◄ Exodus 21:5 ►
But if the servant declares, 'I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,'
Study Bible
But if the servant declares
The Hebrew word for "servant" here is "עֶבֶד" (eved), which can mean servant, slave, or bondservant. In ancient Israel, servitude was often a form of debt repayment or poverty alleviation, distinct from the harsh slavery seen in other cultures. The phrase "declares" indicates a voluntary and public proclamation, emphasizing the servant's agency and choice in the matter. This declaration is a significant moment, reflecting a deep personal decision.

I love my master
The Hebrew word for "love" is "אָהַב" (ahav), which conveys deep affection and loyalty. This love is not merely emotional but is rooted in a covenantal relationship. The servant's love for the master suggests a benevolent and just relationship, where the master has treated the servant with kindness and respect, fostering a bond that transcends mere obligation.

and my wife and children
The inclusion of "wife and children" highlights the familial bonds that have formed during the period of servitude. In the context of ancient Israel, family was central to one's identity and social structure. The servant's decision to remain is not just about personal comfort but about maintaining the unity and well-being of his family. This reflects the biblical emphasis on the family as a foundational institution ordained by God.

I do not want to go free
The phrase "do not want" indicates a deliberate choice against freedom, which in this context means leaving the master's household. The Hebrew root "חָפֵץ" (chafetz) implies delight or desire, suggesting that the servant finds greater joy and fulfillment in his current situation than in the prospect of freedom. This choice underscores the servant's contentment and satisfaction with his life and relationships within the master's household.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Servant (Hebrew: ?????, 'ebed')
In the context of ancient Israel, a servant could be a Hebrew who sold himself into servitude due to debt or poverty. This verse addresses the situation where a servant chooses to remain with his master after his term of service.

2. Master (Hebrew: ??????, 'adon')
The master is the one who has authority over the servant. In this context, the relationship is depicted as one that can be based on mutual respect and love.

3. Wife and Children
The servant's family, which he may have acquired during his time of service. The decision to stay is often motivated by love and the desire to remain with them.

4. Declaration of Love
The servant's voluntary declaration to remain with his master, which is a significant act of loyalty and love.

5. Event of Choosing Bondage
This is a legal and personal decision where the servant chooses to remain in servitude out of love, rather than obligation.
Teaching Points
Voluntary Servitude as an Act of Love
The decision of the servant to remain with his master is a profound act of love and loyalty. It reflects a relationship that transcends mere duty and enters into a covenant of love.

The Role of Family in Decision-Making
The servant's choice is heavily influenced by his love for his family. This highlights the importance of family bonds and the sacrifices one might make for their well-being.

Freedom in Choosing Service
True freedom is found in choosing whom or what we serve. The servant's choice to remain is a powerful metaphor for the Christian life, where believers choose to serve Christ out of love.

Symbolism of Ear Piercing
The act of piercing the ear symbolizes a permanent commitment. In a spiritual sense, it represents the believer's commitment to Christ, marked by a public declaration of faith.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the servant's decision to stay with his master reveal about the nature of their relationship?

2. How does the concept of voluntary servitude in Exodus 21:5 relate to the New Testament teachings on being a servant of Christ?

3. In what ways can the servant's love for his family inform our understanding of Christian family values and responsibilities?

4. How does the act of ear piercing as a sign of permanent servitude parallel the Christian's commitment to Christ?

5. Reflect on a time when you had to make a decision based on love and loyalty. How did your faith influence that decision?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 15:16-17
This passage provides further instructions on the procedure when a servant chooses to stay with his master, including the ritual of piercing the servant's ear as a sign of permanent servitude.

John 15:15
Jesus speaks of no longer calling His followers servants, but friends, highlighting a relationship based on love and choice rather than obligation.

Romans 6:16-18
Paul discusses being slaves to righteousness, drawing a parallel to choosing servitude out of love and commitment to God.
Sermons
Regulations for the Treatment of SlavesD. Young Exodus 21:1-11
Attachment to a MasterGreat ThoughtsExodus 21:2-6
Love for a MasterH. O. Mackey.Exodus 21:2-6
Slavery and SovereigntyW. Burrows, B. A.Exodus 21:2-6
The Ear Bored with an AulSpurgeon, Charles HaddonExodus 21:2-6
Hebrew Bond-ServiceJ. Orr Exodus 21:2-12
Mine Ears Hast Thou OpenedG.A. Goodhart Exodus 21:5, 6
People
Moses
Places
Mount Sinai
Topics
Bondman, Clearly, Dear, Declares, Depart, Desire, Distinctly, Free, Love, Loved, Master, Plainly, Really, Says, Servant, Slave, Sons, Wife
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 21:2-6

