Laws About Slaves

21 “Now these are the (A)rules that you shall set before them. (B)When you buy a Hebrew slave,[a] he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out alone. But (C)if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ then his master shall bring him to (D)God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.

“When a man (E)sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who has designated her[b] for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. 10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or (F)her marital rights. 11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.

12 (G)“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. 13 (H)But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then (I)I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14 But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, (J)you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

15 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.

16 (K)“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found (L)in possession of him, shall be put to death.

17 (M)“Whoever curses[c] his father or his mother shall be put to death.

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, 19 then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed.

20 “When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged. 21 But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the (N)slave is his money.

22 “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and (O)he shall pay as the (P)judges determine. 23 But if there is harm,[d] then you shall pay (Q)life for life, 24 (R)eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

26 “When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. 27 If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.

28 “When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the (S)ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. 29 But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. 30 If (T)a ransom is imposed on him, then (U)he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him. 31 If it gores a man's son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to this same rule. 32 If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master (V)thirty shekels[e] of silver, and (W)the ox shall be stoned.

Laws About Restitution

33 “When a man opens a pit, or when a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make restoration. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead beast shall be his.

35 “When one man's ox butts another's, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and share its price, and the dead beast also they shall share. 36 Or if it is known that the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall repay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 21:2 Or servant; the Hebrew term ‘ebed designates a range of social and economic roles; also verses 5, 6, 7, 20, 21, 26, 27, 32 (see Preface)
  2. Exodus 21:8 Or so that he has not designated her
  3. Exodus 21:17 Or dishonors; Septuagint reviles
  4. Exodus 21:23 Or so that her children come out and it is clear who was to blame, he shall be fined as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he alone shall pay. 23If it is unclear who was to blame…
  5. Exodus 21:32 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams

21 ‘These are the laws you are to set before them:

Hebrew servants

‘If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything. If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

‘But if the servant declares, “I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,” then his master must take him before the judges.[a] He shall take him to the door or the door-post and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.

‘If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself,[b] he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. 10 If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights. 11 If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.

Personal injuries

12 ‘Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. 13 However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate. 14 But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.

15 ‘Anyone who attacks[c] their father or mother is to be put to death.

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[d] 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, 21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.

22 ‘If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely[e] but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

26 ‘An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.

28 ‘If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. 29 If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. 30 However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded. 31 This law also applies if the bull gores a son or a daughter. 32 If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels[f] of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death.

33 ‘If anyone uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the one who opened the pit must pay the owner for the loss and take the dead animal in exchange.

35 ‘If anyone’s bull injures someone else’s bull and it dies, the two parties are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally. 36 However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up, the owner must pay, animal for animal, and take the dead animal in exchange.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 21:6 Or before God
  2. Exodus 21:8 Or master so that he does not choose her
  3. Exodus 21:15 Or kills
  4. Exodus 21:18 Or with a tool
  5. Exodus 21:22 Or she has a miscarriage
  6. Exodus 21:32 That is, about 345 grams

21 Now these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them.

If thou buy a Hebrew [a]servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he come in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he be married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master give him a wife, and she bear him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself. But if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: then his master shall bring him unto [b]God, and shall bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever.

And if a man sell his daughter to be a [c]maid-servant, she shall not go out as the men-servants do. If she please not her master, [d]who hath espoused her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a foreign people he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her. And if he espouse her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters. 10 If he take him another wife; her [e]food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. 11 And if he do not these three things unto her, then shall she go out for nothing, without money.

12 He that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall surely be put to death. 13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. 14 And if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.

16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

17 And he that [f]curseth his father or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

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; 19 if he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for [g]the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.

20 And if a man smite [h]his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall surely be punished. 21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.

22 And if men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart, and yet no harm follow; he shall be surely fined, according as the woman’s husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 But if any harm follow, then thou shalt give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

26 And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake. 27 And if he smite out his man-servant’s tooth, or his maid-servant’s tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.

28 And if an ox gore a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be surely stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit. 29 But if the ox was wont to gore in time past, and it hath been testified to its owner, and he hath not kept it in, but it hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. 30 If there be laid on him a ransom, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatsoever is laid upon him. 31 Whether it have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him. 32 If the ox gore a man-servant or a maid-servant, there shall be given unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

33 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein, 34 the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money unto the owner thereof, and the dead beast shall be his.

35 And if one man’s ox hurt another’s, so that it dieth, then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the price of it; and the dead also they shall divide. 36 Or if it be known that the ox was wont to gore in time past, and its owner hath not kept it in; he shall surely pay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his own.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 21:2 Or, bondman
  2. Exodus 21:6 Or, the judges
  3. Exodus 21:7 Or, bondwoman
  4. Exodus 21:8 Another reading is, so that he hath not espoused her
  5. Exodus 21:10 Hebrew flesh.
  6. Exodus 21:17 Or, revileth
  7. Exodus 21:19 Hebrew his sitting or ceasing.
  8. Exodus 21:20 Or, his bondman, or his bondwoman

