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Exodus 21:26

Justice

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

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

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.

28 If 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.

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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 a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the eye.
KJV
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.
WEB
“If a man strikes his servant’s eye, or his maid’s eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.
ASV
And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye`s sake.
DARBY
And if a man strike the eye of his bondman or the eye of his handmaid, and it be marred, he shall let him go for his eye.
BLB
And if a man strikes the eye of his manservant or the eye of his maidservant, and he destroys it, he shall send him out free for his eye.
ÅB
Når noen slår sin slave eller slavekvinne i øyet og forderver det, da skal han gi dem fri til vederlag for øyet.
OTB
«Hvis en eier slår øyet til sin mannlige eller kvinnelige slave og ødelegger det, må han la slaven gå fri som kompensasjon for øyet.
B1930
Når nogen slår sin træl eller trælkvinne i øiet og forderver det, da skal han gi dem fri til vederlag for øiet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Nehemiah 5:5

    We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

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  • Job 31:13–15

    If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,

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  • Colossians 4:1

    Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

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  • Psalms 72:12–14

    For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 21:20

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

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 16:19

    Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.

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  • Psalms 9:12

    For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

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  • Ephesians 6:9

    And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

    Read in context