Berean Standard Bible

Exodus 21

(Deuteronomy 15:12–18)

1“Theseוְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ve.'E.lehH428are the ordinancesהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔יםha.mish.pa.TimH4941thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834you are to setתָּשִׂ֖יםta.SimH7760before themלִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃lif.nei.HemH6440:

2Ifכִּ֤יkiH3588you buyתִקְנֶה֙tik.NehH7069a Hebrewעִבְרִ֔י'iv.RiH5680servantעֶ֣בֶד'E.vedH5650,he is to serve youיַעֲבֹ֑דya.'a.VodH5647for sixשֵׁ֥שׁsheshH8337yearsשָׁנִ֖יםsha.NimH8141.But in the seventhוּבַ֨שְּׁבִעִ֔תu.Va.she.vi.'ItH7637year,he shall goיֵצֵ֥אye.Tze'H3318freeלַֽחָפְשִׁ֖יla.cha.fe.ShiH2670without paying anythingחִנָּֽם׃chi.NamH2600.

3Ifאִם־'im-H518he arrived aloneבְּגַפּ֥וֹ יָבֹ֖אbe.ga.Po ya.Vo'H935 H1610,he is to leave aloneבְּגַפּ֣וֹ יֵצֵ֑אbe.ga.Po ye.Tze'H3318 H1610;ifאִם־ בַּ֤עַל'im- Ba.'alH518 H1167heה֔וּאHu'H1931arrived with a wifeאִשָּׁה֙'i.ShahH802, sheאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ'ish.ToH802is to leaveוְיָצְאָ֥הve.ya.tze.'AhH3318with himעִמּֽוֹ׃i.MoH5973.

4Ifאִם־'im-H518his masterאֲדֹנָיו֙'a.do.NavH113givesיִתֶּן־yi.ten-H5414hima wifeאִשָּׁ֔ה'i.ShahH802and she bearsוְיָלְדָה־ve.Yal.dah-H3205himsonsבָנִ֖יםva.NimH1121orא֣וֹ'oH176daughtersבָנ֑וֹתva.NotH1323,the womanהָאִשָּׁ֣הha.'i.ShahH802and her childrenוִילָדֶ֗יהָvi.la.Dei.haH3206shall belong toתִּהְיֶה֙tih.YehH1961her masterלַֽאדֹנֶ֔יהָla.do.Nei.haH113,and only the manוְה֖וּאve.Hu'H1931shall go freeיֵצֵ֥א בְגַפּֽוֹ׃ye.Tze' ve.ga.PoH3318 H1610.

5But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518the servantהָעֶ֔בֶדha.'E.vedH5650declaresH559, ‘I loveאָהַ֙בְתִּי֙'a.Hav.tiH157אֶת־'et-H853my masterאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113אֶת־'et-H853and my wifeאִשְׁתִּ֖י'ish.TiH802וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853and childrenבָּנָ֑יba.NaiH1121;I do notלֹ֥אlo'H3808want to goאֵצֵ֖א'e.Tze'H3318freeחָפְשִֽׁי׃cha.fe.ShiH2670,’

6then his masterאֲדֹנָיו֙'a.do.NavH113is to bring himוְהִגִּישׁ֤וֹve.hi.gi.ShoH5066beforeאֶל־'el-H413the judgesהָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430.And he shall take himוְהִגִּישׁוֹ֙ve.hi.gi.ShoH5066toאֶל־'el-H413the doorהַדֶּ֔לֶתha.De.letH1817orא֖וֹ אֶל־'o 'el-H176 H413doorpostהַמְּזוּזָ֑הha.me.zu.ZahH4201אֲדֹנָ֤יו'a.do.NavH113אֶת־'et-H853and pierceוְרָצַ֨עve.ra.Tza'H7527his earאָזְנוֹ֙'a.ze.NoH241with an awlבַּמַּרְצֵ֔עַba.mar.Tze.a'H4836.Then he shall serve his masterוַעֲבָד֖וֹva.'a.va.DoH5647for lifeלְעֹלָֽם׃ סle.'o.LamH5769.

