Exodus 21:18-32

18 If men are quarreling and one strikes the other with a stone or a fist, and he does not die but is confined to bed,

19 then the one who struck him shall go unpunished, as long as the other can get up and walk around outside with his staff. Nevertheless, he must compensate the man for his lost work and see that he is completely healed.

20 If a man strikes his manservant or maidservant with a rod, and the servant dies by his hand, he shall surely be punished.

21 However, if the servant gets up after a day or two, the owner shall not be punished, since the servant is his property.

22 If men who are fighting strike a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely, ^[a] but there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband demands and as the court allows.

23 But if a serious injury results, then you must require a life for a life—

24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, ^[b] hand for hand, foot for foot,

25 burn for burn, wound for wound, and stripe for stripe.

26 If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the eye.

27 And if he knocks out the tooth of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the tooth.

28 If an ox ^[c] gores a man or woman to death, the ox must surely be stoned, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the ox shall not be held responsible.

29 But if the ox has a habit of goring, and its owner has been warned yet does not restrain it, and it kills a man or woman, then the ox must be stoned and its owner must also be put to death.

30 If payment is demanded of him instead, he may redeem his life by paying the full amount demanded of him.

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

32 If the ox gores a manservant or maidservant, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver ^[d] to the master of that servant, and the ox must 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally and her children come out
• [b]. Cited in Matthew 5:38
• [c]. Or a bull; also in verses 29–36
• [d]. 30 shekels is approximately 12 ounces or 342 grams of silver.