Exodus 21:15

Exodus 21:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
• New International Version (NIV)“Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

Context of Exodus 21:15

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. Whoever strikes his father or mother must surely be put to death. 16Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession. 17Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death.

Exodus 21:15 word by word

וּמַכֵּ֥ה אָבִ֛יו וְאִמּ֖וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃Read the interlinear

• Whoever strikesנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• his fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
• or motherאֵם'êm · motherH517
• must surely be put to deathמוּתmûth · to dieH4191

Cross-references for Exodus 21:15

• Deuteronomy 21:18If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and does not listen to them when disciplined,
• Deuteronomy 27:24‘Cursed is he who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
• Proverbs 30:11There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
• 1 Timothy 1:9We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,

Commentaries on Exodus 21:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15That smiteth his father, or his mother - As such a case argued peculiar depravity, therefore no mercy was to be shown to the culprit.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15The following offences were to be punished with death: Striking a parent, compare Deuteronomy 27:16. Cursing a parent, compare the marginal references. Kidnapping, whether with a view to retain the person stolen, or to sell him, 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 21:15

• Assault and Battery
• Children
• Mother
• Punishment

In the dictionaries

• Book
• Crucifixion
• Determine
• Gore
• Murder
• Push
• Quit
• Ransom
• Wont
• Bible, the

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