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 the master marries another woman as well, he must still take care of the first woman. He must continue to give her food and clothes. He must not refuse to sleep with her. 11If he does not do these three things, she may leave him. She does not have to pay him any money. Perhaps a person may hit another person so that he dies. You must punish the murderer with death. 13But perhaps he had not decided to kill the other person. Perhaps God let it happen. Then the man should run away to a safe place that I will choose for you. 14But if he already decided to kill the other person, he is a murderer. You must punish him with death. Even if he runs to my altar as a safe place, take him away from there and kill him.

Exodus 21:12 word by word

מַכֵּ֥ה אִ֛ישׁ וָמֵ֖ת מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He that smitethנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• a manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• so that he dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191

Cross-references for Exodus 21:12

• Exodus 20:13You must not murder anyone.
• Genesis 9:6God made people so that they were like himself. So if anyone kills a human, another human must kill him.
• Leviticus 24:17If any man kills another man you must kill him.
• Numbers 35:16Murderers are different. You must kill a murderer. Maybe someone hits another person with a heavy iron tool. If the person dies, the murderer must also die.
• Deuteronomy 19:11But perhaps somebody does hate another person. He may hide himself so that he can catch his enemy. Then he may attack him and kill him. After that, he may run to one of the safe cities.
• 2 Samuel 12:13Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Nathan replied, ‘The Lord has forgiven your sin. He will not punish you with death.
• Matthew 26:52Then Jesus said to the disciple, ‘Put your sword back in its place. People who use a sword to kill others will themselves die in the same way. Someone will kill them with a 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