978): 108-23; S. E. Loewenstamm, “Exodus XXI 22-25,” VT 27 (1977): 352-60.


text: The word בִּפְלִלִים ( biflilim ) means “with arbitrators.” The point then seems to be that the amount of remuneration for damages that was fixed by the husband had to be approved by the courts. S. R. Driver mentions an alternative to this unusual reading presented by Budde, reading בנפלים as “untimely birth” ( Exodus , 219). See also E. A. Speiser, “The Stem PLL in Hebrew,” JBL 82 (1963): 301-6.


text: The form וְשִׁחֲתָהּ ( vÿshikhatah ) is the Piel perfect with the vav ( ל ) consecutive, rendered “and destroys it.” The verb is a strong one, meaning “to ruin, completely destroy.”


text: Heb “him”; the referent (the male or female servant) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Traditionally “ox,” but “bull” would also be suitable. The term may refer to one of any variety of large cattle.


text: Heb “and he dies”; KJV “that they die”; NAB, NASB “to death.”


text: The text uses סָקוֹל יִסָּקֵל ( saqol yissaqel ), a Qal infinitive absolute with a Niphal imperfect. The infinitive intensifies the imperfect, which here has an obligatory nuance or is a future of instruction.


text: The Hophal perfect has the idea of “attested, testified against.”


text: Heb “he was not keeping it” or perhaps guarding or watching it (referring to the ox).


text: Heb “it”; the referent (the ox) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “he”; the referent (the owner) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “according to this judgment it shall be done to him.”


text: The verb is a Piel imperfect from שָׁלַם ( shalam ); it has the idea of making payment in full, making recompense, repaying. These imperfects could be given a future tense translation as imperfects of instruction, but in the property cases an obligatory imperfect fits better – this is what he is bound or obliged to do – what he must do.


text: Heb “silver.”


text: Here the term “animal” has been supplied.


text: Literally “its silver” or “silver for it.”


text: Heb “divide the dead.” The noun “ox” has been supplied.


text: The construction now uses the same Piel imperfect (v. 34 ) but adds the infinitive absolute to it for emphasis.