Exodus 21:12-27

The Voice

¹² If a man attacks another and the victim dies from the attack, then the attacker must be put to death. ¹³ But if God allows a person to die at the hands of another who never intended to kill him in the first place, then I will appoint a place where he can run and take refuge from those who would exact revenge. ¹⁴ But if a man plans an attack and cunningly kills his victim, then he will find no refuge at my altar. Take him from there and put him to death.

¹⁵ Also, anyone who strikes one of his parents must be put to death.

¹⁶ Anyone who kidnaps another—whether he has already sold his victim or still has him when he is caught—must be put to death.

¹⁷ And anyone who curses either of his parents must be put to death.^[a]

¹⁸ If people are engaged in an argument and one hits the other with a rock or his fist, and the victim does not die but is bedridden for a time and unable to work, ¹⁹ then the one who struck him will not be punished as long as the injured party recovers enough to be able to get out of bed and walk around with the help of his staff; however, he must pay his victim for lost time and wages, and make sure he has the care he needs until he recovers. ²⁰ If a person hits his male or female slave with a rod, and the slave dies because of the blow, then that person must be punished. ²¹ But if the slave survives a couple of days, then there will be no penalty because the slave belongs to the master.

²² If two men are fighting with each other and happen to hit a pregnant woman during the quarrel causing her to give birth prematurely (but no other harm is done), then the one who hit her must pay whatever fine the judges determine based upon the amount demanded by the woman’s husband.

²³ But if any further harm comes, then the standard for the punishment is reciprocal justice: a life for a life, ²⁴ an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,^[b] a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, ²⁵ a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.

²⁶ If anyone hits one of his slaves (male or female) in the eye and blinds him in that eye, then the master is to free the slave to compensate for the loss of the eye. ²⁷ If anyone hits one of his slaves (male or female) and knocks out a tooth, then the master is to free the slave to compensate for the loss of the tooth.