The Law Concerning Violence

12 (A)“He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. 13 However, (B)if he did not lie in wait, but God (C)delivered him into his hand, then (D)I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.

14 “But if a man acts with (E)premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, (F)you shall take him from My altar, that he may die.

15 “And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

16 (G)“He who kidnaps a man and (H)sells him, or if he is (I)found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.

17 “And (J)he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

18 “If men contend with each other, and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but is confined to his bed, 19 if he rises again and walks about outside (K)with his staff, then he who struck him shall be [a]acquitted. He shall only pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for him to be thoroughly healed.

20 “And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. 21 Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his (L)property.

22 “If men [b]fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that [c]she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall (M)pay as the judges determine. 23 But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, 24 (N)eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

26 “If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for the sake of his eye. 27 And if he knocks out the tooth of his male or female servant, he shall let him go free for the sake of his tooth.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 21:19 exempt from punishment
  2. Exodus 21:22 struggle
  3. Exodus 21:22 Lit. her children come out

12 “He that smiteth a man so that he die shall be surely 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 But 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 shall be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

17 “And he that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

18 “And if men strive together and one smite another with a stone or with his fist, and he die not but keepeth to his bed,

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

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 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his money.

22 “If men strive and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no misfortune follow, he shall be surely punished according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.

23 And if any misfortune 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, that it perish, he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.

27 And if he smite out his manservant’s tooth or his maidservant’s tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.

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