Exodus 21:20-27

Laws About Slaves

20 "When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged. 21 But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the u slave is his money.

22 "When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and v he shall pay as the w judges determine. 23 But if there is harm, 1 then you shall pay x life for life, 24 y eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

26 "When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. 27 If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.

  1. Cross References
    Leviticus 25:45 - 46
    You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans that are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may be your property.
  2. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 22:18 - 19
    Then the elders of that city shall take the man and whip him.
  3. Cross References
    Job 31:11
    For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
  4. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 19:21
    Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
  5. Cross References
    Leviticus 24:20
    Fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.
    Deuteronomy 19:21
    Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
    Matthew 5:38
    "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.