Leviticus 24:20

20 ¹fracture for fracture, ²eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.

Leviticus 24:20 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 24:20

Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth
Which is not to be taken strictly or literally, but for the price or value of those, which is to be given in a pecuniary way; (See Gill on Exodus 21:24), (See Gill on Exodus 21:25);

as he hath caused a blemish in a man, shall it be done to him;
unless he gives satisfaction, and pays a valuable consideration for it.

Leviticus 24:20 In-Context

18 'The one who takes the life of an animal shall make it good, life for life.

19 'If a man injures his neighbor, just as he has done, so it shall be done to him:

20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.

21 'Thus the one who kills an animal shall make it good, but the one who kills a man shall be put to death.

22 'There shall be one standard for you; it shall be for the stranger as well as the native, for I am the LORD your God.' "

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 21:23; Deuteronomy 19:21
• 2. Matthew 5:38

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "given a blemish"
• [b]. Lit "given"