Exodus 21:12

Regulations Regarding Murder, Manslaughter, and Various Injuries

12 " '{Whoever strikes someone} and he dies will surely be put to death.

Exodus 21:12 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 21:12

He that smiteth a man, so that he die
The Targum of Jonathan is, that smites a man or daughter of Israel with the sword; but there is no need to restrain the words either to persons of any certain nation, nor to any instrument with which a person may be smitten as to die: but any human person, man, woman, or child, of whatsoever nation, and they smitten with anything whatever, that issues in their death:

shall surely be put to death;
by the order of the civil magistrate, and by the hand of such as shall be appointed by him; for this is the original law of God, ( Genesis 9:6 ) .

Exodus 21:12 In-Context

10 If he takes for himself another, he will not reduce her food, her clothing, or her right of cohabitation.

11 And if he does not do for her these three, she shall go out for nothing; there will not be silver [paid for her].

12 " '{Whoever strikes someone} and he dies will surely be put to death.

13 But if he did not lie in wait {and it was an accident}, I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee.

14 But if a man schemes against his neighbor to kill him by treachery, you will take him from my altar to die.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "A striker of a man"