     5358   judges
     7447   slavery, in OT
     8343   servanthood, in society

Exodus 21:2-11

     5504   rights

Exodus 21:2-14

     5378   law, OT

Exodus 21:5-6

     5148   ear
     5523   servants, good
     5571   surgery

Library
The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws
[Sidenote: First the principle, and then the detailed laws] If the canon of the New Testament had remained open as long as did that of the Old, there is little doubt that it also would have contained many laws, legal precedents, and ecclesiastical histories. From the writings of the Church Fathers and the records of the Catholic Church it is possible to conjecture what these in general would have been. The early history of Christianity illustrates the universal fact that the broad principles are …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

The Kinsman Redeemer
'After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him.'--LEV. xxv. 48. There are several of the institutions and precepts of the Mosaic legislation which, though not prophetic, nor typical, have yet remarkable correspondences with lofty Christian truth. They may be used as symbols, if only we remember that we are diverting them from their original purpose. How singularly these words lend themselves to the statement of the very central truths of Christianity--a slavery …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Non-Resistance
'Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.'--MATT. v. 38-42. The old law …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Discourse of the Building, Nature, Excellency, and Government of the House of God; with Counsels and Directions to the Inhabitants Thereof.
BY JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. 'Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.'--Psalm 26:8 ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Beautiful in its simplicity is this treatise on the Church of Christ, by John Bunyan. He opens, with profound knowledge and eminent skill, all those portions of sacred writ which illustrate the nature, excellency, and government of the house of God, with the personal and relative duties of its inhabitants. It was originally published in …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
BY A.E. GRIMKE. "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:--and so will I go in unto the king, …
Angelina Emily Grimke—An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South

The Doctrine of Non-Resistance to Evil by Force Has Been Professed by a Minority of Men from the Very Foundation of Christianity. Of the Book "What
CHAPTER I. THE DOCTRINE OF NON-RESISTANCE TO EVIL BY FORCE HAS BEEN PROFESSED BY A MINORITY OF MEN FROM THE VERY FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIANITY. Of the Book "What I Believe"--The Correspondence Evoked by it-- Letters from Quakers--Garrison's Declaration--Adin Ballou, his Works, his Catechism--Helchitsky's "Net of Faith"--The Attitude of the World to Works Elucidating Christ's Teaching--Dymond's Book "On War"--Musser's "Non-resistance Asserted"--Attitude of the Government in 1818 to Men who Refused to …
Leo Tolstoy—The Kingdom of God is within you

The Sermon on the Mount - the Kingdom of Christ and Rabbinic Teaching.
It was probably on one of those mountain-ranges, which stretch to the north of Capernaum, that Jesus had spent the night of lonely prayer, which preceded the designation of the twelve to the Apostolate. As the soft spring morning broke, He called up those who had learned to follow Him, and from among them chose the twelve, who were to be His Ambassadors and Representatives. [2500] [2501] But already the early light had guided the eager multitude which, from all parts, had come to the broad level …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes - Examination of their Distinctive Doctrines.
APART from the repulsively carnal form which it had taken, there is something absolutely sublime in the continuance and intensity of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah. It outlived not only the delay of long centuries, but the persecutions and scattering of the people; it continued under the disappointment of the Maccabees, the rule of a Herod, the administration of a corrupt and contemptible Priesthood, and, finally, the government of Rome as represented by a Pilate; nay, it grew in intensity …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not kill.' Exod 20: 13. In this commandment is a sin forbidden, which is murder, Thou shalt not kill,' and a duty implied, which is, to preserve our own life, and the life of others. The sin forbidden is murder: Thou shalt not kill.' Here two things are to be understood, the not injuring another, nor ourselves. I. The not injuring another. [1] We must not injure another in his name. A good name is a precious balsam.' It is a great cruelty to murder a man in his name. We injure others in …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

That Deep Things Ought not to be Preached at all to Weak Souls.
But the preacher should know how to avoid drawing the mind of his hearer beyond its strength, lest, so to speak, the string of the soul, when stretched more than it can bear, should be broken. For all deep things should be covered up before a multitude of hearers, and scarcely opened to a few. For hence the Truth in person says, Who, thinkest thou, is the faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord has appointed over his household, to give them their measure of wheat in due season? (Luke xii. 42). …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia.
Part I. History of the Councils. Reason why two Councils were called. Inconsistency and folly of calling any; and of the style of the Arian formularies; occasion of the Nicene Council; proceedings at Ariminum; Letter of the Council to Constantius; its decree. Proceedings at Seleucia; reflections on the conduct of the Arians. 1. Perhaps news has reached even yourselves concerning the Council, which is at this time the subject of general conversation; for letters both from the Emperor and the Prefects …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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