Focused Passage

Exodus 21:28-36

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

28If an ox gores a man or woman to death, the ox must surely be stoned, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the ox shall not be held responsible.

29But if the ox has a habit of goring, and its owner has been warned yet does not restrain it, and it kills a man or woman, then the ox must be stoned and its owner must also be put to death.

30If payment is demanded of him instead, he may redeem his life by paying the full amount demanded of him.

31If the ox gores a son or a daughter, it shall be done to him according to the same rule.

32If the ox gores a manservant or maidservant, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of that servant, and the ox must be stoned.

33If a man opens or digs a pit and fails to cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,

34the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he must pay its owner, and the dead animal will be his.

35If a man’s ox injures his neighbor’s ox and it dies, they must sell the live one and divide the proceeds; they also must divide the dead animal.

36But if it was known that the ox had a habit of goring, yet its owner failed to restrain it, he shall pay full compensation, ox for ox, and the dead animal will be his.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 28

Original words

Ifוְכִֽי־H3588Conjunctionan oxשׁ֥וֹרH7794Noun - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markergoresיִגַּ֨חH5055Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singulara manאִ֛ישׁH376Noun - masculine singularorא֥וֹH176Conjunction-אֶת־H853Direct object markerwomanאִשָּׁ֖הH802Noun - feminine singularto deathוָמֵ֑תH4191Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularthe oxהַשּׁ֗וֹרH7794Article | Noun - masculine singularmust surely be stonedסָק֨וֹלH5619Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .יִסָּקֵ֜לH5619Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularand its meatבְּשָׂר֔וֹH1320Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularmust notוְלֹ֤אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlebe eatenיֵאָכֵל֙H398Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerBut the ownerוּבַ֥עַלH1167Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof the oxהַשּׁ֖וֹרH7794Article | Noun - masculine singularshall not be held responsibleנָקִֽי׃H5355Adjective - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or a bull; also in verses 29–36
Verse 29

Original words

But ifוְאִ֡םH518Conjunctionthe oxשׁוֹר֩H7794Noun - masculine singularhas a habitמִתְּמֹ֣לH8543Preposition-m | Adverb. . .שִׁלְשֹׁ֗םH8032Adverbof goringנַגָּ֨חH5056Adjective - masculine singular. . .ה֜וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularand its ownerבִּבְעָלָיו֙H1167Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularhas been warnedוְהוּעַ֤דH5749Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hofal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularyet does notוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlerestrain itיִשְׁמְרֶ֔נּוּH8104Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularand it killsוְהֵמִ֥יתH4191Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singulara manאִ֖ישׁH376Noun - masculine singularorא֣וֹH176Conjunctionwomanאִשָּׁ֑הH802Noun - feminine singularthen the oxהַשּׁוֹר֙H7794Article | Noun - masculine singularmust be stonedיִסָּקֵ֔לH5619Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularand its ownerבְּעָלָ֖יוH1167Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularmust alsoוְגַם־H1571Conjunctionbe put to deathיוּמָֽת׃H4191Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 30

Original words

Ifאִם־H518Conjunctionpaymentכֹּ֖פֶרH3724Noun - masculine singularis demandedיוּשַׁ֣תH7896Verb - QalPass - Imperfect - third person masculine singularof him {instead}עָלָ֑יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singularhe may redeemפִּדְיֹ֣ןH6306Noun - masculine singular constructhis lifeנַפְשׁ֔וֹH5315Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularby payingוְנָתַן֙H5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularthe fullכְּכֹ֥לH3605Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeamount demandedיוּשַׁ֖תH7896Verb - QalPass - Imperfect - third person masculine singularof himעָלָֽיו׃H5921Preposition | third person masculine singular
Verse 31

Original words

Ifאוֹ־H176Conjunction[the ox] goresיִגָּ֖חH5055Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singulara sonבֵ֥ןH1121Noun - masculine singularorאוֹ־H176Conjunctiona daughterבַ֣תH1323Noun - feminine singular. . .יִגָּ֑חH5055Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularit shall be doneיֵעָ֥שֶׂהH6213Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularto himלּֽוֹ׃Preposition | third person masculine singularaccording to the sameהַזֶּ֖הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularruleכַּמִּשְׁפָּ֥טH4941Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 32