7And ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376אֶת־'et-H853sellsיִמְכֹּ֥רyim.KorH4376his daughterבִּתּ֖וֹbi.ToH1323as a servantלְאָמָ֑הle.'a.MahH519,she is notלֹ֥אlo'H3808to go freeH3318as the menservants doהָעֲבָדִֽים׃ha.'a.va.DimH5650.

8Ifאִם־'im-H518she is displeasingH7451in the eyesבְּעֵינֵ֧יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of her masterאֲדֹנֶ֛יהָ'a.do.Nei.haH113whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834had designated her for himselfיְעָדָ֖הּye.'a.DahH3259,he must allow her to be redeemedוְהֶפְדָּ֑הּve.hef.DahH6299.He has noH3808rightיִמְשֹׁ֥לyim.SholH4910to sell herלְמָכְרָ֖הּle.ma.khe.RahH4376to foreignersלְעַ֥ם נָכְרִ֛יle.'Am na.khe.RiH5971 H5237 H3808,since he has broken faithבְּבִגְדוֹ־be.vig.dov-H898with her.

9And ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518he chooses herיִֽיעָדֶ֑נָּהyi.'a.De.nahH3259for his sonלִבְנ֖וֹliv.NoH1121,he must dealיַעֲשֶׂה־ya.'a.seh-H6213with heras withכְּמִשְׁפַּ֥טke.mish.PatH4941a daughterהַבָּנ֖וֹתha.ba.NotH1323.

10Ifאִם־'im-H518he takesיִֽקַּֽח־yi.kach-H3947another wifeאַחֶ֖רֶת'a.Che.retH312,he must notלֹ֥אlo'H3808reduceיִגְרָֽע׃yig.Ra'H1639the foodשְׁאֵרָ֛הּshe.'e.RahH7607,clothingכְּסוּתָ֥הּke.su.TahH3682,or marital rightsוְעֹנָתָ֖הּve.'o.na.TahH5772of his first wife.

11If, howeverוְאִם־ve.'im-H518,he does notלֹ֥אlo'H3808provideיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.SehH6213herwith theseאֵ֔לֶּה'E.lehH428three thingsשְׁלָ֨שׁ־she.Lash-H7969,she is free to goוְיָצְאָ֥ה חִנָּ֖םve.ya.tze.'Ah chi.NamH3318 H2600withoutאֵ֥ין'einH369monetary paymentכָּֽסֶף׃ סKa.sefH3701.

Personal Injury Laws

12Whoever strikesמַכֵּ֥הma.KehH5221and killsH4191a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376must surely be put to deathH4191.

13If, howeverוַאֲשֶׁר֙va.'a.SherH834,he did notלֹ֣אlo'H3808lie in waitצָדָ֔הtza.DahH6658,but Godוְהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםve.ha.'E.lo.HimH430allowed it to happenאִנָּ֣ה לְיָד֑וֹ'i.Nah le.ya.DoH579 H3027,then I will appointוְשַׂמְתִּ֤יve.sam.TiH7760for youa placeמָק֔וֹםma.KomH4725whereאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834he may fleeיָנ֖וּס שָֽׁמָּה׃ סya.Nus Sha.mahH5127 H8033.

14But ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376schemesבְעָרְמָ֑הve.'a.re.MahH6195and acts willfullyיָזִ֥דya.ZidH2102againstעַל־'al-H5921his neighborרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453to kill himלְהָרְג֣וֹle.ha.re.GoH2026,you must take himתִּקָּחֶ֖נּוּti.ka.Che.nuH3947away fromמֵעִ֣םme.'ImH5973My altarמִזְבְּחִ֔יmiz.be.ChiH4196to be put to deathלָמֽוּת׃ סla.MutH4191.

15Whoever strikesוּמַכֵּ֥הu.ma.KehH5221his fatherאָבִ֛יו'a.VivH1or motherוְאִמּ֖וֹve.'i.MoH517must surely be put to deathH4191.

16Whoever kidnapsוְגֹנֵ֨בve.go.NevH1589another manאִ֧ישׁ'ishH376must be put to deathH4191,whether he sells himוּמְכָר֛וֹu.me.kha.RoH4376or the man is foundוְנִמְצָ֥אve.nim.Tza'H4672in his possessionבְיָד֖וֹve.ya.DoH3027.

