Exodus 21:15 kjv

And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.

Exodus 21:15 nkjv

"And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

Exodus 21:15 niv

"Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death.

Exodus 21:15 esv

"Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.

Exodus 21:15 nlt

"Anyone who strikes father or mother must be put to death.

Exodus 21 verses

Exodus 21 15 Meaning

Exodus 21:15 dictates that anyone who strikes their father or mother is to be put to death. This verse establishes a severe penalty for physical violence against parents, highlighting the supreme importance of filial reverence and parental authority within the ancient Israelite community. It signifies that such an act was considered an assault not only on the family unit but also on the divine order, as parental authority reflected God's own.

Exodus 21 15 Context

Exodus 21:15 is part of the "Book of the Covenant" (Exod 20:22-23:33), which immediately follows the Ten Commandments. While the Decalogue provides broad ethical and moral principles, the Book of the Covenant elaborates on these principles with specific case laws designed to govern daily life in ancient Israel. This particular law expands upon the Fifth Commandment, "Honor your father and your mother" (Exod 20:12). It details a concrete instance of severe dishonor – physical violence – and prescribes the ultimate penalty. These laws served to establish social order, judicial fairness, and the sanctity of life and relationships within a nascent Israelite society newly delivered from slavery. They contrast sharply with potentially arbitrary ANE (Ancient Near East) justice systems by prescribing clear, divinely revealed legal statutes, often granting more rights to vulnerable populations (like children and parents) than other regional codes.

Exodus 21 15 Word analysis

• And he that smiteth: (וּמַכֵּה – u-makkeh). The Hebrew is a Hiphil participle, indicating causative or intensive action. It implies a deliberate, aggressive physical blow or assault, leading to harm, not merely a light touch or accidental contact. This verb is strong, conveying physical abuse or an attack. Its significance lies in the fact that it is a direct act of violence against one's source of life and authority, constituting a grave offense against the established order.
• his father, or his mother: (אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ – 'aviyv ve'immo). The phrase explicitly includes both parents. This underscores the equal standing and authority of the mother alongside the father within the Mosaic Law, which was progressive for the ancient world. It shows that filial respect extends to both, recognizing their shared parental authority. The sanctity of the parental role is divinely upheld, irrespective of gender.
• shall be surely put to death: (מוֹת יוּמָת – mot yumāt). This is a strong Hebrew idiom, a grammatical construction known as the infinitive absolute (mot) preceding the finite verb (yumāt). It signifies an emphatic and unavoidable certainty: "dying he shall die" or "he shall absolutely be put to death." It denotes a mandated capital punishment, without exception or possibility of substitution. Its significance highlights the extreme gravity of the offense in God's eyes, signaling a direct affront to divine order and societal foundations.

Exodus 21 15 Bonus section

• Distinction from Cursing: While Exod 21:15 mandates death for striking a parent, Exod 21:17 and Lev 20:9 mandate the same penalty for cursing (reviling) a parent. This shows that both physical violence and extreme verbal dishonor were considered equally egregious in challenging parental authority, highlighting the deep importance placed on reverence both in deed and in word.
• Polemic against ANE practices: Unlike some contemporary Ancient Near Eastern legal codes (e.g., portions of the Code of Hammurabi) where children were seen primarily as property, and parental rights were often more about the father's absolute power, the Israelite law here elevates the status and protection of both mother and father, holding violence against either as a capital crime. It shifts the emphasis from property rights to divine institution and familial sanctity, protecting parents regardless of their strength or status.
• Spirit of the Law: While capital punishment for striking parents seems extreme in modern contexts, understanding the spirit of the law reveals its true intent. It signifies the utter abomination of rejecting one's fundamental origins and defying the primary source of human authority and care, an act that undermined the entire fabric of Israelite covenant society. It reflected God's commitment to upholding order and justice.

Exodus 21 15 Commentary

Exodus 21:15 lays down a harsh, yet profoundly significant, law underscoring the sacredness of the parent-child relationship in Israelite society. The severity of the capital punishment for striking a parent demonstrates that this act was viewed not merely as an act of assault, but as a direct rebellion against the foundational structure of family and, by extension, against the divine authority that instituted it. Parental authority mirrored God's own authority, and a violent act against a parent was thus a heinous affront to the moral and spiritual order. This law protected vulnerable parents, emphasized filial piety as a cornerstone of national life, and affirmed the absolute importance of honor within the community. It sets clear boundaries for human conduct, enforcing that deep-seated respect for one's parents is not merely a social courtesy but a divine imperative. In practical terms, it was a deterrent against familial chaos and promoted reverence essential for the healthy functioning of a society built upon covenant principles.