Exodus 21:24 kjv

Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

Exodus 21:24 nkjv

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

Exodus 21:24 niv

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

Exodus 21:24 esv

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

Exodus 21:24 nlt

an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot,

Exodus 21 verses

Exodus 21 24 Meaning

Exodus 21:24 establishes a fundamental principle of proportional justice within the legal framework given to ancient Israel. It dictates that punishment for specific physical harm should be precisely equivalent to the injury inflicted. This concept, often known as Lex Talionis, or the "law of retaliation," aims to prevent excessive revenge while ensuring that appropriate recompense or penalty is exacted, thus maintaining societal order and equity. It sets clear boundaries for justice, restraining individuals from disproportionate retaliation and shifting judgment to the legal system.

Exodus 21 24 Context

Exodus 21 begins the "Book of the Covenant" (Ex 20:22-23:33), which outlines specific laws following the Ten Commandments. These laws cover various aspects of Israelite society, including slaves, violence, property, and moral conduct, intended to govern their lives as a people in covenant with God. Verses 18-27 specifically address injuries inflicted upon others. The immediate preceding verses (21:22-23) discuss compensation or life for life concerning injuries to a pregnant woman or a resultant miscarriage and death. Within this context, verse 24 defines the precise legal recompense for specific bodily harm. Historically, these laws moved Israel beyond tribal vengeance towards a more structured and proportionate system of justice administered by established authorities, serving to limit the cycle of violence often seen in ancient societies.

Exodus 21 24 Word analysis

• eye (עַיִן, ayin): The literal organ of sight. In legal context, this refers to the loss or severe impairment of vision due to injury.
• for (תַּחַת, tachat): Meaning "under," "in place of," "instead of," or "for the sake of." This preposition indicates a direct equivalence or substitution. It implies compensation that perfectly matches the offense.
• tooth (שֵׁן, shen): The literal tooth. Refers to the loss or damage of a tooth.
• hand (יָד, yad): The hand. Denotes injury leading to loss of function or the actual loss of the hand.
• foot (רֶגֶל, regel): The foot. Denotes injury leading to loss of function or the actual loss of the foot.

Words-group analysis:

• "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot": This repeating phrase "X for X" (A for A) employs a parallelism to emphasize strict proportionality and direct equivalence of punishment to crime. It functions as a legal maxim, a guiding principle for judges rather than an instruction for personal revenge. The use of specific body parts (eye, tooth, hand, foot) represents critical, vital limbs or senses, indicating serious and impactful injuries that require significant compensation. This formulation ensured that the penalty was neither insufficient (thus encouraging repeat offenses or private vengeance) nor excessive (leading to further injustice and social discord). It legally bounded vengeance, moving punishment from an unlimited personal retribution to a limited, legal restitution or penalty, serving as a framework for the public justice system of Israel.

Exodus 21 24 Bonus section

The Lex Talionis was a profound ethical advancement in the ancient Near East, moving beyond the arbitrary and socially stratified penalties found in codes like Hammurabi's, where punishment often varied based on the social status of the offender and victim. In the Mosaic Law, the principle often aimed for a more egalitarian application of justice, stressing the equal value of all Israelites before God's law. While appearing harsh, it curbed uncontrolled individual vengeance, shifting the authority of judgment from the wronged party to the divinely appointed judicial system of Israel. This established a foundation for equitable legal systems based on the concept of fitting recompense.

Exodus 21 24 Commentary

Exodus 21:24 encapsulates the well-known Lex Talionis, often interpreted as a command for literal vengeance. However, in its original context, this law was revolutionary not for its severity, but for its limitation of retaliation. In ancient cultures, injuries or slights often led to escalating blood feuds and disproportionate revenge. This divine legislation mandated that the punishment should precisely fit the crime—no more, no less. It acted as a strict measure against excessive vengeance, ensuring justice was administered proportionally.

Furthermore, ancient Jewish tradition, particularly later rabbinic interpretations found in the Mishna (e.g., Bava Kamma), generally understood the "eye for eye" principle for non-fatal bodily injury not as a literal physical disfigurement but as requiring financial compensation for the equivalent value of the loss, including costs of pain, medical care, loss of income, disfigurement, and insult. This interpretation recognized the practical and humane complexities of literally enforcing such penalties. Thus, the law ensured equitable restitution and legal order without perpetuating cycles of mutilation.

While this principle established righteous justice within the Mosaic Law's societal framework, it is crucial to understand its fulfillment and transformation in the New Testament. Jesus, in Matthew 5:38-39, does not abolish the principle of justice for society but elevates the individual's ethical response to personal wrongdoing. He commands believers to forgo personal retaliation and embrace forbearance, non-resistance to evil, and love for enemies, thereby embodying a higher Kingdom ethic that transcends strict legal justice with divine mercy and transformative love. The law provided justice; Christ provides grace and reconciliation.