Exodus 21:28-32
New English Translation
Laws about Animals
28 [a] “If an ox[b] gores a man or a woman so that either dies,[c] then the ox must surely[d] be stoned and its flesh must not be eaten, but the owner of the ox will be acquitted. 29 But if the ox had the habit of goring, and its owner was warned[e] but he did not take the necessary precautions,[f] and then it killed a man or a woman, the ox must be stoned and the man must be put to death. 30 If a ransom is set for him,[g] then he must pay the redemption for his life according to whatever amount was set for him. 31 If the ox[h] gores a son or a daughter, the owner[i] will be dealt with according to this rule.[j] 32 If the ox gores a male servant or a female servant, the owner[k] must pay thirty shekels of silver,[l] and the ox must be stoned.[m]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Exodus 21:28 sn The point that this section of the laws makes is that one must ensure the safety of others by controlling the circumstances.
- Exodus 21:28 tn Traditionally “ox,” but “bull” would also be suitable. The term may refer to one of any variety of large cattle.
- Exodus 21:28 tn Heb “and he dies”; KJV “that they die”; NAB, NASB “to death.”
- Exodus 21:28 tn The text uses סָקוֹל יִסָּקֵל (saqol yissaqel), a Qal infinitive absolute with a Niphal imperfect. The infinitive intensifies the imperfect, which here has an obligatory nuance or is a future of instruction.
- Exodus 21:29 tn The Hophal perfect has the idea of “attested, testified against.”
- Exodus 21:29 tn Heb “he was not keeping it” or perhaps guarding or watching it (referring to the ox).
- Exodus 21:30 sn The family of the victim would set the amount for the ransom of the man guilty of criminal neglect. This practice was common in the ancient world, rare in Israel. If the family allowed the substitute price, then the man would be able to redeem his life.
- Exodus 21:31 tn Heb “it”; the referent (the ox) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Exodus 21:31 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the owner) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Exodus 21:31 tn Heb “according to this judgment it shall be done to him.”
- Exodus 21:32 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the owner) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Exodus 21:32 sn A shekel was a unit for measure by means of a scale. Both the weight and the value of a shekel of silver are hard to determine. “Though there is no certainty, the shekel is said to weigh about 11,5 grams” (C. Houtman, Exodus, 3:181). Over 400 years earlier, Joseph was sold into Egypt for 20 shekels. The free Israelite citizen was worth about 50 shekels (Lev 27:3f.).
- Exodus 21:32 sn See further B. S. Jackson, “The Goring Ox Again [Ex. 21, 28-36],” JJP 18 (1974): 55-94.
Exodus 21:28-32
Expanded Bible
28 “If a man’s ·bull [ox] kills a man or woman, you must kill that bull by ·throwing stones at [stoning] it, and you should not eat ·the bull [L its meat]. But the owner of the bull is ·not guilty [innocent]. 29 However, suppose the ·bull [ox] has ·hurt [gored] people in the past and the owner, though warned, did not ·keep it in a pen [restrain/confine it]. Then if it kills a man or woman, the ·bull [ox] must be stoned to death, and the owner must also be put to death. 30 But if ·the family of the dead person accepts money [L a ransom is imposed on him], the owner of the bull must pay whatever is demanded ·to buy back his life [for his redemption]. 31 Use this same ·law [rule] if the ·bull [ox] ·kills [gores] a person’s son or daughter. 32 If the ·bull [ox] ·kills [gores] a male or female slave, the owner must pay the master ·the price for a new slave, or twelve ounces [L thirty shekels] of silver, and the ·bull [ox] must also be stoned to death.
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