Leviticus 24:21

21 He that smiteth a work beast, yield he another; he that smiteth a man, shall die. (He who striketh down a work beast, give he another in its place; he who striketh down a man, shall be put to death.)

Leviticus 24:21 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 24:21

And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it
The same as in ( Leviticus 24:18 ) , which is repeated for the confirmation of it, and that it might be observed, though Jarchi takes it to be a different law; before, he says, it speaks of him that kills a beast, here of him that makes any wound or bruise in it, which he must make good; and it must be allowed that the manner of expression is different; there it is, he that smites the soul of a beast so that it dies, here only he that smites a beast, though it dies not, yet having some damage done it, satisfaction must be made:

and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death;
or he that smites a man, though he does not kill him, as Jarchi observes, only makes a wound or bruise in him, because it is not said, the soul of a man, as before; but such damages did not require death, but satisfaction in another way, as in ( Leviticus 24:19 ) .

Leviticus 24:21 In-Context

19 If a man giveth a wem to any of his citizens (If a man giveth a wound, or an injury, to any of his fellow citizens), as he did, so be it done to him;

20 he shall restore breaking for breaking, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; what manner wem he gave, he shall be compelled to suffer such a wem (what manner wound, or injury, he gave, he shall be compelled to suffer such a wound, or injury).

21 He that smiteth a work beast, yield he another; he that smiteth a man, shall die. (He who striketh down a work beast, give he another in its place; he who striketh down a man, shall be put to death.)

22 Even doom be among you, whether a pilgrim either a citizen sinneth, for I am your Lord God. (Let equal justice be among you, whether a foreigner or a fellow citizen sinneth, for I am the Lord your God.)

23 And Moses spake to the sons of Israel, and they brought forth out of the tents him that blasphemed, and oppressed him with stones. And the sons of Israel did, as the Lord commanded to Moses. (And Moses spoke to the Israelites, and they brought out him who blasphemed away from the tents, and stoned him. And so the Israelites did, as the Lord commanded to Moses.)