complete verse (Exodus 21:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 21:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “If someone got/acquired his slave when that slave was already married, that slave will be released with his wife. And/But if a person got/acquired his slave before that slave had married and (he) gave him a wife, then the wife will remain and that man goes away without a wife. That woman will remain with any child who was born in the home of the master.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If he comes alone, he will go alone; but if he has a wife, when he comes, he will go with his wife.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If when he was-bought he did-not-have a wife and later-on he got-married, only he will-go-free in the seventh year. But if he had a wife when he was bought, his wife will- also -be-freed with him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “If he is still a bachelor when you (pl.) buy him, he alone will leave you and go in the seventh year. But if you buy a married man so that he comes with his spouse, his spouse will go with him in the seventh year.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Slave who you will buy who lacks wife, untie him alone, and slave who you will buy who has wife, untie them together.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “If he was not married before he became your slave, and if he marries someone while he is your slave, his wife is not to be set free with him. But if he was married before he became your slave, you must free both him and his wife.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 21:3

If is the word ʾim, which usually introduces one of several possible situations to which the law applies. (See the comment at verse 2.) If he comes in single means, as Good News Translation translates, “If he was unmarried when he became your slave.” One may also say “If he does not yet have a wife when he becomes your slave.” Comes in is literally “he enters,” meaning “when he became your slave” (Good News Translation). Go out is literally “he exits.” So he shall go out single means “he is not to take a wife with him when he leaves” (Good News Translation).

If he comes in married uses the word ʾim again. Literally the Hebrew says “if he is an owner [or, husband] of a woman.” This means that if he brought a wife with him, then his wife shall go out with him, or “he may take his wife with him” (Good News Translation) when he leaves. Translator’s Old Testament has “his wife shall be released with him.” Contemporary English Version has “both he and his wife must be given their freedom.” One may also express this as “you must free both him and his wife.”

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 .