Exodus 21:27

27 "Suppose he knocks out the tooth of a male or female servant. Then he must let the servant go free to pay for the tooth.

Exodus 21:27 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 21:27

And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his
maidservant's tooth
Give them such a slap on the face, or a blow on the mouth, as to strike out one of their teeth; this also the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi restrain to a Canaanitish servant or maid;

he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake;
both him and her, the servant and the maid; this, though of lesser consequence than the loss of an eye, was punished in the same manner with the loss of the servant man or maid, to make masters careful how they abused their servants in any degree. And though only these parts are expressed, yet Jarchi and Aben Ezra observe, that all other principal members of the body, which they reckon to be twenty four, are included, as the fingers, toes

Exodus 21:27 In-Context

25 A burn must be given for a burn, a wound for a wound, and a bruise for a bruise.

26 "Suppose a man hits his male or female servant in the eye and destroys it. Then he must let the servant go free to pay for the eye.

27 "Suppose he knocks out the tooth of a male or female servant. Then he must let the servant go free to pay for the tooth.

28 "Suppose a bull kills a man or woman with its horns. Then you must kill the bull by throwing stones at it. Its meat must not be eaten. The owner of the bull will not be held accountable.

29 "But suppose the bull has had the habit of attacking people. And suppose the owner has been warned but has not kept it fenced in. Then if it kills a man or woman, you must kill it with stones. The owner must also be put to death.