Exodus 21:18-32

18 "If men have a quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but remains in bed,

19 if he gets up and walks around outside on his staff, then he who struck him shall go unpunished; he shall only pay for his loss of time, and shall take care of him until he is completely healed.

20 "If a man strikes his male or female slave * with a rod and he dies at his hand, he shall be punished.

21 "If, however, he survives a day or two, no vengeance shall be taken; ¹for he is his property.

22 "If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him, and he shall ²pay as the judges decide.

23 "But if there is any further injury, ³then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life,

24 ⁴eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

26 "If a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave *, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye.

27 "And if he knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave *, he shall let him go free on account of his tooth.

28 "If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, ⁵the ox shall surely be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished.

29 "If, however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death.

30 "If a ransom is demanded of him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever * is demanded of him.

31 "Whether it gores a son or a daughter, it shall be done to him according to the same rule.

32 "If the ox gores a male or female slave *, the owner shall give his or her master ⁶thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Exodus 21:18-32 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. Leviticus 25:44-46
• 2. Exodus 21:30; Deuteronomy 22:18, 19
• 3. Leviticus 24:19; Deuteronomy 19:21
• 4. Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21; Matthew 5:38
• 5. Genesis 9:5; Exodus 21:32
• 6. Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15; Matthew 27:3, 9

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "lies"
• [b]. Lit "his sitting"
• [c]. Lit "healing, he shall cause to be healed"
• [d]. Lit "under"
• [e]. Lit "suffer vengeance"
• [f]. Lit "stands"
• [g]. Lit "money"
• [h]. Or "an untimely birth occurs;" lit "her children come out"
• [i]. Lit "lays on him"
• [j]. Lit "by arbitration"
• [k]. Lit "welt"
• [l]. Lit "causes to fall"
• [m]. Lit "so that he dies"
• [n]. Lit "laid on him"
• [o]. Lit "laid on him"
• [p]. Lit "gores a daughter"
• [q]. Lit "this judgment"
• [r]. Lit "he"