New American Standard Bible 1995

Exodus 21

Ordinances for the People

1“Now theseוְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ve.'E.lehH428are theordinancesהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔יםha.mish.pa.TimH4941whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834you are to setתָּשִׂ֖יםta.SimH7760beforeלִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃lif.nei.HemH6440them:

2“Ifכִּ֤יkiH3588you buyתִקְנֶה֙tik.NehH7069a Hebrewעִבְרִ֔י'iv.RiH5680slaveעֶ֣בֶד'E.vedH5650,he shall serveיַעֲבֹ֑דya.'a.VodH5647for sixשֵׁ֥שׁsheshH8337yearsשָׁנִ֖יםsha.NimH8141;but on the seventhוּבַ֨שְּׁבִעִ֔תu.Va.she.vi.'ItH7637he shall goיֵצֵ֥אye.Tze'H3318out as a freeלַֽחָפְשִׁ֖יla.cha.fe.ShiH2670manH2670withoutH2600paymentH2600.

3Ifאִם־'im-H518he comesיָבֹ֖אya.Vo'H935aloneבְּגַפּ֥וֹbe.ga.PoH1610,he shall goיֵצֵ֑אye.Tze'H3318outaloneבְּגַפּ֣וֹbe.ga.PoH1610;ifאִם־'im-H518he is the husbandבַּ֤עַלBa.'alH1167of a wifeאִשָּׁה֙'i.ShahH802,then his wifeאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ'ish.ToH802shall goוְיָצְאָ֥הve.ya.tze.'AhH3318out with him.

4Ifאִם־'im-H518his masterאֲדֹנָיו֙'a.do.NavH113givesיִתֶּן־yi.ten-H5414him a wifeאִשָּׁ֔ה'i.ShahH802,and she bearsוְיָלְדָה־ve.Yal.dah-H3205him sonsבָנִ֖יםva.NimH1121orא֣וֹ'oH176daughtersבָנ֑וֹתva.NotH1323,the wifeהָאִשָּׁ֣הha.'i.ShahH802and her childrenוִילָדֶ֗יהָvi.la.Dei.haH3206shall belongתִּהְיֶה֙tih.YehH1961to her masterלַֽאדֹנֶ֔יהָla.do.Nei.haH113,and he shall goיֵצֵ֥אye.Tze'H3318outaloneבְגַפּֽוֹ׃ve.ga.PoH1610.

5Butifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518the slaveהָעֶ֔בֶדha.'E.vedH5650plainlyאָמֹ֤ר'a.MorH559saysיֹאמַר֙yo.MarH559, ‘I loveאָהַ֙בְתִּי֙'a.Hav.tiH157my masterאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113,my wifeאִשְׁתִּ֖י'ish.TiH802and my childrenבָּנָ֑יba.NaiH1121;I will not goאֵצֵ֖א'e.Tze'H3318out as a freeחָפְשִֽׁי׃cha.fe.ShiH2670manH2670,’

6then his masterאֲדֹנָיו֙'a.do.NavH113shall bringוְהִגִּישׁ֤וֹve.hi.gi.ShoH5066him toGodהָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430,then he shall bringוְהִגִּישׁוֹ֙ve.hi.gi.ShoH5066him to the doorהַדֶּ֔לֶתha.De.letH1817orא֖וֹ'oH176the doorpostהַמְּזוּזָ֑הha.me.zu.ZahH4201.And his masterאֲדֹנָ֤יו'a.do.NavH113shall pierceוְרָצַ֨עve.ra.Tza'H7527his earאָזְנוֹ֙'a.ze.NoH241with an awlבַּמַּרְצֵ֔עַba.mar.Tze.a'H4836;and he shall serveוַעֲבָד֖וֹva.'a.va.DoH5647him permanentlyלְעֹלָֽם׃ סle.'o.LamH5769.

7“Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376sellsיִמְכֹּ֥רyim.KorH4376his daughterבִּתּ֖וֹbi.ToH1323as a femaleלְאָמָ֑הle.'a.MahH519slaveH519, she is not togoH3318freeH3318as the maleהָעֲבָדִֽים׃ha.'a.va.DimH5650slavesH5650doH3318.

8Ifאִם־'im-H518she isdispleasingH7451in the eyesבְּעֵינֵ֧יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of her masterאֲדֹנֶ֛יהָ'a.do.Nei.haH113whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834designatedיְעָדָ֖הּye.'a.DahH3259her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemedוְהֶפְדָּ֑הּve.hef.DahH6299.He does not haveH4910authorityH4910to sellלְמָכְרָ֖הּle.ma.khe.RahH4376her to a foreignנָכְרִ֛יna.khe.RiH5237peopleלְעַ֥םle.'AmH5971because of hisunfairnessבְּבִגְדוֹ־be.vig.dov-H898to her.

9Ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518he designatesיִֽיעָדֶ֑נָּהyi.'a.De.nahH3259her for his sonלִבְנ֖וֹliv.NoH1121,he shall dealיַעֲשֶׂה־ya.'a.seh-H6213with her according to the customכְּמִשְׁפַּ֥טke.mish.PatH4941of daughtersהַבָּנ֖וֹתha.ba.NotH1323.

10Ifאִם־'im-H518he takesיִֽקַּֽח־yi.kach-H3947to himself anotherH312womanH312,he may not reduceיִגְרָֽע׃yig.Ra'H1639herfoodשְׁאֵרָ֛הּshe.'e.RahH7607,her clothingכְּסוּתָ֥הּke.su.TahH3682, orher conjugalH5772rightsH5772.

11Ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518he will not doיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.SehH6213theseאֵ֔לֶּה'E.lehH428threeשְׁלָ֨שׁ־she.Lash-H7969thingsfor her, then she shall goוְיָצְאָ֥הve.ya.tze.'AhH3318out for nothingחִנָּ֖םchi.NamH2600,withoutאֵ֥ין'einH369payment ofmoneyכָּֽסֶף׃ סKa.sefH3701.

Personal Injuries

12“He who strikesמַכֵּ֥הma.KehH5221a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376so that he diesH4191shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191.

13Butifוַאֲשֶׁר֙va.'a.SherH834he did not lieH6658in waitצָדָ֔הtza.DahH6658for him, butGodוְהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםve.ha.'E.lo.HimH430letH579himfallH579into his handלְיָד֑וֹle.ya.DoH3027,then I will appointוְשַׂמְתִּ֤יve.sam.TiH7760you a placeמָק֔וֹםma.KomH4725to whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834he may fleeיָנ֖וּסya.NusH5127.

14Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588,however, a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376actsיָזִ֥דya.ZidH2102presumptuouslyH2102towardעַל־'al-H5921his neighborרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453,so as to killלְהָרְג֣וֹle.ha.re.GoH2026him craftilyבְעָרְמָ֑הve.'a.re.MahH6195,you are to takeתִּקָּחֶ֖נּוּti.ka.Che.nuH3947him evenfrom My altarמִזְבְּחִ֔יmiz.be.ChiH4196,that he may dieלָמֽוּת׃ סla.MutH4191.

15“He who strikesוּמַכֵּ֥הu.ma.KehH5221his fatherאָבִ֛יו'a.VivH1or his motherוְאִמּ֖וֹve.'i.MoH517shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191.

16“He whokidnapsוְגֹנֵ֨בve.go.NevH1589a manאִ֧ישׁ'ishH376,whether he sellsוּמְכָר֛וֹu.me.kha.RoH4376him or he is foundוְנִמְצָ֥אve.nim.Tza'H4672in hispossessionבְיָד֖וֹve.ya.DoH3027,shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191.

17“He who cursesוּמְקַלֵּ֥לu.me.ka.LelH7043his fatherאָבִ֛יו'a.VivH1or his motherוְאִמּ֖וֹve.'i.MoH517shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191.

18“Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588menH376haveH7378a quarrelיְרִיבֻ֣ןye.ri.VunH7378and oneH376strikesוְהִכָּה־ve.hi.kah-H5221the otherרֵעֵ֔הוּre.'E.huH7453with a stoneבְּאֶ֖בֶןbe.'E.venH68orא֣וֹ'oH176with hisfistבְאֶגְרֹ֑ףve.'eg.RofH106,and he does not dieיָמ֖וּתya.MutH4191butremainsוְנָפַ֥לve.na.FalH5307in bedלְמִשְׁכָּֽב׃le.mish.KavH4904,

19ifאִם־'im-H518he getsיָק֞וּםya.KumH6965up and walksוְהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְve.hit.ha.LekhH1980aroundH1980outsideבַּח֛וּץba.ChutzH2351on his staffמִשְׁעַנְתּ֖וֹmish.'an.ToH4938,then he who struckהַמַּכֶּ֑הha.ma.KehH5221him shall goH5352unpunishedH5352;he shall onlyH7534payיִתֵּ֖ןyi.TenH5414for hislossH7674of timeH7674, andshall takeH7495careH7495of him until he is completelyH7495healedH7495.

20“Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588a manאִ֨ישׁ'ishH376strikesיַכֶּה֩ya.KehH5221his maleעַבְדּ֜וֹav.DoH5650orא֤וֹ'oH176femaleאֲמָתוֹ֙'a.ma.ToH519slaveH519 H5650with a rodבַּשֵּׁ֔בֶטba.She.vetH7626and he diesוּמֵ֖תu.MetH4191at his handיָד֑וֹya.DoH3027, he shallbe punishedH5358.