17Anyone who cursesוּמְקַלֵּ֥לu.me.ka.LelH7043his fatherאָבִ֛יו'a.VivH1or motherוְאִמּ֖וֹve.'i.MoH517must surely be put to deathH4191.

18Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588menאֲנָשִׁ֔ים'a.na.ShimH582are quarrelingיְרִיבֻ֣ןye.ri.VunH7378and oneאִישׁ֙'ishH376אֶת־'et-H853strikesוְהִכָּה־ve.hi.kah-H5221the otherרֵעֵ֔הוּre.'E.huH7453with a stoneבְּאֶ֖בֶןbe.'E.venH68orא֣וֹ'oH176a fistבְאֶגְרֹ֑ףve.'eg.RofH106,and he does notוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808dieיָמ֖וּתya.MutH4191but is confinedוְנָפַ֥לve.na.FalH5307to bedלְמִשְׁכָּֽב׃le.mish.KavH4904,

19then the one who struck himהַמַּכֶּ֑הha.ma.KehH5221shall go unpunishedוְנִקָּ֣הve.ni.KahH5352,as long asאִם־'im-H518the other can get upיָק֞וּםya.KumH6965and walk aroundוְהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְve.hit.ha.LekhH1980outsideבַּח֛וּץba.ChutzH2351withעַל־'al-H5921his staffמִשְׁעַנְתּ֖וֹmish.'an.ToH4938.Neverthelessרַ֥קrakH7535,he must compensateיִתֵּ֖ןyi.TenH5414the man for his lost workשִׁבְתּ֛וֹshiv.ToH7674and see that he is completely healedH7495.

20Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588a manאִ֨ישׁ'ishH376אֶת־'et-H853strikesיַכֶּה֩ya.KehH5221his manservantעַבְדּ֜וֹav.DoH5650orא֤וֹ'oH176אֶת־'et-H853maidservantאֲמָתוֹ֙'a.ma.ToH519with a rodבַּשֵּׁ֔בֶטba.She.vetH7626,and the servant diesוּמֵ֖תu.MetH4191byתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478his handיָד֑וֹya.DoH3027,he shall surely be punishedH5358.

21Howeverאַ֥ךְ'akhH389,ifאִם־'im-H518the servantgets upיַעֲמֹ֑דya.'a.ModH5975after a dayי֛וֹםYomH3117orא֥וֹ'oH176twoיוֹמַ֖יִםyo.Ma.yimH3117,the owner shall notלֹ֣אlo'H3808be punishedיֻקַּ֔םyu.KamH5358,sinceכִּ֥יkiH3588the servant isהֽוּא׃ סHu'H1931his propertyכַסְפּ֖וֹkhas.PoH3701.

22Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588menאֲנָשִׁ֗ים'a.na.ShimH582who are fightingיִנָּצ֣וּyi.na.TzuH5327strikeוְנָ֨גְפ֜וּve.Na.ge.FuH5062a pregnantהָרָה֙ha.RahH2030womanאִשָּׁ֤ה'i.ShahH802and her childיְלָדֶ֔יהָye.la.Dei.haH3206is born prematurelyוְיָצְא֣וּve.ya.tze.'UH3318,but there isיִהְיֶ֖הyih.YehH1961noוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808furtherinjuryאָס֑וֹן'a.SonH611,he shall surely be finedH6064asכַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨רka.'a.SherH834the woman’sהָֽאִשָּׁ֔הha.'i.ShahH802husbandבַּ֣עַלBa.'alH1167demandsיָשִׁ֤יתya.ShitH7896עָלָיו֙'a.LavH5921and as the court allowsוְנָתַ֖ן בִּפְלִלִֽים׃ve.na.Tan bif.li.LimH5414 H6414.

