Exodus 21:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

There is no difference in the act of taking the life of a free person compared to that of a Hebrew servant. There are various interpretations regarding the death of a foreign servant, as verse 20 does not explicitly indicate that ‘the master shall be punished’. Nevertheless, this instance marks the sole example in ancient law that provides some degree of protection for the purchased servant against the capricious authority of the master.