Deuteronomy 19:21

19 you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. So you must purge the evil from among you.

20 Then the rest of the people will hear and be afraid, and they will never again do anything so evil among you.

You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and 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
You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.
KJV
And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
WEB
Your eyes shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
ASV
And thine eyes shall not pity; life [shall go] for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
DARBY
And thine eye shall not spare: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
BLB
And your eye shall not pity: Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
ÅB
Du skal ingen spare: Liv for liv, øye for øye, tann for tann, hånd for hånd, fot for fot!
OTB
Vis ingen barmhjertighet: liv for liv, øye for øye, tann for tann, hånd for hånd, fot for fot.
B1930
Du skal ingen spare: Liv for liv, øie for øie, tann for tann, hånd for hånd, fot for fot!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references