20 "Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result,
20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
20 "When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged.
20 "If a slave owner hits a slave, male or female, with a stick and the slave dies on the spot, the slave must be avenged.
20 "And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
20 "If a man beats his male or female slave with a club and the slave dies as a result, the owner must be punished.
21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.
21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
21 But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money.
21 But if the slave survives a day or two, he's not to be avenged - the slave is the owner's property.
21 Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property.
21 But if the slave recovers within a day or two, then the owner shall not be punished, since the slave is his property.
(Read Exodus 21:12-21)
God, who by his providence gives and maintains life, by his law protects it. A wilful murderer shall be taken even from God's altar. But God provided cities of refuge to protect those whose unhappiness it was, and not their fault, to cause the death of another; for such as by accident, when a man is doing a lawful act, without intent of hurt, happens to kill another. Let children hear the sentence of God's word upon the ungrateful and disobedient; and remember that God will certainly requite it, if they have ever cursed their parents, even in their hearts, or have lifted up their hands against them, except they repent, and flee for refuge to the Saviour. And let parents hence learn to be very careful in training up their children, setting them a good example, especially in the government of their passions, and in praying for them; taking heed not to provoke them to wrath. Through poverty the Israelites sometimes sold themselves or their children; magistrates sold some persons for their crimes, and creditors were in some cases allowed to sell their debtors who could not pay. But "man-stealing," the object of which is to force another into slavery, is ranked in the New Testament with the greatest crimes. Care is here taken, that satisfaction be made for hurt done to a person, though death do not follow. The gospel teaches masters to forbear, and to moderate threatenings, Job 31:13,14.
26 "An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye.
26 And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.
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.
26 "If a slave owner hits the eye of a slave or handmaid and ruins it, the owner must let the slave go free because of the eye.
26 If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for the sake of his eye.
26 "If a man hits his male or female slave in the eye and the eye is blinded, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye.
(Read Exodus 21:22-36)
The cases here mentioned give rules of justice then, and still in use, for deciding similar matters. We are taught by these laws, that we must be very careful to do no wrong, either directly or indirectly. If we have done wrong, we must be very willing to make it good, and be desirous that nobody may lose by us.
27 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.
27 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.
27 If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.
27 If the owner knocks out the tooth of the male or female slave, the slave must be released and go free because of the tooth.
27 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.
27 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.
(Read Exodus 21:22-36)
The cases here mentioned give rules of justice then, and still in use, for deciding similar matters. We are taught by these laws, that we must be very careful to do no wrong, either directly or indirectly. If we have done wrong, we must be very willing to make it good, and be desirous that nobody may lose by us.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 21:20
Commentary on Exodus 21:12-21
(Read Exodus 21:12-21)
God, who by his providence gives and maintains life, by his law protects it. A wilful murderer shall be taken even from God's altar. But God provided cities of refuge to protect those whose unhappiness it was, and not their fault, to cause the death of another; for such as by accident, when a man is doing a lawful act, without intent of hurt, happens to kill another. Let children hear the sentence of God's word upon the ungrateful and disobedient; and remember that God will certainly requite it, if they have ever cursed their parents, even in their hearts, or have lifted up their hands against them, except they repent, and flee for refuge to the Saviour. And let parents hence learn to be very careful in training up their children, setting them a good example, especially in the government of their passions, and in praying for them; taking heed not to provoke them to wrath. Through poverty the Israelites sometimes sold themselves or their children; magistrates sold some persons for their crimes, and creditors were in some cases allowed to sell their debtors who could not pay. But "man-stealing," the object of which is to force another into slavery, is ranked in the New Testament with the greatest crimes. Care is here taken, that satisfaction be made for hurt done to a person, though death do not follow. The gospel teaches masters to forbear, and to moderate threatenings, Job 31:13,14.