Exodus 21:3

If he came ¹  in by himself ²  he will go out by himself; if he had ³  a wife when he came in, then his wife will go out with him.

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.

"If he comes alone, he shall go out alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall go out with him.

If he was single when he became your slave and then married afterward, only he will go free in the seventh year. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife will be freed with him.

If he came in single he leaves single. If he came in married he leaves with his wife.

If he comes to you by himself, let him go away by himself: if he is married, let his wife go away with him.

If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him.

"If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him.

If he came ¹  in by himself ²  he will go out by himself; if he had ³  a wife when he came in, then his wife will go out with him.

¹ tn The tense is imperfect, but in the conditional clause it clearly refers to action that is anterior to the action in the next clause. Heb “if he comes in single, he goes out single,” that is, “if he came in single, he will go out single.”

² tn Heb “with his back” meaning “alone.”

³ tn The phrase says, “if he was the possessor of a wife”; the noun בַּעַל (ba’al) can mean “possessor” or “husband.” If there was a wife, she shared his fortunes or his servitude; if he entered with her, she would accompany him when he left.