This is the first of four possible situations, or “cases,” in which the slave girl of verse 7 may find herself. They are introduced with the conjunction ʾim (If) in contrast to the ki in verse 7. If she does not please her master is literally “If evil [or, displeasing] in the eyes of her lord.” This does not indicate why she might be displeasing. Durham has “If she is unsatisfactory.”

Who has designated her for himself, literally “who for him assigned her,” means “who has selected her for himself” (New International Version). Contemporary English Version has “who bought her to be his wife”; but Translator’s Old Testament‘s use of “concubine” instead of “wife” is more correct. In ancient Israel it was quite acceptable for a married man to take a concubine, especially if his wife was unable to bear him a son. But she was always considered to be of lower status than the first wife, even though she was sometimes referred to as a second “wife.” (See verse 10.) In a number of languages this will be expressed as “minor [or, small] wife.” For himself is one word in the Hebrew that may also be read as “not,” as the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates. New English Bible‘s attempt to follow that reading has been rejected by Revised English Bible, and most scholars prefer to read for himself. Another model for these first two clauses is “If the man who bought her to be his concubine [or, minor wife] is not pleased with her.”

Then he shall let her be redeemed is literally “and he will cause her to be ransomed.” This means that “he must let her be bought back” (New Jerusalem Bible), and Good News Translation interprets it as “then she is to be sold back to her father.” In languages that do not use the passive voice, this clause may be expressed as “then he must let her father buy her back.” He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people is literally “he will not rule [or, be empowered] to sell her to a strange people.” Good News Translation puts it simply: “her master cannot sell her to foreigners.” Foreign people or “strangers” (New English Bible) here certainly refers to non-Israelites, but it may also refer to other people outside the biological families of both the woman and her master. However, “foreigners” is the more likely interpretation.

Since he has dealt faithlessly with her is literally “in his treating her faithlessly.” New Revised Standard Version has improved over Revised Standard Version: “since he has dealt unfairly with her,” meaning that it is unfair of him to change his mind about her. New International Version has “because he has broken faith with her,” and Good News Translation has “because he has treated her unfairly.” Contemporary English Version has “this would break the contract he made with her,” but such a contract would probably have been made with her father.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• If the man who has bought her to be his concubine is not pleased with her, then he must let her father buy her back. He must not sell her to foreigners. This would break the contract he made when she became his concubine [or, when he bought her].

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 .