Contradiction with Leviticus 25:10
It states that the year of jubilee shall grant liberty to all inhabitants, which contrasts with Exodus 21:4 where a slave's wife and children remain with the master.
Leviticus 25:10: And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout [all] the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 15:12
This verse allows Hebrew slaves to go free after six years, unlike Exodus 21:4 where the wife and children do not follow the freed servant.
Deuteronomy 15:12: [And] if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
Contradiction with Galatians 3:28
It asserts equality in Christ, negating distinctions and ownership implied in Exodus 21:4 regarding slavery and family separation.
Galatians 3:28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Contradiction with Philemon 1:16
This verse speaks of a slave being more than a servant, as a beloved brother, challenging the notion of possession over family seen in Exodus 21:4.
Philemon 1:16: Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
Contradiction with Isaiah 58:6
Calls for breaking every yoke and freeing the oppressed, which is at odds with the perpetuation of bondage in Exodus 21:4.
Isaiah 58:6: [Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? [the heavy...: Heb. the bundles of the yoke] [oppressed: Heb. broken]
Contradiction with Exodus 21:7
Contrasts with the lack of freedom for women, as a female slave sold by her father does not come out as the men do, showing consistent non-liberation as in Exodus 21:4.
Exodus 21:7: And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
Paradox #1
The theological conflict with Exodus 21:4 might arise from its implications on personal freedom and relationships. The verse suggests that a servant's family could be considered the master's property, which conflicts with ideas of individual rights and family unity emphasized in other parts of the Bible. This could raise questions about justice and equality.
Paradox #2
Exodus 21:4 could be seen as conflicting with later biblical teachings about equality and fairness, especially in the New Testament where themes of love, justice, and equality are more prominent. This verse might seem inconsistent with the idea that all people should be treated equally, as it deals with specific laws regarding servitude which may appear unjust by modern standards.
Paradox #3
Exodus 21:4 could raise contradictions or conflicts because it describes a situation in which servants, after having been given wives by their masters, cannot take their wives and children with them when they are set free. This can conflict with ideas about individual rights and family unity. It also brings up discrepancies related to differing interpretations of justice and fairness in historical contexts.
Paradox #4
A contradiction or conflict in Exodus 21:4 could lie in the ethical implications of owning people and making decisions about their family lives without their consent. It raises questions about the justice and morality of treating individuals as property, potentially conflicting with principles of human dignity and freedom.