God’s Word Translation
Exodus 21:15
15“Whoever hits his father or mother must be put to death.
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 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. “Whoever hits his father or mother must be put to death. 16“Whoever kidnaps another person must be put to death, whether he has sold the kidnapped person or still has him. 17“Whoever curses his father or mother must be put to death.
Read all of Exodus 21Exodus 21:15 word by word
וּמַכֵּ֥ה אָבִ֛יו וְאִמּ֖וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Exodus 21:15
- Deuteronomy 21:18Parents might have a stubborn and rebellious son who doesn’t obey them. Even though they punish him, he still won’t listen to them.
- Deuteronomy 27:24“Whoever kills another person secretly will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
- Proverbs 30:11A certain kind of person curses his father and does not bless his mother.
- 1 Timothy 1:9For example, a person must realize that those laws are not intended for people who have God’s approval. Laws are intended for lawbreakers and rebels, for ungodly people and sinners, for those who think nothing is holy or sacred, for those who kill their fathers, their mothers, or other people.
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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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