Exodus 20:22-21:11

New International Version

Idols and Altars

²² Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:^{(A) 23} Do not make any gods to be alongside me;^(B) do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.^(C)

²⁴ “‘Make an altar^(D) of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings^(E) and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name^(F) to be honored, I will come to you and bless^(G) you. ²⁵ If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool^(H) on it. ²⁶ And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts^(I) may be exposed.’

21 “These are the laws^(J) you are to set before them:

Hebrew Servants^(K)(L)

² “If you buy a Hebrew servant,^(M) he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free,^(N) without paying anything. ³ If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. ⁴ If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

⁵ “But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’^{(O) 6} then his master must take him before the judges.^[a](P) He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce^(Q) his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.^(R)

⁷ “If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. ⁸ If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself,^[b] he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. ⁹ If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. ¹⁰ If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.^{(S) 11} If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.