Exodus 21:24
22 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,
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
26 And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.
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
- eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
- KJV
- Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
- WEB
- eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
- ASV
- eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
- DARBY
- eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
- BLB
- eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
- ÅB
- øye for øye, tann for tann, hånd for hånd, fot for fot,
- OTB
- et øye for et øye, en tann for en tann, en hånd for en hånd, en fot for en fot,
- B1930
- øie for øie, tann for tann, hånd for hånd, fot for fot,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 19:21
And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Read in contextMatthew 7:2
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Read in contextMatthew 5:38–40
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Read in contextLeviticus 24:19–20
And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;
Read in contextRevelation 16:6
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
Read in contextJudges 1:6–7
But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
Read in contextLuke 6:38
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Read in context1 Samuel 15:33
And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
Read in context