Exodus 21:18

18 “If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist^[a] and the victim does not die but is confined to bed,

Exodus 21:18 in Other Translations

18 And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:

18 "When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed,

18 “Now suppose two men quarrel, and one hits the other with a stone or fist, and the injured person does not die but is confined to bed.

18 "If a quarrel breaks out and one hits the other with a rock or a fist and the injured one doesn't die but is confined to bed

18 And if men contend, and one smite the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keep his bed;

18 "This is what you must do whenever men quarrel and one hits the other with a rock or with his fist and injures him so that he has to stay in bed.

18 "When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or fist, and the injured man does not die but is confined to bed,

18 "Suppose two men get into a fight and argue with each other. One hits the other with a stone or his fist. He does not die but has to stay in bed.

Exodus 21:18 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 21:18

And if men strive together
Quarrel and fight, and wrestle with and box one another:

and one smite another with a stone;
which lying near him he might take up, and in his passion throw it at his antagonist:

or with his fist;
with his double fist, as we express it, with his hand closed, that it might come with the greater force, and give the greater blow:

and he die not, but keepeth his bed;
does not die with the blow of the stone or fist, yet receives so much damage by it that he is obliged to take to his bed; or, as the Targum of Jerusalem paraphrases it, is cast on the bed sick; or, as the Targum of Jonathan, falls into a disease, as a fever, or the like, through the force of the blow, so that he is confined to his room and to his bed.

Exodus 21:18 In-Context

16 “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.

17 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.

18 “If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist and the victim does not die but is confined to bed,

19 the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed.

20 “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result,

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "with a tool"