12 (A)He that smiteth a man, and he die, shall die the death.

13 And if a man hath not laid wait, but [a]God hath offered him into his hand, then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.

14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor to slay him with guile, (B)thou shalt take him from mine [b]altar, that he may die.

15 ¶ Also he that smiteth his father or his mother, shall die the death.

16 ¶ And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, if it be found with him, shall die the death.

17 (C)And he that curseth his father or his mother, shall die the death.

18 When men also strive together, and one smite another with a [c]stone, or with the fist, and he die not but lieth in bed.

19 If he rise again and walk without upon his staff, then shall he that smote him go [d]quit, save only he shall bear his charges [e]for his resting, and shall pay for his healing.

20 ¶ And if a man smite his servant, or his maid with a rod, and he die under his hand, he shall be surely punished.

21 But if he continue a day or two days, he shall not [f]be punished: for he is his money.

22 ¶ Also if men strive and hurt a woman with child, so that her child depart from her and [g]death follow not, he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband shall appoint him, or he shall pay as the [h]Judges determine.

23 But if death follow, then thou shalt pay life for life.

24 (D)[i]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 his servant in the eye, or his maid in the eye, and hath perished it, he shall let him go free for his eye.

27 Also if he smite [j]out his servant’s tooth, or his maid’s tooth, he shall let him go out free for his tooth.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 21:13 Though a man be killed at unawares, yet it is God’s providence that it should so be.
  2. Exodus 21:14 The holiness of the place ought not to defend the murderer.
  3. Exodus 21:18 Either far off him or near.
  4. Exodus 21:19 By the civil Justice.
  5. Exodus 21:19 Or, losing of his time.
  6. Exodus 21:21 By the civil magistrate, but before God he is a murderer.
  7. Exodus 21:22 Of the mother or child.
  8. Exodus 21:22 Or, arbiters.
  9. Exodus 21:24 The execution of this law only belonged to the magistrate, Matt. 5:38.
  10. Exodus 21:27 So God revengeth cruelty in the most least things.

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