Exodus 21:22
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.
If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief 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 mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.
- KJV
- If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
- WEB
- “If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman’s husband demands and the judges allow.
- ASV
- And if men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart, and yet no harm follow; he shall be surely fined, according as the woman`s husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
- DARBY
- And if men strive together, and strike a woman with child, so that she be delivered, and no mischief happen, he shall in any case be fined, according as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and shall give it as the judges estimate.
- BLB
- And if men fight and strike a pregnant woman and her children come out and there is not harm, he shall surely be fined as the husband of the woman lays upon him, and he shall give through the judges.
- ÅB
- Når menn kommer i slagsmål med hverandre og støter til en fruktsommelig kvinne, så hun føder i utide, men ellers ingen ulykke skjer, så skal den som gjorde det, gi den bot som kvinnens mann pålegger ham; han skal gi etter dommeres skjønn.
- OTB
- «Hvis menn kjemper og slår en gravid kvinne slik at hun føder for tidlig, men det ikke er noen alvorlig skade, skal lovbryteren bøtelegges hva kvinnens mann krever og dommerne tillater.
- B1930
- Når menn kommer i slagsmål med hverandre og støter til en fruktsommelig kvinne, så hun føder i utide, men ellers ingen ulykke skjer, så skal den som gjorde det, gi den bot som kvinnens mann pålegger ham; han skal gi efter dommeres skjønn.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 22:18–19
And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him;
Read in contextExodus 21:30
If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 16:18
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
Read in context