Deuteronomy 19:21

21 In such cases show no mercy; the punishment is to be a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, and a foot for a foot. ¹

Deuteronomy 19:21 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 19:21

And thine eye shall not pity
The false witness when convicted; this is directed to the judges, who should not spare such an one through favour or affection, but pronounce a righteous sentence on him, and see it executed, in proportion to the crime, and that according to the law of retaliation:

but life shall go for life;
in such a case where the life of a person must have gone, if the falsehood of the testimony had not been discovered, the false witness must suffer death; in other cases, where a member would have been lost, or the price of it paid for, the same penalty was to be inflicted:

eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot;
that is, the price of an eye an eye see ( Exodus 21:23 Exodus 21:24 ) ( Leviticus 24:19 Leviticus 24:20 ) .

Deuteronomy 19:21 In-Context

19 you are to receive the punishment the accused would have received. In this way your nation will get rid of this evil.

20 Then everyone else will hear what happened; they will be afraid, and no one will ever again do such an evil thing.

21 In such cases show no mercy; the punishment is to be a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, and a foot for a foot.

Cross References

• 1. 19.21Exodus 21.23-25;Leviticus 24.19, 20;Matthew 5.38.