21Ifאִם־'im-H518,howeverאַ֥ךְ'akhH389, hesurvivesיַעֲמֹ֑דya.'a.ModH5975a dayH3117orא֥וֹ'oH176two, noלֹ֣אlo'H3808vengeanceH5358shall be takenH5358; for he is hispropertyכַסְפּ֖וֹkhas.PoH3701.

22“Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588menH376struggleיִנָּצ֣וּyi.na.TzuH5327with each other and strikeוְנָ֨גְפ֜וּve.Na.ge.FuH5062a womanאִשָּׁ֤ה'i.ShahH802with childהָרָה֙ha.RahH2030so thatshe givesH3205birthH3205prematurelyוְיָצְא֣וּve.ya.tze.'UH3318,yet there is noוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808injuryאָס֑וֹן'a.SonH611,he shall surelyעָנ֣וֹשׁa.No.oshH6064be finedיֵעָנֵ֗שׁye.'a.NeshH6064as the woman’sהָֽאִשָּׁ֔הha.'i.ShahH802husbandבַּ֣עַלBa.'alH1167may demandיָשִׁ֤יתya.ShitH7896of him, and he shallpayוְנָתַ֖ןve.na.TanH5414as the judgesבִּפְלִלִֽים׃bif.li.LimH6414decide.

23But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518there is any furtherinjuryאָס֖וֹן'a.SonH611,then you shall appointוְנָתַתָּ֥הve.na.ta.TahH5414as a penaltylifeנֶ֖פֶשׁNe.feshH5315for lifeנָֽפֶשׁ׃Na.feshH5315,

24eyeעַ֚יִן'A.yinH5869for eyeעַ֔יִן'A.yinH5869,toothשֵׁ֖ןshenH8127for toothשֵׁ֑ןShenH8127,handיָ֚דyadH3027for handיָ֔דYadH3027,footרֶ֖גֶלRe.gelH7272for footרָֽגֶל׃Ra.gelH7272,

25burnכְּוִיָּה֙ke.vi.YahH3555for burnכְּוִיָּ֔הke.vi.YahH3555,woundפֶּ֖צַעPe.tza'H6482for woundפָּ֑צַעPa.tza'H6482,bruiseחַבּוּרָ֕הcha.bu.RahH2250for bruiseחַבּוּרָֽה׃ סcha.bu.RahH2250.

26“Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588a manאִ֜ישׁ'ishH376strikesיַכֶּ֨הya.KehH5221the eyeH5869of his maleעַבְדּ֛וֹav.DoH5650orאֽוֹ־'ov-H176femaleאֲמָת֖וֹ'a.ma.ToH519slaveH519 H5650,and destroysוְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּve.shi.cha.TahH7843it, he shall let him goיְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּye.shal.le.Che.nuH7971freeלַֽחָפְשִׁ֥יla.cha.fe.ShiH2670on accountתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478of his eyeH5869.

27And ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518heknocksיַפִּ֑ילya.PilH5307out a toothH8127of his maleעַבְדּ֛וֹav.DoH5650orאֽוֹ־'ov-H176femaleאֲמָת֖וֹ'a.ma.ToH519slaveH519 H5650,he shall let him goיְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּye.shal.le.Che.nuH7971freeלַֽחָפְשִׁ֥יla.cha.fe.ShiH2670on accountתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478of his toothH8127.

28“Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588an oxשׁ֥וֹרShorH7794goresיִגַּ֨חyi.GachH5055a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376orא֥וֹ'oH176a womanאִשָּׁ֖ה'i.ShahH802to deathוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191,the oxהַשּׁ֗וֹרha.ShorH7794shall surelyסָק֨וֹלsa.KolH5619be stonedיִסָּקֵ֜לyi.sa.KelH5619and its fleshבְּשָׂר֔וֹbe.sa.RoH1320shall not be eatenיֵאָכֵל֙ye.'a.KhelH398;but the ownerוּבַ֥עַלu.Va.'alH1167of the oxהַשּׁ֖וֹרha.ShorH7794shall goH5355unpunishedH5355.

29Ifוְאִ֡םve.'ImH518,however, an oxשׁוֹר֩shOrH7794was previouslyמִתְּמֹ֣ל שִׁלְשֹׁ֗םmi.te.Mol shil.ShomH8543 H8032in the habitH5056of goringנַגָּ֨חna.GachH5056and its ownerבִּבְעָלָיו֙biv.'a.LavH1167has been warnedוְהוּעַ֤דve.hu.'AdH5749,yet he does not confineיִשְׁמְרֶ֔נּוּyish.me.Re.nuH8104it and it killsוְהֵמִ֥יתve.he.MitH4191a manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376orא֣וֹ'oH176a womanאִשָּׁ֑ה'i.ShahH802,the oxהַשּׁוֹר֙ha.shOrH7794shall be stonedיִסָּקֵ֔לyi.sa.KelH5619and its ownerבְּעָלָ֖יוbe.'a.LavH1167alsoוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571shall be putיוּמָֽת׃yu.MatH4191to deathH4191.

