Exodus 21:12-27

Expanded Bible

Laws About Injuries

¹² “Anyone who ·hits [strikes] a person and kills him must be put to death. ¹³ But if a person kills someone ·accidentally [without premeditation], God allowed that to happen, so ·the person must go to a place I will choose [^LI will appoint for you a place to which the person may flee; Josh. 20:1–9]. ¹⁴ But if someone plans and murders another person on purpose, put him to death, even if he has run to my altar for safety.

¹⁵ “Anyone who ·hits [strikes] his father or his mother must be put to death.

¹⁶ “Anyone who kidnaps someone and either sells him as a slave or ·still has him when he is caught [^Lhe is found in his hand] must be put to death.

¹⁷ “Anyone who ·says cruel things to [curses] his father or mother must be put to death.

¹⁸ “If two men ·argue [quarrel; contend], and one hits ·the other [^Lhis neighbor] with a rock or with his ·fist [or tool], the one who is hurt but not killed might have to stay in bed. ¹⁹ Later if he is able to get up and walk around outside with his ·walking stick [staff], the one who hit him ·is not to be punished [has no liability]. But he must pay the injured man for the loss of his time, and he must support the injured man until he is completely healed.

²⁰ “If a man ·beats [strikes] his male or female slave with a ·stick [rod], and the slave dies on the spot, the owner must be punished. ²¹ But if the slave gets well after a day or two, the owner will not be punished since the slave belongs to him.

²² “Suppose two men are fighting and ·hit [injure] a pregnant woman, causing ·the baby to come out [or a miscarriage; ^Cthe Hebrew is not clear whether dead or alive]. If there is no further ·injury [harm], the man who caused the accident must pay money—whatever amount the woman’s husband says and the court allows. ²³ But if there is further ·injury [harm], then ·the punishment that must be paid is [^Lyou shall give] life for life, ²⁴ eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, ²⁵ burn for burn, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise [^Cto guard against excessive punishment].

²⁶ “If a man ·hits [strikes] his male or female slave in the eye, and ·the eye is blinded [^Ldestroys it], the man is to free the slave to pay for the eye. ²⁷ If a master knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, the man is to free the slave to pay for the tooth.