ספר שמות

The Zohar explains the verse “And if a person shall sell his daughter as a maidservant” (Shemos 21:7) as referring to the neshama. Hashem has, in a sense, "sold" the neshama to the body. There are two types of relationships with Hashem: as a servant and as a son, as stated in the Zohar Behar (2:205a). Bnei Yisrael are called “sons of Hashem your G-d” (Devarim 14:1), which refers to the neshama. However, the neshama is enclosed in the body, and through service as a servant during the weekdays, one perfects the body and attains the level of a son. On Shabbos, we are on the level of a son, refraining from work because it is a "Day of the souls," receiving an extra soul.This dynamic came about through Adam's sin. Before the sin, the body was as pure as the neshama is now. Through sin, we have been "sold." The verse “If she does not find favor in the eyes of her master, and he does not redeem her” (Shemos 21:8) suggests that had there been no sin, we would remain on the level of sons. Nevertheless, the possibility of redemption exists, meaning we can transition from being slaves to sons, even in this world, through teshuva.The Midrash elaborates that the Torah, now clothed in physical mitzvot, needs to be elevated from level to level. The process of service and elevation mirrors the journey from slavery to sonship, emphasizing the potential for spiritual growth and redemption.