Focused Passage

Exodus 21:12-27

Case Laws for Covenant Justice, Human Dignity, and Restitution

The chapter moves from laws regulating Hebrew servitude, to protections for female servants, to capital cases involving murder, violence against parents, kidnapping, and cursing parents, then to laws about bodily injury, slaves injured by masters, harm to pregnant women, proportional justice, injuries caused by animals, and restitution when negligence leads to harm.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

12 Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death.

13 If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.

14 But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.

15 Whoever strikes his father or mother must surely be put to death.

16 Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession.

17 Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death.

18 If men are quarreling and one strikes the other with a stone or a fist, and he does not die but is confined to bed,

19 then the one who struck him shall go unpunished, as long as the other can get up and walk around outside with his staff. Nevertheless, he must compensate the man for his lost work and see that he is completely healed.

20 If a man strikes his manservant or maidservant with a rod, and the servant dies by his hand, he shall surely be punished.

21 However, if the servant gets up after a day or two, the owner shall not be punished, since the servant is his property.

22 If men who are fighting strike a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely, but there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband demands and as the court allows.

23 But if a serious injury results, then you must require a life for a life—

24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

25 burn for burn, wound for wound, and stripe for stripe.

26 If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the eye.

27 And if he knocks out the tooth of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the tooth.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 12

Original words

Whoever strikes מַכֵּ֥ה H5221 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct and kills וָמֵ֖ת H4191 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular a man אִ֛ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular must surely be put to death מ֥וֹת H4191 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . יוּמָֽת׃ H4191 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 13

Original words

If, however וַאֲשֶׁר֙ H834 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative he did not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle lie in wait צָדָ֔ה H6658 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular but God וְהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים H430 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural allowed it to happen אִנָּ֣ה H579 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular . . . לְיָד֑וֹ H3027 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular then I will appoint וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular for you לְךָ֙ Preposition | second person masculine singular a place מָק֔וֹם H4725 Noun - masculine singular where אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative he may flee יָנ֖וּס H5127 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . שָֽׁמָּה׃ס H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular
Verse 14

Original words

But if וְכִֽי־ H3588 Conjunction a man אִ֛ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular schemes בְעָרְמָ֑ה H6195 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular and acts willfully יָזִ֥ד H2102 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular against עַל־ H5921 Preposition his neighbor רֵעֵ֖הוּ H7453 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular to kill him לְהָרְג֣וֹ H2026 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular you must take him תִּקָּחֶ֖נּוּ H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular away from מֵעִ֣ם H5973 Preposition-m My altar מִזְבְּחִ֔י H4196 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular to be put to death לָמֽוּת׃ס H4191 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 15

Original words

Whoever strikes וּמַכֵּ֥ה H5221 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct his father אָבִ֛יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular or mother וְאִמּ֖וֹ H517 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular must surely be put to death מ֥וֹת H4191 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . יוּמָֽת׃ H4191 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

Whoever kidnaps וְגֹנֵ֨ב H1589 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular another man אִ֧ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular must be put to death מ֥וֹת H4191 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . יוּמָֽת׃ס H4191 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular whether he sells him וּמְכָר֛וֹ H4376 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular or the man is found וְנִמְצָ֥א H4672 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular in his possession בְיָד֖וֹ H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 17

Original words

Anyone who curses וּמְקַלֵּ֥ל H7043 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular his father אָבִ֛יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular or mother וְאִמּ֖וֹ H517 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular must surely be put to death מ֥וֹת H4191 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . יוּמָֽת׃ס H4191 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or dishonors or reviles
  • Cited in Matthew 15:4 and Mark 7:10
Verse 18

Original words

If וְכִֽי־ H3588 Conjunction men אֲנָשִׁ֔ים H582 Noun - masculine plural are quarreling יְרִיבֻ֣ן H7378 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun and one אִישׁ֙ H376 Noun - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker strikes וְהִכָּה־ H5221 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular the other רֵעֵ֔הוּ H7453 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular with a stone בְּאֶ֖בֶן H68 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular or א֣וֹ H176 Conjunction a fist בְאֶגְרֹ֑ף H106 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular and he does not וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle die יָמ֖וּת H4191 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular but is confined וְנָפַ֥ל H5307 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular to bed לְמִשְׁכָּֽב׃ H4904 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

then the one who struck him הַמַּכֶּ֑ה H5221 Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular shall go unpunished וְנִקָּ֣ה H5352 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular as long as אִם־ H518 Conjunction the other can get up יָק֞וּם H6965 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular and walk around וְהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular outside בַּח֛וּץ H2351 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular with עַל־ H5921 Preposition his staff מִשְׁעַנְתּ֖וֹ H4938 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Nevertheless רַ֥ק H7535 Adverb he must compensate יִתֵּ֖ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the man for his lost work שִׁבְתּ֛וֹ H7674 Adjective - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular and see that he is completely healed וְרַפֹּ֥א H7495 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute . . . יְרַפֵּֽא׃ס H7495 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

