Exodus 21:17-27

17 In the same manner he that curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

18 And if men strive together and one smites another with a stone or with his fist and he dies not, but keeps his bed,

19 if he rises again and walks abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be absolved, only he shall pay for the loss of his time and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.

20 And if a man smites his slave or his maid with a rod and he dies under his hand, he shall be surely punished.

21 Notwithstanding, if he continues a day or two, he shall not be punished, for he is his money.

22 If men strive and hurt a woman with child so that she aborts but without death, he shall be surely punished according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him, and he shall pay by the judges.

23 And if there is death, then thou shalt pay life for life,

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

25 burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

26 And if someone smites the eye of their slave or the eye of their maid that it perishes, he shall let them go free for their eye’s sake.

27 And if he smites out his manslave’s tooth or his maidslave’s tooth, he shall let them go free for their tooth’s sake.

Exodus 21:17-27 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.