23But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518a serious injuryאָס֖וֹן'a.SonH611resultsיִהְיֶ֑הyih.YehH1961,then you must requireוְנָתַתָּ֥הve.na.ta.TahH5414a lifeנֶ֖פֶשׁNe.feshH5315forתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478a lifeנָֽפֶשׁ׃Na.feshH5315—

24eyeעַ֚יִן'A.yinH5869forתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478eyeעַ֔יִן'A.yinH5869,toothשֵׁ֖ןshenH8127forתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478toothשֵׁ֑ןShenH8127,handיָ֚דyadH3027forתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478handיָ֔דYadH3027,footרֶ֖גֶלRe.gelH7272forתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478footרָֽגֶל׃Ra.gelH7272,

25burnכְּוִיָּה֙ke.vi.YahH3555forתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478burnכְּוִיָּ֔הke.vi.YahH3555,woundפֶּ֖צַעPe.tza'H6482forתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478woundפָּ֑צַעPa.tza'H6482, andstripeחַבּוּרָ֕הcha.bu.RahH2250forתַּ֖חַתTa.chatH8478stripeחַבּוּרָֽה׃ סcha.bu.RahH2250.

26Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588a manאִ֜ישׁ'ishH376אֶת־'et-H853strikesיַכֶּ֨הya.KehH5221and blindsוְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּve.shi.cha.TahH7843the eyeעֵ֥ין'einH5869of his manservantעַבְדּ֛וֹav.DoH5650orאֽוֹ־'ov-H176אֶת־'et-H853maidservantאֲמָת֖וֹ'a.ma.ToH519,he must let the servant goיְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּye.shal.le.Che.nuH7971freeלַֽחָפְשִׁ֥יla.cha.fe.ShiH2670as compensation forעֵ֥ין תַּ֥חַת'ein Ta.chatH8478 H5869the eyeעֵינֽוֹ׃ סei.NoH5869.

27And ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518he knocks outיַפִּ֑ילya.PilH5307the toothשֵׁ֥ןshenH8127of his manservantעַבְדּ֛וֹav.DoH5650orאֽוֹ־'ov-H176maidservantאֲמָת֖וֹ'a.ma.ToH519,he must let the servant goיְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּye.shal.le.Che.nuH7971freeלַֽחָפְשִׁ֥יla.cha.fe.ShiH2670as compensation forשֵׁ֥ן תַּ֥חַתshen Ta.chatH8478 H8127the toothשִׁנּֽוֹ׃ פshi.NoH8127.

28Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588an oxשׁ֥וֹרShorH7794אֶת־'et-H853goresיִגַּ֨חyi.GachH5055a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376orא֥וֹ'oH176אֶת־'et-H853womanאִשָּׁ֖ה'i.ShahH802to deathוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191,the oxהַשּׁ֗וֹרha.ShorH7794must surely be stonedH5619,and its meatבְּשָׂר֔וֹbe.sa.RoH1320must notוְלֹ֤אve.Lo'H3808be eatenיֵאָכֵל֙ye.'a.KhelH398אֶת־'et-H853.But the ownerוּבַ֥עַלu.Va.'alH1167of the oxהַשּׁ֖וֹרha.ShorH7794shall not be held responsibleנָקִֽי׃na.KiH5355.

29But ifוְאִ֡םve.'ImH518the oxשׁוֹר֩shOrH7794has a habitמִתְּמֹ֣ל שִׁלְשֹׁ֗םmi.te.Mol shil.ShomH8543 H8032of goringנַגָּ֨ח ה֜וּאna.Gach hu'H5056 H1931,and its ownerבִּבְעָלָיו֙biv.'a.LavH1167has been warnedוְהוּעַ֤דve.hu.'AdH5749yet does notוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808restrain itיִשְׁמְרֶ֔נּוּyish.me.Re.nuH8104,and it killsוְהֵמִ֥יתve.he.MitH4191a manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376orא֣וֹ'oH176womanאִשָּׁ֑ה'i.ShahH802,then the oxהַשּׁוֹר֙ha.shOrH7794must be stonedיִסָּקֵ֔לyi.sa.KelH5619and its ownerבְּעָלָ֖יוbe.'a.LavH1167must alsoוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571be put to deathיוּמָֽת׃yu.MatH4191.

30Ifאִם־'im-H518paymentכֹּ֖פֶרKo.ferH3724is demandedיוּשַׁ֣תyu.ShatH7896of him insteadעָלָ֑יו'a.LavH5921,he may redeemפִּדְיֹ֣ןpid.YonH6306his lifeנַפְשׁ֔וֹnaf.ShoH5315by payingוְנָתַן֙ve.na.TanH5414the fullכְּכֹ֥לke.KholH3605אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834amount demandedיוּשַׁ֖תyu.ShatH7896of himעָלָֽיו׃'a.LavH5921.

