Exodus 21:1
New International Version
“These are the laws you are to set before them:

New Living Translation
“These are the regulations you must present to Israel.

English Standard Version
“Now these are the rules that you shall set before them.

Berean Standard Bible
“These are the ordinances that you are to set before them:

King James Bible
Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.

New King James Version
“Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them:

New American Standard Bible
“Now these are the ordinances which you are to set before them:

NASB 1995
“Now these are the ordinances which you are to set before them:

NASB 1977
“Now these are the ordinances which you are to set before them.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Now these are the judgments which you are to set before them:

Amplified Bible
“Now these are the ordinances (laws) which you shall set before the Israelites:

Christian Standard Bible
“These are the ordinances that you are to set before them:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
These are the ordinances that you must set before them:”

American Standard Version
Now these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD gave Moses the following laws for his people:

English Revised Version
Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[The LORD continued,] "Here are the legal decisions to be used by the Israelites:

Good News Translation
"Give the Israelites the following laws:

International Standard Version
"These are the ordinances that you are to set before them.

Majority Standard Bible
?These are the ordinances that you are to set before them:

NET Bible
"These are the decisions that you will set before them:

New Heart English Bible
"Now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.

World English Bible
“Now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them:
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And these [are] the judgments which you set before them:

Young's Literal Translation
And these are the judgments which thou dost set before them:

Smith's Literal Translation
And these the judgments which thou shalt set before them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
These are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“These are the judgments which you shall place before them:

New American Bible
These are the ordinances you shall lay before them.

New Revised Standard Version
These are the ordinances that you shall set before them:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
NOW these are the judgments which you shall set before them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And these are the judgments that you shall set before them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Laws for Servants
1“These are the ordinances that you are to set before them: 2If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 15:12-18
If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free. / And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. / You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. ...

Leviticus 25:39-46
If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor. / Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. / Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers. ...

Jeremiah 34:8-17
After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD / that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage. / So all the officials and all the people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their menservants and maidservants and no longer hold them in bondage. They obeyed and released them, ...

Nehemiah 5:1-13
About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. / Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” / Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” ...

Matthew 5:17-20
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. / For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. / So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ...

Galatians 3:19-25
Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator. / A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one. / Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law. ...

Romans 7:12
So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.

1 Timothy 1:8-10
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. / We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, / for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching

Colossians 2:14-17
having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! / And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. / Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. ...

Hebrews 8:6-13
Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises. / For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second. / But God found fault with the people and said: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. ...

James 2:8-12
If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. / But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. / Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. ...

Ezekiel 18:5-9
Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right: / He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period. / He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing. ...

Isaiah 42:21
The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law and make it glorious.

Psalm 19:7-11
The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple. / The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. / The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous. ...

1 Corinthians 9:9-10
For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? / Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.


Treasury of Scripture

Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them.

the judgments

Leviticus 18:5,26
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD…

Leviticus 19:37
Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 20:22
Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.

which

Exodus 19:7
And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.

Exodus 24:3,4
And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do…

Deuteronomy 4:5,8
Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it…

Jump to Previous
Judgments Laws Ordinances
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Judgments Laws Ordinances
Exodus 21
1. Laws for men servants
5. For the servant whose ear is bored
7. For women servants
12. For manslaughter
16. For kidnappers
17. For cursers of parents
18. For smiters
22. For a hurt by chance
28. For an ox that gores
33. For him who is an occasion of harm














These are the ordinances
The term "ordinances" refers to specific laws or regulations given by God to the Israelites. These are part of the covenantal laws that follow the Ten Commandments, providing detailed applications for the community. The Hebrew word used here is "mishpatim," which often denotes judgments or legal decisions. This indicates a structured legal system intended to guide the moral and social conduct of the Israelites. The ordinances are part of the broader Mosaic Law, which includes moral, ceremonial, and civil laws. These laws reflect God's character and His desire for justice and righteousness among His people.

that you are to set before them:
Moses is instructed to present these laws to the Israelites, emphasizing the role of leadership in teaching and upholding God's commandments. The phrase "set before them" implies clarity and accessibility, ensuring that the people understand the laws they are to follow. This reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where God provides guidance, and the people are expected to obey. The setting of these laws before the people also foreshadows the New Covenant, where God's laws are written on the hearts of believers (Jeremiah 31:33). Moses acts as a mediator, a type of Christ, who also sets forth God's commandments and teachings to His followers.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who received the laws and ordinances from God on Mount Sinai. He is the mediator between God and the people.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and are now receiving God's laws to govern their community.

3. Mount Sinai
The place where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and other laws, including the ordinances in Exodus 21.

4. God
The divine lawgiver who provides these ordinances to guide His people in righteousness and justice.

5. Covenant
The agreement between God and the Israelites, of which these ordinances are a part, establishing the terms of their relationship.
Teaching Points
Understanding God's Justice
The ordinances in Exodus 21 reflect God's justice and concern for order within the community. They provide a framework for fair treatment and accountability.

The Role of Law in Society
These laws were given to maintain social order and protect individuals, especially the vulnerable. They remind us of the importance of laws in promoting justice and peace.

Moral and Ethical Living
The ordinances serve as a guide for moral and ethical behavior, encouraging us to live in a way that honors God and respects others.

Covenant Relationship
The giving of these ordinances is part of God's covenant with Israel, reminding us of the importance of living in faithful relationship with God.

Application to Modern Life
While the specific ordinances may not directly apply today, the principles of justice, fairness, and respect for others are timeless and relevant.XXI.

LAWS CONCERNING THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS.

(1) These are the judgments.--"The laws" (Knobel), "the rights" (Keil), "the rules which shall guide judicial decisions" (Pool). The paraphrase alone gives the full meaning.

Verse 1. - These are the judgments. The term "judgment" applies most properly to the decisions of courts and the laws founded upon them. No doubt the laws contained in the "Book of the Covenant" were to a large extent old laws, which had been often acted on; but we should do wrong to suppose that there was nothing new in the legislation. The Hebrew mishphat is used with some vagueness. Vers 2-11. -

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
These
וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (wə·’êl·leh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

are the ordinances
הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים (ham·miš·pā·ṭîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

that
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you are to set
תָּשִׂ֖ים (tā·śîm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

before them:
לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ (lip̄·nê·hem)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face


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OT Law: Exodus 21:1 Now these are the ordinances which you (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 20:26
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