If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.
If his master gave him a wife during his time of service, and she had children with him, then the wife and children belong to the master, and the servant must leave alone when his service ends.
This verse describes how Hebrew servants who married during their service period would have to leave their families behind when their service term ended, since the family belonged to the master.
📚 Historical Context
In the ancient Israelite society, as described in the Book of Exodus, God was giving laws to regulate slavery among the Hebrews, ensuring some protections for slaves that were uncommon in surrounding cultures. This verse specifically deals with a male slave who was to be released after six years of service but had been given a wife by his master, resulting in children; it stipulates that the wife and children would remain with the master if the slave left. These rules reflected the economic and social realities of the time, where slaves were considered property, yet God's laws aimed to limit abuses and promote justice.
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