Exodus 21:26

Exodus 21:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)“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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“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.

Context of Exodus 21:26

24an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot. 25You must give him a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise. If a master hits the eye of his male slave or his female slave, he might destroy it. Then he must let the slave go away as a free person to pay for the loss of their eye. 27If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, he must also let the slave go away to pay for the loss of the tooth. 28Perhaps a bull may attack someone so that the person dies. Then you must throw stones at the bull to kill it. You must not eat the meat from that bull. But do not punish the owner of the bull.

Exodus 21:26 word by word

וְכִֽי־יַכֶּ֨ה אִ֜ישׁ אֶת־עֵ֥ין עַבְדּ֛וֹ אֽוֹ־אֶת־עֵ֥ין אֲמָת֖וֹ וְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּ לַֽחָפְשִׁ֥י יְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ תַּ֥חַת עֵינֽוֹ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And if a manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• smiteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• the eyeעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• of his servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• of his maidאָמָה'âmâh · maidservantH519
• that it perishשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
• he shall let him goשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: let goH7971
• freeחׇפְשִׁיchophshîy · freeH2670
• forתַּחַתtachath · underneath: because ofH8478

Cross-references for Exodus 21:26

• Exodus 21:20Perhaps a master may hit his male slave or his female slave with a stick. If the slave dies because of this, you must punish the master.
• Deuteronomy 16:19Judges must do what is right for every person, rich or poor. They must not accept any bribes. A bribe may hide the truth even from a wise man. It can make honest people tell lies.
• Nehemiah 5:5Now we have to sell our sons and daughters as slaves so that we can pay back the money. But we are from the same human family as those other Jews. Our children are not different from their children. Already some of our daughters have become slaves. Our fields and vineyards now belong to other people, so we are helpless to do anything.’
• Job 31:13When my servants complain against me, I have always been fair to them.
• Psalms 9:12God punishes murderers, and he takes care of people who receive pain from others. When they call to him, he does not refuse to help them.
• Psalms 10:14Surely, God, you see what is happening. You see how wicked people bring pain and trouble. You decide what to do about it. The weak person trusts that you will help him. You take care of children who have no father.
• Psalms 72:12He will rescue the poor person who calls out to him for help. He will save weak people who have nobody to help them.
• Proverbs 22:221. Do not cheat poor people just because they are poor. Do not attack helpless people in court.
• Ephesians 6:9You who are masters, be good to your slaves in the same way. Do not frighten them with punishment. Remember that both you and your slaves have the same Master in heaven. And he is always fair when he judges people, whoever they are.
• Colossians 4:1Masters, be fair to your servants. Give them what is right. Remember that you also serve a master, and he is in heaven.

Commentaries on Exodus 21:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26If a man smite the eye, etc. - See the following verse.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26Freedom was the proper equivalent for permanent injury.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-36Verses 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.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-27These laws governed compensation for injuries that did not lead to death.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 21:26

• Assault and Battery
• Master
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Book
• Crucifixion
• Determine
• Gore
• Push
• Quit
• Ransom
• Slave
• 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