If וְכִֽי־ H3588 Conjunction a man אִ֨ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker strikes יַכֶּה֩ H5221 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular his manservant עַבְדּ֜וֹ H5650 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular or א֤וֹ H176 Conjunction - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker maidservant אֲמָתוֹ֙ H519 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular with a rod בַּשֵּׁ֔בֶט H7626 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular and the servant dies וּמֵ֖ת H4191 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular by תַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition his hand יָד֑וֹ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular he shall surely be punished נָקֹ֖ם H5358 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . יִנָּקֵֽם׃ H5358 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

However אַ֥ךְ H389 Adverb if אִם־ H518 Conjunction [the servant] gets up יַעֲמֹ֑ד H5975 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular after a day י֛וֹם H3117 Noun - masculine singular or א֥וֹ H176 Conjunction two יוֹמַ֖יִם H3117 Noun - md the owner shall not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle be punished יֻקַּ֔ם H5358 Verb - QalPass - Imperfect - third person masculine singular since כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction [the servant is] הֽוּא׃ס H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular his property כַסְפּ֖וֹ H3701 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 22

Original words

If וְכִֽי־ H3588 Conjunction men אֲנָשִׁ֗ים H582 Noun - masculine plural who are fighting יִנָּצ֣וּ H5327 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural strike וְנָ֨גְפ֜וּ H5062 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural a pregnant הָרָה֙ H2030 Adjective - feminine singular woman אִשָּׁ֤ה H802 Noun - feminine singular and her child יְלָדֶ֔יהָ H3206 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular is born prematurely וְיָצְא֣וּ H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural but there is יִהְיֶ֖ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular no [further] וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle injury אָס֑וֹן H611 Noun - masculine singular he shall surely be fined עָנ֣וֹשׁ H6064 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . יֵעָנֵ֗שׁ H6064 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular as כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the woman’s הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה H802 Article | Noun - feminine singular husband בַּ֣עַל H1167 Noun - masculine singular construct demands יָשִׁ֤ית H7896 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular - עָלָיו֙ H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular and as the court allows וְנָתַ֖ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular . . . בִּפְלִלִֽים׃ H6414 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Literally and her children come out
Verse 23

Original words

But if וְאִם־ H518 Conjunction a serious injury אָס֖וֹן H611 Noun - masculine singular results יִהְיֶ֑ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular then you must require וְנָתַתָּ֥ה H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular a life נֶ֖פֶשׁ H5315 Noun - feminine singular for תַּ֥חַת H8478 Preposition a life נָֽפֶשׁ׃ H5315 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 24

Original words

eye עַ֚יִן H5869 Noun - common singular for תַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition eye עַ֔יִן H5869 Noun - common singular tooth שֵׁ֖ן H8127 Noun - common singular for תַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition tooth שֵׁ֑ן H8127 Noun - common singular hand יָ֚ד H3027 Noun - feminine singular for תַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition hand יָ֔ד H3027 Noun - feminine singular foot רֶ֖גֶל H7272 Noun - feminine singular for תַּ֥חַת H8478 Preposition foot רָֽגֶל׃ H7272 Noun - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Matthew 5:38
Verse 25

Original words

burn כְּוִיָּה֙ H3555 Noun - feminine singular for תַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition burn כְּוִיָּ֔ה H3555 Noun - feminine singular wound פֶּ֖צַע H6482 Noun - masculine singular for תַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition wound פָּ֑צַע H6482 Noun - masculine singular [and] stripe חַבּוּרָ֕ה H2250 Noun - feminine singular for תַּ֖חַת H8478 Preposition stripe חַבּוּרָֽה׃ס H2250 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 26

Original words

If וְכִֽי־ H3588 Conjunction a man אִ֜ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker strikes יַכֶּ֨ה H5221 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular and blinds וְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּ H7843 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular the eye עֵ֥ין H5869 Noun - common singular construct of his manservant עַבְדּ֛וֹ H5650 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular or אֽוֹ־ H176 Conjunction - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker maidservant אֲמָת֖וֹ H519 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular he must let the servant go יְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ H7971 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular free לַֽחָפְשִׁ֥י H2670 Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular as compensation for תַּ֥חַת H8478 Preposition . . . עֵינֽוֹ׃ס H5869 Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular the eye עֵ֥ין H5869 Noun - common singular construct
Verse 27

Original words

And if וְאִם־ H518 Conjunction he knocks out יַפִּ֑יל H5307 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the tooth שֵׁ֥ן H8127 Noun - common singular construct of his manservant עַבְדּ֛וֹ H5650 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular or אֽוֹ־ H176 Conjunction maidservant אֲמָת֖וֹ H519 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular he must let the servant go יְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ H7971 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular free לַֽחָפְשִׁ֥י H2670 Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular as compensation for תַּ֥חַת H8478 Preposition . . . שִׁנּֽוֹ׃פ H8127 Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular the tooth שֵׁ֥ן H8127 Noun - common singular construct

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.