Despre slobozenie şi viaţă

21 „Iată legile pe care le vei(A) pune înaintea lor. Dacă(B) vei cumpăra un rob evreu, să slujească şase ani ca rob, dar în al şaptelea, să iasă slobod, fără să plătească nimic ca despăgubire. Dacă a intrat singur, să iasă singur; dacă era însurat, să iasă şi nevastă-sa împreună cu el. Dacă stăpânul lui i-a dat o nevastă şi a avut fii şi fiice cu ea, nevasta şi copiii să fie ai stăpânului lui, iar el să iasă singur. Dacă robul(C) va zice: ‘Eu iubesc pe stăpânul meu, pe nevastă-mea şi copiii mei şi nu vreau să ies slobod’, atunci stăpânul lui să-l ducă înaintea(D) lui Dumnezeu, să-l apropie de uşă sau de stâlpul uşii şi stăpânul lui să-i(E) găurească urechea cu o sulă, şi robul să rămână pentru totdeauna în slujba lui. Dacă un om îşi va(F) vinde fata ca roabă, ea să nu iasă cum(G) ies robii. Dacă nu va plăcea stăpânului ei, care o luase de nevastă, el să-i înlesnească răscumpărarea, dar nu va avea dreptul s-o vândă unor străini, dacă nu-şi va ţine cuvântul. Dacă o dă de nevastă fiului său, să se poarte cu ea după dreptul fiicelor. 10 Dacă-i va lua o altă nevastă, nu va scădea nimic pentru cea dintâi din hrană, din îmbrăcăminte şi din dreptul(H) ei de soţie. 11 Dacă nu-i face aceste trei lucruri, ea va putea ieşi fără nicio despăgubire, fără să dea bani.

Legi în privinţa uciderii

12 Cine va lovi(I) pe altul cu o lovitură de moarte să fie pedepsit cu moartea. 13 Dacă nu(J) i-a întins laţuri şi dacă Dumnezeu l-a făcut(K) să-i cadă în mână, îţi voi(L) hotărî un loc unde va putea să fugă. 14 Dar, dacă lucrează(M) cineva cu răutate împotriva aproapelui său, folosindu-se de viclenie ca să-l omoare, chiar şi de la(N) altarul Meu să-l smulgi, ca să fie omorât.

Necinstirea părinţilor

15 Cine va lovi pe tatăl său sau pe mama sa să fie pedepsit cu moartea. 16 Cine(O) va fura un om şi-l va(P) vinde sau îl va ţine în mâinile(Q) lui să fie pedepsit cu moartea. 17 Cine(R) va blestema pe tatăl său sau pe mama sa să fie pedepsit cu moartea.

Legi privitoare la vătămarea trupului

18 Dacă se vor certa doi oameni, şi unul din ei va lovi pe celălalt cu o piatră sau cu pumnul, fără să-i pricinuiască moartea, dar silindu-l să stea în pat, 19 cel ce l-a lovit să nu fie pedepsit dacă celălalt se va scula şi se va plimba afară, sprijinit pe un toiag(S). Numai să-l despăgubească pentru încetarea lucrului lui şi să-l îngrijească până la vindecare. 20 Dacă un om va lovi cu băţul pe robul său, fie bărbat fie femeie, şi robul moare sub mâna lui, stăpânul să fie pedepsit. 21 Dar, dacă mai trăieşte o zi sau două, stăpânul să nu fie pedepsit; căci este argintul(T) lui. 22 Dacă se ceartă doi oameni şi lovesc pe o femeie însărcinată şi o fac doar să nască înainte de vreme, fără altă nenorocire, să fie pedepsiţi cu o gloabă(U) pusă de bărbatul femeii şi pe care o vor plăti după hotărârea judecătorilor. 23 Dar, dacă se întâmplă o nenorocire, vei da viaţă pentru viaţă, 24 ochi(V) pentru ochi, dinte pentru dinte, mână pentru mână, picior pentru picior, 25 arsură pentru arsură, rană pentru rană, vânătaie pentru vânătaie. 26 Dacă un om loveşte ochiul robului său, fie bărbat, fie femeie, şi-l face să-şi piardă ochiul, să-i dea drumul ca despăgubire pentru ochiul lui. 27 Şi dacă face să cadă un dinte robului său, fie bărbat, fie femeie, ca despăgubire pentru dintele lui, să-i dea drumul. 28 Dacă un bou va împunge şi va omorî pe un bărbat sau pe o femeie(W), boul să fie ucis cu pietre, carnea să nu i se mănânce, iar stăpânul boului să nu fie pedepsit. 29 Dar, dacă boul avea obicei mai înainte să împungă şi stăpânul fusese înştiinţat de lucrul acesta, şi nu l-a închis, boul să fie ucis cu pietre, dacă va ucide un bărbat sau o femeie, şi stăpânul lui să fie pedepsit cu moartea. 30 Dacă i se pune stăpânului un preţ pentru răscumpărarea(X) vieţii lui, va plăti tot ce i se va cere. 31 Când boul va împunge pe un băiat sau pe o fată, i se va face după legea aceasta, 32 dar, dacă boul împunge pe un rob, fie bărbat, fie femeie, să se dea trei(Y) sicli de argint stăpânului robului, şi boul(Z) să fie ucis cu pietre. 33 Dacă un om descoperă o groapă sau dacă un om sapă o groapă şi n-o acoperă şi cade în ea un bou sau un măgar, 34 stăpânul gropii să plătească stăpânului lor preţul vitei în argint, iar vita moartă să fie a lui. 35 Dacă boul unui om împunge boul unui alt om şi boul acesta moare, vor vinde boul cel viu şi preţul lui îl vor împărţi; vor împărţi şi boul mort. 36 Dar, dacă se ştia că boul avea obicei mai înainte să împungă, şi stăpânul lui nu l-a închis, stăpânul acesta să dea bou pentru bou, iar boul cel mort să-l ia el.