Exodus 21:12-21

Personal Injuries

12 “Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death.

13 However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate.

14 But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.

15 “Anyone who attacks^[a] their father or mother is to be put to death.

16 “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.

17 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.

18 “If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist^[b] and the victim does not die but is confined to bed,

19 the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed.

20 “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result,

21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.

Exodus 21:12-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 21

In this, and the two following chapters, are delivered various laws and precepts, partly of a moral, and partly of a religious, but chiefly of a civil nature, respecting the commonwealth of Israel, and its political good. This chapter treats of servants, and laws relating to them; to menservants, how long they shall serve, and what is to be done to those who are desirous of staying with their masters after their time is up, Ex 21:1-6, to maidservants, and especially betrothed ones, either to a father or a son, Ex 21:7-11, likewise it contains laws concerning the slaughter of men, whether with design or unawares, Ex 21:12-14, and concerning the ill usage of parents, Ex 21:15,17, and man stealing, Ex 21:16 and of mischief that comes by men's quarrelling and fighting, Ex 21:18,19 and by smiting a man or maidservant, Ex 21:20,21,26,27, to a woman with child, that is, by means of men's striving and contending with each other, Ex 21:22-25 and of damages that come by oxen, or to them, Ex 21:28-36.

Cross References

• 1. ver 15,17; S Genesis 4:14,23; Genesis 9:6; Exodus 31:15; Leviticus 20:9,10; Leviticus 24:16; Leviticus 27:29; Numbers 1:51; Numbers 35:16,30-31; Deuteronomy 13:5; Deuteronomy 19:11; Deuteronomy 22:22; Deuteronomy 27:16; Job 31:11; Proverbs 20:20; S Matthew 26:52
• 2. Numbers 35:10-34; Deuteronomy 4:42; Deuteronomy 19:2-13; Joshua 20:9; 1Sa 24:4,10,18
• 3. Genesis 4:8; Numbers 35:20; 2 Samuel 3:27; 2 Samuel 20:10; Hebrews 10:26
• 4. Deuteronomy 19:11-12; 1 Kings 2:28-34
• 5. Genesis 37:28
• 6. Exodus 22:4; Deuteronomy 24:7
• 7. S ver 12; S Deuteronomy 5:16; Leviticus 20:9-10; Matthew 15:4*; Mark 7:10*
• 8. Leviticus 25:44-46

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "kills"
• [b]. Or "with a tool"