If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her food, her clothing, or her conjugal rights.
Parallel translations
- WEB If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marital rights.
- KJV If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
- BSB If he takes another wife, he must not reduce the food, clothing, or marital rights of his first wife.
- NKJV If he takes another wife, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marriage rights.
- NLT “If a man who has married a slave wife takes another wife for himself, he must not neglect the rights of the first wife to food, clothing, and sexual intimacy.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If the man took another wife, he could not reduce the first's food, clothing, or marital rights. Her basic needs and rights were legally protected.
Overview
Even in a flawed cultural setting, the law guaranteed a wife's provision and conjugal rights, restraining neglect and abuse. God's concern for justice protects the vulnerable from being cast aside. These safeguards reveal a God who cares for the practical welfare and dignity of those easily wronged.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- 1 Cor 7:1–6Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 21:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.