Original words

Ifאִם־H518Conjunctionthe oxהַשּׁ֖וֹרH7794Article | Noun - masculine singulargoresיִגַּ֥חH5055Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singulara manservantעֶ֛בֶדH5650Noun - masculine singularorא֣וֹH176Conjunctionmaidservantאָמָ֑הH519Noun - feminine singular[the owner] must payיִתֵּן֙H5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםH7970Number - common pluralshekelsשְׁקָלִ֗יםH8255Noun - masculine pluralof silverכֶּ֣סֶף׀H3701Noun - masculine singularto the master of that servantלַֽאדֹנָ֔יוH113Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularand the oxוְהַשּׁ֖וֹרH7794Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singularmust be stonedיִסָּקֵֽל׃סH5619Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • 30 shekels is approximately 12 ounces or 342 grams of silver.
Verse 33

Original words

Ifוְכִֽי־H3588Conjunctiona manאִ֜ישׁH376Noun - masculine singularopensיִפְתַּ֨חH6605Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular-בּ֗וֹרH953Noun - masculine singularorא֠וֹH176Conjunction. . .כִּֽי־H3588Conjunctiondigsיִכְרֶ֥הH3738Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .אִ֛ישׁH376Noun - masculine singulara pitבֹּ֖רH953Noun - masculine singularand failsוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleto cover itיְכַסֶּ֑נּוּH3680Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularand an oxשּׁ֖וֹרH7794Noun - masculine singularorא֥וֹH176Conjunctiona donkeyחֲמֽוֹר׃H2543Noun - masculine singularfallsוְנָֽפַל־H5307Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularinto itשָׁ֥מָּהH8033Adverb | third person feminine singular
Verse 34

Original words

the ownerבַּ֤עַלH1167Noun - masculine singular constructof the pitהַבּוֹר֙H953Article | Noun - masculine singularshall make restitutionיְשַׁלֵּ֔םH7999Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularhe must payיָשִׁ֣יבH7725Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .כֶּ֖סֶףH3701Noun - masculine singularits ownerלִבְעָלָ֑יוH1167Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularand the dead [animal]וְהַמֵּ֖תH4191Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularwill beיִֽהְיֶה־H1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularhisלּֽוֹ׃סPreposition | third person masculine singular
Verse 35

Original words

Ifוְכִֽי־H3588Conjunctiona man’sאִ֛ישׁH376Noun - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeroxשֽׁוֹר־H7794Noun - masculine singular constructinjuresיִגֹּ֧ףH5062Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularhis neighbor’sרֵעֵ֖הוּH7453Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularoxשׁ֥וֹרH7794Noun - masculine singular constructand it diesוָמֵ֑תH4191Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularthey must sellוּמָ֨כְר֜וּH4376Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe liveהַחַי֙H2416Article | Adjective - masculine singular[one]הַשּׁ֤וֹרH7794Article | Noun - masculine singularand divideוְחָצ֣וּH2673Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe proceedsכַּסְפּ֔וֹH3701Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularthey also mustוְגַ֥םH1571Conjunction-אֶת־H853Direct object markerdivideיֶֽחֱצֽוּן׃H2673Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nunthe dead animalהַמֵּ֖תH4191Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Verse 36

Original words

But ifא֣וֹH176Conjunctionit was knownנוֹדַ֗עH3045Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthatכִּ֠יH3588Conjunctionthe oxשׁ֣וֹרH7794Noun - masculine singularhad a habitמִתְּמ֣וֹלH8543Preposition-m | Adverb. . .שִׁלְשֹׁ֔םH8032Adverbof goringנַגָּ֥חH5056Adjective - masculine singular. . .הוּא֙H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularyet its ownerבְּעָלָ֑יוH1167Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularfailedוְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleto restrain itיִשְׁמְרֶ֖נּוּH8104Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularhe shall pay full compensationשַׁלֵּ֨םH7999Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute. . .יְשַׁלֵּ֥םH7999Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularoxשׁוֹר֙H7794Noun - masculine singularforתַּ֣חַתH8478Prepositionoxהַשּׁ֔וֹרH7794Article | Noun - masculine singularand the dead [animal]וְהַמֵּ֖תH4191Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularwill beיִֽהְיֶה־H1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularhisלּֽוֹ׃סPreposition | third person masculine singular

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.