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 that son marries another woman, he must not deprive the first wife of food, clothes, or sex. 11If he doesn’t give her these three things, she can go free, without paying any money for her freedom. “Whoever strikes someone and kills him must be put to death. 13If it wasn’t done intentionally, but God let it happen, the killer should flee to a place I will set aside for you. 14But whenever someone becomes so angry that he plans to kill his neighbor, you must take him away from my altar and put him to death.

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 20:13“Never murder.
• Genesis 9:6Whoever sheds human blood, by humans his blood will be shed, because in the image of God, God made humans.
• Leviticus 24:17“Whoever kills another person must be put to death.
• Numbers 35:16“But if any of you uses an iron weapon to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.
• Deuteronomy 19:11Suppose someone hates another person, waits in ambush for him, attacks him, takes his life, and runs to one of these cities.
• 2 Samuel 12:13Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die.
• Matthew 26:52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword away! All who use a sword will be killed by 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