Exodus 21:17

17 He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, if he is convicted of the guilt, die he by death (shall be put to death).

Exodus 21:17 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 21:17

And he that curseth his father, or his mother
Though he does not smite them with his hand, or with any instrument in it, yet if he smites them with his tongue, reviles and reproaches them, speaks evil of them, wishes dreadful imprecations upon them, curses them by the name explained, as the Targum of Jonathan calls it, by the name Jehovah, wishing the Lord would curse them, or that his curse might light upon them, see ( Proverbs 20:20 ) ( 30:17 ) ,

shall surely be put to death;
or be killed with casting stones on him, as the Targum of Jonathan, or with stoning; so Jarchi, who observes, that wherever it is said, "his blood be upon him", it is meant of stoning, as it is of the man that curses his father or his mother, ( Leviticus 20:9 ) which was after this manner, the place of stoning was two cubits high, to which the malefactor with his hands bound was brought; from whence one of the witnesses against him cast him down headlong, of which, if he did not die, then they took up stones and cast on him, and if he died not through them, then all Israel came and stoned him; that is, the multitude upon the spot: this verse in the Septuagint version follows ( Exodus 21:15 ) , with which it agrees, both respecting the same persons.

Exodus 21:17 In-Context

15 He that smiteth his father, or his mother, die he by death. (He who striketh his father, or his mother, shall be put to death.)

16 He that curseth his father, or mother, die he by death. (He who curseth his father, or his mother, shall be put to death.)

17 He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, if he is convicted of the guilt, die he by death (shall be put to death).

18 If men chide, and the tother smite his neighbour with a stone, or with the fist, and he is not dead, but lieth in the bed,

19 if he riseth (up), and goeth forth on his staff, he that smote (him) shall be innocent; so nevertheless that he restore (to him for) his travails, and his costs in leaches (and his expenses for physicians).