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Regulations Regarding Murder, Manslaughter, and Various Injuries

12 “‘Whoever strikes someone[a] and he dies will surely be put to death. 13 But if he did not lie in wait and it was an accident,[b] I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14 But if a man schemes against his neighbor to kill him by treachery,[c] you will take him from my altar to die. 15 And whoever strikes[d] his father or his mother will surely be put to death.

16 “‘And whoever kidnaps someone[e] and sells him, or he is found in his possession,[f] he will surely be put to death.

17 “‘And one who curses his father or his mother will surely be put to death.

18 “‘And if men quarrel and a man strikes his neighbor with a stone or with a fist and he does not die, but he is confined to bed,[g] 19 if he stands and walks about in the outside on his staff, the striker will be unpunished; he will only pay for his inactivity[h] toward his full recovery.”[i] 20 And if a man strikes his male slave or his female slave with the rod and he dies under his hand, he will surely be avenged. 21 Yet if he survives a day or two days, he will not be avenged, because he is his money.[j]

22 “‘And if men fight and they injure a pregnant woman, and her children go out and there is not serious injury, he will surely be fined as the woman’s husband demands concerning him and as the judges determine.[k] 23 And if there is serious injury, you will give life in place of life, 24 eye in place of eye, tooth in place of tooth, hand in place of hand, foot in place of foot, 25 burn in place of burn, wound in place of wound, bruise in place of bruise.

26 “‘And if a man strikes the eye of his male slave or the eye of his female slave and destroys it, he shall release him as free in place of his eye. 27 And if he causes the tooth of his male slave or the tooth of his female slave to fall out, he will release him as free in place of his tooth.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 21:12 Literally “A striker of a man”
  2. Exodus 21:13 Literally “and God let him happen to his hand”
  3. Exodus 21:14 Or “with cunning” or “craftily”
  4. Exodus 21:15 Literally “a striker of”
  5. Exodus 21:16 Literally “a stealer of a man”
  6. Exodus 21:16 Literally “in his hand”
  7. Exodus 21:18 Literally “he falls to bed”
  8. Exodus 21:19 Literally “his sitting”
  9. Exodus 21:19 Literally “and he indeed will recover”
  10. Exodus 21:21 Or “property”; literally “his silver”
  11. Exodus 21:22 Literally “and he will give according to judgments” or “judges” or “arbitrators”

The Law concerning Violence

12 “Whoever strikes a person mortally shall be put to death.(A) 13 If it was not premeditated but came about by an act of God, then I will appoint for you a place to which the killer may flee.(B) 14 But if someone willfully attacks and kills another by treachery, you shall take the killer from my altar for execution.(C)

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

16 “Whoever kidnaps a person, whether that person has been sold or is still held in possession, shall be put to death.(D)

17 “Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death.(E)

18 “When individuals quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or fist so that the injured party, though not dead, is confined to bed 19 but recovers and walks around outside with the help of a staff, then the assailant shall be free of liability, except to pay for the loss of time and to arrange for full recovery.

20 “When a slaveowner strikes a male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies immediately, the owner shall be punished. 21 But if the slave survives a day or two, there is no punishment, for the slave is the owner’s property.(F)

22 “When people who are fighting injure a pregnant woman so that there is a miscarriage and yet no further harm follows, the one responsible shall be fined what the woman’s husband demands, paying as much as the judges determine. 23 If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life,(G) 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,(H) 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

26 “When a slaveowner strikes the eye of a male or female slave, destroying it, the owner shall let the slave go, a free person, to compensate for the eye. 27 If the owner knocks out a tooth of a male or female slave, the slave shall be let go, a free person, to compensate for the tooth.

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