30Ifאִם־'im-H518a ransomכֹּ֖פֶרKo.ferH3724isdemandedיוּשַׁ֣תyu.ShatH7896of him, then he shall giveוְנָתַן֙ve.na.TanH5414for the redemptionפִּדְיֹ֣ןpid.YonH6306of his lifeנַפְשׁ֔וֹnaf.ShoH5315whateverכְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־ke.Khol 'a.Sher-H3605 H834isdemandedיוּשַׁ֖תyu.ShatH7896of him.

31Whetherאוֹ־'ov-H176it goresH5055a sonבֵ֥ןvenH1121orאוֹ־'ov-H176a daughterבַ֣תvatH1323,it shall be doneיֵעָ֥שֶׂהye.'A.sehH6213to him according tothe sameהַזֶּ֖הha.ZehH2088ruleכַּמִּשְׁפָּ֥טka.mish.PatH4941.

32Ifאִם־'im-H518the oxהַשּׁ֖וֹרha.ShorH7794goresיִגַּ֥חyi.GachH5055a maleעֶ֛בֶד'E.vedH5650orא֣וֹ'oH176femaleאָמָ֑ה'a.MahH519slaveH519 H5650,the owner shall giveיִתֵּן֙yi.TenH5414his or hermasterלַֽאדֹנָ֔יוla.do.NavH113thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970shekelsשְׁקָלִ֗יםshe.ka.LimH8255of silverכֶּ֣סֶף׀Ke.sefH3701,and the oxוְהַשּׁ֖וֹרve.ha.ShorH7794shall be stonedיִסָּקֵֽל׃ סyi.sa.KelH5619.

33“IfH3588a manH376opensיִפְתַּ֨חyif.TachH6605a pitבּ֗וֹרBorH953,orא֠וֹ'oH176digsיִכְרֶ֥הyikh.RehH3738a pitבֹּ֖רborH953and does not coverיְכַסֶּ֑נּוּye.khas.Se.nuH3680it over, and an oxשּׁ֖וֹרShorH7794orא֥וֹ'oH176a donkeyחֲמֽוֹר׃cha.MorH2543fallsוְנָֽפַל־ve.na.fal-H5307into it,

34the ownerבַּ֤עַלBa.'alH1167of the pitהַבּוֹר֙ha.bOrH953shall makeיְשַׁלֵּ֔םye.sha.LemH7999restitutionH7999; he shallgiveיָשִׁ֣יבya.ShivH7725moneyכֶּ֖סֶףKe.sefH3701to its ownerלִבְעָלָ֑יוliv.'a.LavH1167,and the deadוְהַמֵּ֖תve.ha.MetH4191animalshall becomeיִֽהְיֶה־yih.yeh-H1961his.

35“Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588one man’sאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376oxH7794hurtsיִגֹּ֧ףyi.GofH5062another’sרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453so that it diesוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191,then they shall sellוּמָ֨כְר֜וּu.Ma.khe.RuH4376the liveהַחַי֙ha.ChaiH2416oxH7794and divideוְחָצ֣וּve.cha.TzuH2673its priceכַּסְפּ֔וֹkas.PoH3701equally; and alsoוְגַ֥םve.GamH1571they shall divideיֶֽחֱצֽוּן׃Ye.che.TzunH2673the deadהַמֵּ֖תha.MetH4191ox.

36Orא֣וֹ'oH176ifit is knownנוֹדַ֗עno.Da'H3045that the oxשׁ֣וֹרShorH7794was previouslyמִתְּמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔םmi.te.Mol shil.ShomH8543 H8032in the habitH5056of goringנַגָּ֥חna.GachH5056,yet its ownerבְּעָלָ֑יוbe.'a.LavH1167has not confinedיִשְׁמְרֶ֖נּוּyish.me.Re.nuH8104it, he shall surelyשַׁלֵּ֨םsha.LemH7999payיְשַׁלֵּ֥םye.sha.LemH7999oxשׁוֹר֙shOrH7794for oxהַשּׁ֔וֹרha.ShorH7794,and the deadוְהַמֵּ֖תve.ha.MetH4191animalshall becomeיִֽהְיֶה־yih.yeh-H1961his.

Ordinances for the People

Personal Injuries

Commentaries on Exodus 21