31Ifאוֹ־'ov-H176the oxgoresיִגָּ֖חyi.GachH5055a sonבֵ֥ןvenH1121orאוֹ־'ov-H176a daughterבַ֣ת יִגָּ֑חvat yi.GachH1323 H5055,it shall be doneיֵעָ֥שֶׂהye.'A.sehH6213to himaccording to the sameהַזֶּ֖הha.ZehH2088ruleכַּמִּשְׁפָּ֥טka.mish.PatH4941.

32Ifאִם־'im-H518the oxהַשּׁ֖וֹרha.ShorH7794goresיִגַּ֥חyi.GachH5055a manservantעֶ֛בֶד'E.vedH5650orא֣וֹ'oH176maidservantאָמָ֑ה'a.MahH519, the ownermust payיִתֵּן֙yi.TenH5414thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970shekelsשְׁקָלִ֗יםshe.ka.LimH8255of silverכֶּ֣סֶף׀Ke.sefH3701to the master of that servantלַֽאדֹנָ֔יוla.do.NavH113,and the oxוְהַשּׁ֖וֹרve.ha.ShorH7794must be stonedיִסָּקֵֽל׃ סyi.sa.KelH5619.

33Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588a manאִ֜ישׁ'ishH376opensיִפְתַּ֨חyif.TachH6605בּ֗וֹרBorH953orא֠וֹ כִּֽי־'o ki-H176 H3588digsיִכְרֶ֥ה אִ֛ישׁyikh.Reh 'ishH3738 H376a pitבֹּ֖רborH953and failsוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808to cover itיְכַסֶּ֑נּוּye.khas.Se.nuH3680,and an oxשּׁ֖וֹרShorH7794orא֥וֹ'oH176a donkeyחֲמֽוֹר׃cha.MorH2543fallsוְנָֽפַל־ve.na.fal-H5307into itשָׁ֥מָּהSha.mahH8033,

34the ownerבַּ֤עַלBa.'alH1167of the pitהַבּוֹר֙ha.bOrH953shall make restitutionיְשַׁלֵּ֔םye.sha.LemH7999;he must payכֶּ֖סֶף יָשִׁ֣יבKe.sef ya.ShivH7725 H3701its ownerלִבְעָלָ֑יוliv.'a.LavH1167,and the deadוְהַמֵּ֖תve.ha.MetH4191animalwill beיִֽהְיֶה־yih.yeh-H1961his.

35Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588a man’sאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376אֶת־'et-H853oxשֽׁוֹר־shor-H7794injuresיִגֹּ֧ףyi.GofH5062his neighbor’sרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453oxשׁ֥וֹרShorH7794and it diesוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191,they must sellוּמָ֨כְר֜וּu.Ma.khe.RuH4376אֶת־'et-H853the liveהַחַי֙ha.ChaiH2416oneהַשּׁ֤וֹרha.ShorH7794and divideוְחָצ֣וּve.cha.TzuH2673אֶת־'et-H853the proceedsכַּסְפּ֔וֹkas.PoH3701;they also mustוְגַ֥םve.GamH1571אֶת־'et-H853divideיֶֽחֱצֽוּן׃Ye.che.TzunH2673the dead animalהַמֵּ֖תha.MetH4191.

36But ifא֣וֹ'oH176it was knownנוֹדַ֗עno.Da'H3045thatכִּ֠יkiH3588the oxשׁ֣וֹרShorH7794had a habitמִתְּמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔םmi.te.Mol shil.ShomH8543 H8032of goringנַגָּ֥ח הוּא֙na.Gach hu'H5056 H1931,yet its ownerבְּעָלָ֑יוbe.'a.LavH1167failedוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808to restrain itיִשְׁמְרֶ֖נּוּyish.me.Re.nuH8104,he shall pay full compensationH7999,oxשׁוֹר֙shOrH7794forתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478oxהַשּׁ֔וֹרha.ShorH7794,and the deadוְהַמֵּ֖תve.ha.MetH4191animalwill beיִֽהְיֶה־yih.yeh-H1961his.

(Deuteronomy 15:12–18)

Personal Injury Laws

Commentaries on Exodus 21