Exodus 21:20

20 Yf a man smyte his servaunte or his mayde with a staffe that they dye vnder his hande, it shalbe auenged.

Exodus 21:20 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 21:20

And if a man smite his servant or his maid with a rod
A Canaanitish servant or maid, as the Targum of Jonathan, and so Jarchi; and that only with a rod for the correction of them, and not with a sword or any such destroying weapon, which would seem as though he intended to kill, yet nevertheless:

and he die under his hand;
immediately, while he is smiting or beating him or her, on the same day, as the above Targum interprets it:

he shall be surely punished;
or condemned to the punishment of being slain with the sword, as the said Targum and Jarchi explain it: this law was made to deter masters from using severity and cruelty towards their servants.

Exodus 21:20 In-Context

18 Yf men stryue together and one smyte another with a stone or with his fyste, so that he dye not, but lyeth in bedd:

19 yf he ryse agayne and walke without vpon his staffe then shall he that smote hi goo quyte: saue only he shal bere his charges while he laye in bed and paye for his healinge.

20 Yf a man smyte his servaunte or his mayde with a staffe that they dye vnder his hande, it shalbe auenged.

21 But ad yf they contynue a daye or two, it shall not be auenged for they are his money.

22 when men stryue and smyte a woman with childe so that hir frute departe from her and yet no mysfortune foloweth: then shall he be mersed, acordynge as the womans husbonde will laye to his charge, and he shall paye as the dayes men appoynte him.