This third possible situation is an alternative to the first two (verses 8 and 9). The implication therefore is that the female slave in verse 7 has become the concubine, or wife, of her master. If he takes another wife to himself is literally “if another he takes for him.” Wife is not in the text, so another means “another woman” (New International Version), probably another female slave. The distinction between wife and “concubine” is not always clear, for a female slave who became a concubine was often considered a secondary wife. (See the comment on “concubine” at verse 8.)

He shall not diminish her food is literally “he will not reduce her flesh [or, meat].” He is the “master” in verse 8, and her is the female slave in verse 7, whom he has already taken as a concubine, or wife. The word for diminish is used in 5.8, 19 in reference to the number of bricks that was not “lessened” or reduced. So Good News Translation has “he must continue to give his first wife the same amount of food.”

This also applies to her clothing, literally “her covering,” and her marital rights. The word for marital rights is not used elsewhere in the Old Testament, so its meaning must be determined largely from the context. Most scholars agree that it refers to “conjugal rights” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and others), which include “her right to intercourse” (Durham), or her right to bear her master’s children. Good News Translation prefers to be less definite: “and the same rights that she had before.” Contemporary English Version also has a less definite translation: “treat her as a wife.” Such a broad interpretation, however, is not recommended, since the first two terms, “food and clothing,” are quite specific. Also, verse 11 refers to “these three things,” suggesting that the third one is as specific as the other two. In certain languages explicit mention of “sexual intercourse” will be tolerated, but in many other languages an expression such as “right to bear her master’s children,” will be more natural.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .