Exodus 21:27 kjv

And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.

Exodus 21:27 nkjv

And if he knocks out the tooth of his male or female servant, he shall let him go free for the sake of his tooth.

Exodus 21:27 niv

And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.

Exodus 21:27 esv

If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.

Exodus 21:27 nlt

And if a man knocks out the tooth of his male or female slave, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.

Exodus 21 verses

Exodus 21 27 Meaning

Exodus 21:27 mandates that if an owner causes a manservant or maidservant to lose a tooth, the servant must be immediately set free as compensation for the injury. This law highlights God's concern for the physical well-being and inherent dignity of servants, limiting the power of owners and providing a clear path to emancipation for abuse, even for non-life-threatening injuries.

Exodus 21 27 Context

Exodus 21:27 is part of the "Book of the Covenant" (Exo 20:22-23:33), which elaborates on the Ten Commandments given at Mount Sinai, providing civil and social laws for the nascent nation of Israel. This section (Exo 21:1-36) specifically deals with regulations concerning various personal injuries, property rights, and the treatment of servants, a widespread social institution in the ancient Near East. Verses 26-27 focus on protecting servants from their owners' abuse. While lex talionis ("eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth") applies to injuries between free persons, the law for a servant receiving such an injury from an owner is different and provides freedom as compensation, underscoring the servant's human worth above mere property.

Exodus 21 27 Word analysis

• And if he smite out: Hebrew וְאִם-שֵׁן יַפִּיל (ve'im-shen yappil).
  • ve'im (וְאִם): "And if." Introduces a conditional clause.
  • yappil (יַפִּיל) from root n-p-l (נָפַל): "he causes to fall," "he casts down," "he makes to drop." Here, specifically "strikes out" or "knocks out," indicating direct and severe action causing the loss of a body part. This is an intentional act, not accidental.
• his manservant's: Hebrew עַבְדּוֹ (`avdo).
  • `eved (עֶבֶד): "servant," "slave," "bondservant." Refers to a male individual who is legally bound to serve another. In ancient Israel, this could be due to debt, poverty, or birth, but servitude was generally temporary or conditional for fellow Israelites. It signifies a person under another's authority, but with protected status under God's law.
• tooth: Hebrew שֵׁן (shen).
  • shen (שֵׁן): "tooth." A literal physical tooth. Its mention here extends the protection beyond the eye (Exo 21:26), implying a broader principle that applies to other significant body parts or disabilities, highlighting that any severe injury rendering the servant less able to work or blemished results in freedom.
• or his maidservant's: Hebrew אוֹ-שֵׁן אֲמָתוֹ (o-shen amato).
  • o (אוֹ): "or."
  • shen (שֵׁן): "tooth" (as above).
  • 'amah (אֲמָה): "maidservant," "female slave." Like `eved, but female. Inclusion shows gender equality in protection under this law.
• tooth: (Repeated, for emphasis/clarity).
• he shall let him go free: Hebrew לַחָפְשִׁי יְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּ (laḥofshi yeshallehennu).
  • laḥofshi (לַחָפְשִׁי): "to freedom," "as a free person." Emphasizes the destination or state of the servant – freedom.
  • yeshallehennu (יְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּ) from root sh-l-h (שָׁלַח): "he shall send him out," "he shall send him away," "he shall set him free." A definitive act of liberation, compulsory and immediate.
• for his tooth's sake: Hebrew תַּחַת שִׁנּוֹ (taḥat shinno).
  • taḥat (תַּחַת): "in place of," "instead of," "for the sake of," "under." Here it signifies the cause or reason for freedom.
  • shinno (שִׁנּוֹ): "his tooth." The direct cause of emancipation.

Words-group analysis:

• "And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth": This phrase meticulously covers both male and female servants, underscoring equal protection under this specific law. The act of "smite out" implies an aggressive, non-accidental action by the owner, highlighting a form of abuse. The tooth, a common body part, shows that the principle extends even to visible but not immediately life-threatening injuries.
• "he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake": This is the mandatory consequence. The release to freedom (ḥofshi) is not merely a transfer of ownership but a complete emancipation. It serves as an extreme form of compensation—the servant's body is valued over their service or market value, granting ultimate relief from a cruel master. This provision effectively discourages severe abuse and marks a stark difference from surrounding legal codes that might only impose a fine.

Exodus 21 27 Bonus section

This specific statute in Exodus 21 stands in powerful polemic opposition to contemporary Ancient Near Eastern legal codes, such as the Code of Hammurabi (Laws 199, 200) or the Middle Assyrian Laws. In many of these codes, inflicting harm upon a slave or servant often resulted in compensation to the owner of the slave, not freedom for the slave themselves. For example, striking a slave's eye might entail payment of half the slave's price to the owner. This stark difference underscores the unique moral foundation of God's law for Israel: it elevates the servant's inherent worth as a human being over their status as chattel or property. The injury is seen as a direct offense against the servant's person, demanding ultimate compensation in the form of personal liberty, reflecting God's unique valuation of every human life, regardless of social status. This legislation limited the "absolute" rights of masters and instilled a deep respect for the individual's body and freedom.

Exodus 21 27 Commentary

Exodus 21:27, alongside verse 26, is a foundational statement about human dignity even within the institution of servitude permitted in the Old Testament era. Unlike the Code of Hammurabi, which often imposed a fine on the owner for injuring a slave, the Israelite law required the injured servant's freedom. This demonstrates that Yahweh's law was profoundly different, placing the inherent value of the individual above property rights or economic utility.

The focus on "tooth" expands the protection from only the eye or hand (v. 26), suggesting a principle applicable to any serious, visible injury or mutilation inflicted by the owner. The loss of a tooth might seem minor compared to an eye, but it impacted the servant's appearance, ability to eat, and perhaps even speak clearly, potentially affecting their future livelihood outside of servitude. God's law commands full liberty as the only acceptable reparation, indicating that even such an injury rendered the continuation of servitude unacceptable in God's eyes.

This law acts as a severe deterrent to masterly cruelty and an affirmation of the servant's human status. It is a testimony to God's compassionate character and His demand for justice, even for the vulnerable. The "Book of the Covenant" as a whole emphasizes fairness, protection of the weak, and the sacredness of human life and body, echoing the truth that all humans are made in God's image (Gen 1:26-27). This particular statute elevated the standard of care for servants significantly higher than what was practiced by surrounding nations.

For practical application, this principle highlights that those in authority are accountable for the well-being of those under them, and abuse should lead to a loss of that authority over the victim. It also reminds believers of their call to care for the vulnerable, ensuring justice and upholding the dignity of all, recognizing that Christ came to set the captives free, not only spiritually but also encouraging us to strive for freedom and justice in earthly relations where possible.