Leviticus 24:18 kjv

And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.

Leviticus 24:18 nkjv

Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, animal for animal.

Leviticus 24:18 niv

Anyone who takes the life of someone's animal must make restitution?life for life.

Leviticus 24:18 esv

Whoever takes an animal's life shall make it good, life for life.

Leviticus 24:18 nlt

"Anyone who kills another person's animal must pay for it in full ? a live animal for the animal that was killed.

Leviticus 24 verses

Leviticus 24 18 Meaning

Leviticus 24:18 legislates the principle of proportional compensation for the loss of animal life. It states that anyone who causes the death of a domesticated animal belonging to another person must make full restitution for it, providing a living animal of equal value or monetary equivalent. The phrase "life for life" in this context establishes a precise measure for restoring what was lost, ensuring that the injured party is fully recompensed and that justice is served in property disputes involving livestock.

Leviticus 24 18 Context

Leviticus chapter 24 details various aspects of Israel's communal and sacred life, transitioning from instructions concerning the tabernacle's upkeep to civil laws governing justice. The chapter begins with commands for the regular lighting of the lampstand and the arrangement of the showbread in the Tabernacle (vv. 1-9), emphasizing the nation's spiritual responsibilities. The narrative then shifts abruptly (vv. 10-16) to an incident involving a blasphemer, the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father, who curses the Name of the LORD. This specific event prompts a divine decree regarding blasphemy, outlining the punishment as death by stoning.

Verses 17-22 comprise a legislative block prompted by the blasphemy incident but expanding into general principles of justice, notably the application of the lex talionis (law of retaliation). Verse 17 addresses murder (human life), requiring capital punishment. Verse 18 then immediately follows, specifically dealing with the killing of an animal, which demands an equivalent life in restitution. The subsequent verses (19-20) extend the lex talionis to bodily injury ("fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth"), before verse 21 reaffirms the animal restitution principle. The section concludes with the crucial declaration in verse 22 that there shall be "one law for the alien and for the native-born," emphasizing impartiality in justice. This rapid succession of laws illustrates the Lord's demand for holiness and justice in all aspects of community life, whether sacral or civil, and for all members of the community.

Historically, this law was given to the nascent Israelite nation shortly after their exodus from Egypt, during their encampment at Mount Sinai. It was foundational for establishing a just and orderly society in contrast to arbitrary and excessive retributive practices often found in surrounding ancient Near Eastern cultures. By articulating precise penalties and requiring fair compensation, it aimed to prevent unchecked cycles of vengeance and ensure stability within the community.

Leviticus 24 18 Word analysis

• Whoever takes the life:

  • Original Hebrew: מַכֵּה־נֶפֶשׁ (makkeh-nephesh).
  • Makkeh (מַכֵּה) comes from the root נָכָה (nakah), meaning "to strike, smite, beat, wound." It implies an intentional or negligent act that causes harm or death. It suggests direct action, not accidental or indirect harm outside one's control (though responsibility for negligence still existed under Mosaic Law).
  • Nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ) literally means "soul," "living being," or "life." In this context, combined with behemah (beast), it specifically refers to the living essence or existence of the animal. It highlights that the damage is not just to property, but to a life.

• of a beast:

  • Original Hebrew: בְהֵמָה (behemah).
  • Refers specifically to domesticated animals, livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys).
  • This term clearly distinguishes the victim here from "human life" (נֶפֶשׁ אָדָם – nephesh adam) mentioned in verse 17. The distinction is crucial, as the punishment for killing a human is death, while for an animal it is restitution.
  • The emphasis on "beast" indicates a concern for property and the livelihood derived from these animals in an agrarian society.

• shall make it good:

  • Original Hebrew: יְשַׁלְּמֶנָּה (yeshallemẹnnah).
  • From the root שָׁלֵם (shalem), meaning "to be complete," "to be sound," "to restore," "to repay," "to make good."
  • This word is central to the concept of restitution. It implies not just an arbitrary payment, but a full, complete, and just restoration of what was lost. The goal is to bring the injured party back to their original state as much as possible before the harm occurred.
  • This is distinct from punishment for a crime against God or society (like murder), but rather focuses on economic justice between individuals.

• life for life:

  • Original Hebrew: נֶפֶשׁ תַּחַת נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh tachath nephesh).
  • Nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ) again signifies a living being or life.
  • Tachath (תַּחַת) means "under," "instead of," "in place of," "in exchange for."
  • This phrase is the concise expression of proportional restitution, the lex talionis. Here, "life for life" means an equivalent exchange, specifically, a living animal of similar kind or value in place of the one killed. It does not imply taking the life of the perpetrator's animal in a literal tit-for-tat killing, as might be interpreted for human life.
  • The repetition of "life for life" underscores the principle of equivalence and strict justice: the restitution must directly correspond to the loss incurred. It prevents both excessive retaliation and insufficient compensation.

Leviticus 24 18 Bonus section

• The distinct application of "life for life" for human versus animal life highlights the fundamental biblical anthropology where human beings, created in God's image, hold a unique status that animals do not possess.
• This law, though concise, formed a basis for property law, negligence, and liability within ancient Israel, demonstrating that the divine law covered practical, everyday interactions and not just religious rituals.
• The placement of this law immediately after the blasphemer's incident and before other bodily injury laws shows how God's comprehensive law provides remedies for offenses against Him (blasphemy) and against one's neighbor (damage to life and property).
• While strict, the lex talionis for animals was restorative, seeking to heal economic injury rather than merely punish. This foreshadows a deeper theological truth in Christ, where restitution for sin comes through the sacrificial "life for life" (blood for sin) of the Savior, not just through legal penalty, but through divine substitution that restores broken fellowship.

Leviticus 24 18 Commentary

Leviticus 24:18 provides a critical insight into God's law regarding justice, specifically for damage to property involving animal life. Emerging directly from the divine pronouncement prompted by the blasphemy incident, this verse exemplifies how principles of divine justice permeate both the sacred and civil spheres of Israelite life. Unlike the capital punishment for human murder in the immediately preceding verse (24:17), the "life for life" here, when applied to a beast, strictly refers to restitution. The perpetrator is not to forfeit their own life, or even one of their own animals as a direct killing, but must fully "make good" the loss by replacing the animal or its equivalent value. This clearly establishes a hierarchy of value in the law: human life is sacred and beyond monetary compensation, demanding a perpetrator's life, whereas animal life, while valued and protected, falls under property law, demanding equitable restoration. This system of proportional justice protected both the victim from further loss and the perpetrator from undue punishment, preventing endless cycles of retribution and fostering societal stability. It underscored the covenant community's responsibility to uphold fairness and integrity in all their dealings.