If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
If he take him another (wife) х yiqach (H3947)] - take; i:e., marry (Judges 14:2). Since there is no indication of a change of subject, it must be considered that the father is meant as 'taking him' х low (H3807a)] - i:e., for his son. This is decidedly preferable to the rendering in the Septuagint [which has ean de labee heautoo, 'take to himself'-a rendering which might have been admitted had the words stood before Exodus 21:9], "another wife." There being no term corresponding to this in the Hebrew text, its insertion in our version is unwarrantable, especially as the woman spoken of was not made a wife, her master having declined even the betrothal. The clause should stand, 'If he marry another (woman).' This is the third supposed contingency.
Her food х shª'eeraah (H7607)] - her flesh. This word is used in preference to х lechem (H3899)] bread, as the master is supposed to be a substantial or wealthy householder, in circumstances to maintain a concubine.
Her duty of marriage, х wª`onaataah (H5772) - a word which is not found in this form in any other passage. It is derived by lexicographers differently-from 'aanaah, to oppress, and followed by 'ishaah (H802), to humble a woman-which sense it obviously cannot bear here; or from the obsolete verb, [`uwn, to dwell-so that it will signify cohabitation.] Our version is a literal translation of the Septuagint, which viewed the word in the former acceptation. The latter is preferable, making the clause stand thus: her food, dress, and lodging he shall not withdraw. And the purport of the enactment is, that should a poor Hebrew girl, in the service of a man of property, have been betrothed as a concubine to himself or to his son, and either of them should change his mind, she was not to be neglected, or subjected to ill-usage: a maintenance must be provided for her, suitable to her condition as his intended wife, or her freedom instantly granted.