Exodus 21:12

Exodus 21:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
• New International Version (NIV)“Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.

Context of Exodus 21:12

10If he takes another wife, he must not reduce the food, clothing, or marital rights of his first wife. 11If, however, he does not provide her with these three things, she is free to go without monetary payment. Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. 13If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. 14But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.

Exodus 21:12 word by word

מַכֵּ֥ה אִ֛ישׁ וָמֵ֖ת מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃Read the interlinear

• Whoever strikesנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• and killsמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• a manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376

Cross-references for Exodus 21:12

• Exodus 20:13You shall not murder.
• Genesis 9:6Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.
• Leviticus 24:17And if a man takes the life of anyone else, he must surely be put to death.
• Numbers 35:16If, however, anyone strikes a person with an iron object and kills him, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.
• Deuteronomy 19:11If, however, a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait, attacks him and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities,
• 2 Samuel 12:13Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.
• Matthew 26:52“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

Commentaries on Exodus 21:12

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The case of murder of a free man and of a bondman. See Exodus 21:20 note. The law was afterward expressly declared to relate also to foreigners, Leviticus 24:17, Leviticus 24:21-22; compare the marginal references.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-21Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-17The crimes of murder, kidnapping, and cursing or striking one’s parents were punished by death. A person who committed murder gave up his own right to live. Human life is very precious in God’s sight. Even when a death was accidental, it could not simply be ignored. However, the law made a difference between murder and accidental killing. God provided places of refuge (see Numbers 35:6–28). These were special towns where a person who killed someone by…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-367-11. if a man sell his daughter--Hebrew girls might be redeemed for a reasonable sum. But in the event of her parents or friends being unable to pay the redemption money, her owner was not at liberty to sell her elsewhere. Should she have been betrothed to him or his son, and either change their minds, a maintenance must be provided for her suitable to her condition as his intended wife, or her freedom instantly granted.Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 21:12

• Homicide

In the dictionaries

• Book
• City
• Crucifixion
• Determine
• Gore
• Murder
• Push
• Quit
• Ransom
• Wont

Commentaries on Exodus 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings