New American Standard Bible 2020

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 leaveיֵצֵ֥אye.Tze'H3318as a freeלַֽחָפְשִׁ֖יla.cha.fe.ShiH2670manH2670withoutH2600a paymentH2600to you.

3Ifאִם־'im-H518he comesיָבֹ֖אya.Vo'H935aloneבְּגַפּ֥וֹbe.ga.PoH1610,he shall leaveיֵצֵ֑אye.Tze'H3318aloneבְּגַפּ֣וֹbe.ga.PoH1610;ifאִם־'im-H518he is the husbandבַּ֤עַלBa.'alH1167of a wifeאִשָּׁה֙'i.ShahH802,then his wifeאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ'ish.ToH802shall leaveוְיָצְאָ֥הve.ya.tze.'AhH3318with 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 leaveיֵצֵ֥אye.Tze'H3318aloneבְגַפּֽוֹ׃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.TiH802,and my childrenבָּנָ֑יba.NaiH1121;I will not leaveאֵצֵ֖א'e.Tze'H3318as 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 anawlבַּמַּרְצֵ֔עַba.mar.Tze.a'H4836;and he shall serveוַעֲבָד֖וֹva.'a.va.DoH5647him permanentlyלְעֹלָֽם׃ סle.'o.LamH5769.

7“Nowifוְכִֽי־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.'AmH5971, because of hisunfairnessבְּבִגְדוֹ־be.vig.dov-H898to her.

9And ifוְאִם־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.

11But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518he will not doיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.SehH6213theseאֵ֔לֶּה'E.lehH428threeשְׁלָ֨שׁ־she.Lash-H7969thingsfor her, then she shall goוְיָצְאָ֥הve.ya.tze.'AhH3318freeH3318forH2600nothingH2600,withoutאֵ֥ין'einH369payment ofmoneyכָּֽסֶף׃ סKa.sefH3701.

Personal Injuries

12“He who strikesמַכֵּ֥הma.KehH5221someoneאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376so that he diesH4191shall certainlyH4191be putH4191toH4191deathH4191.

13Yetifוַאֲשֶׁר֙va.'a.SherH834he did not lieH6658inH6658waitצָדָ֔הtza.DahH6658for him, butGodוְהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםve.ha.'E.lo.HimH430causedH579himtoH579fallH579into his handלְיָד֑וֹle.ya.DoH3027,then I will appointוְשַׂמְתִּ֤יve.sam.TiH7760you a placeמָק֔וֹםma.KomH4725to whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834he may fleeיָנ֖וּסya.NusH5127.

14Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588,however, someoneאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376is enragedיָזִ֥דya.ZidH2102againstעַל־'al-H5921his neighborרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453,so as to killלְהָרְג֣וֹle.ha.re.GoH2026him in a cunningבְעָרְמָ֑הve.'a.re.MahH6195wayH6195,you are to takeתִּקָּחֶ֖נּוּti.ka.Che.nuH3947him evenfrom My altarמִזְבְּחִ֔יmiz.be.ChiH4196,to be put to deathלָמֽוּת׃ סla.MutH4191.

15“And one who strikesוּמַכֵּ֥הu.ma.KehH5221his fatherאָבִ֛יו'a.VivH1or his motherוְאִמּ֖וֹve.'i.MoH517shall certainlyH4191be putH4191toH4191deathH4191.

16“Now one whokidnapsוְגֹנֵ֨בve.go.NevH1589someoneאִ֧ישׁ'ishH376,whether he sellsוּמְכָר֛וֹu.me.kha.RoH4376him or he is foundוְנִמְצָ֥אve.nim.Tza'H4672in hispossessionבְיָד֖וֹve.ya.DoH3027,shall certainlyH4191be putH4191toH4191deathH4191.

17“Andone who cursesוּמְקַלֵּ֥לu.me.ka.LelH7043his fatherאָבִ֛יו'a.VivH1or his motherוְאִמּ֖וֹve.'i.MoH517shall certainlyH4191be putH4191toH4191deathH4191.

18“Now ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588peopleH376haveH7378aH7378quarrelיְרִיבֻ֣ןye.ri.VunH7378and oneH376strikesוְהִכָּה־ve.hi.kah-H5221the otherרֵעֵ֔הוּre.'E.huH7453with a stoneבְּאֶ֖בֶןbe.'E.venH68orא֣וֹ'oH176with a fistבְאֶגְרֹ֑ףve.'eg.RofH106,and he does not dieיָמ֖וּתya.MutH4191butisH5307confinedH5307to bedלְמִשְׁכָּֽב׃le.mish.KavH4904,

19ifאִם־'im-H518he getsH6965upH6965and walksוְהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְve.hit.ha.LekhH1980aroundH1980outsideבַּח֛וּץba.ChutzH2351on his staffמִשְׁעַנְתּ֖וֹmish.'an.ToH4938,then he who struckהַמַּכֶּ֑הha.ma.KehH5221him shall goH5352unpunishedH5352;he shall onlyH7534payיִתֵּ֖ןyi.TenH5414for hislossH7674of timeH7674, andshall payH7495forH7495his careH7495until he is completelyH7495healedH7495.

20“And ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588someoneאִ֨ישׁ'ishH376strikesיַכֶּה֩ya.KehH5221his maleעַבְדּ֜וֹav.DoH5650orא֤וֹ'oH176femaleאֲמָתוֹ֙'a.ma.ToH519slaveH519 H5650with a rodבַּשֵּׁ֔בֶטba.She.vetH7626and the slavediesוּמֵ֖תu.MetH4191at his handיָד֑וֹya.DoH3027, he shallbe punishedH5358.

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

22“Now ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588peopleH376struggleיִנָּצ֣וּyi.na.TzuH5327with each other and strikeוְנָ֨גְפ֜וּve.Na.ge.FuH5062a pregnantהָרָה֙ha.RahH2030womanאִשָּׁ֤ה'i.ShahH802so thatshe givesH3205birthH3205prematurelyוְיָצְא֣וּve.ya.tze.'UH3318,but there is noוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808injuryאָס֑וֹן'a.SonH611, the guilty personshall certainlyעָנ֣וֹשׁa.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“And ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588someoneאִ֜ישׁ'ishH376strikesיַכֶּ֨הya.KehH5221the eyeH5869of his maleעַבְדּ֛וֹav.DoH5650orאֽוֹ־'ov-H176femaleאֲמָת֖וֹ'a.ma.ToH519slaveH519 H5650and destroysוְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּve.shi.cha.TahH7843it, he shall letthe slave goיְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּye.shal.le.Che.nuH7971freeלַֽחָפְשִׁ֥יla.cha.fe.ShiH2670onH8478accountH8478ofH8478the eyeH5869.

27And ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518heknocksH5307outH5307a toothH8127of his maleעַבְדּ֛וֹav.DoH5650orאֽוֹ־'ov-H176femaleאֲמָת֖וֹ'a.ma.ToH519slaveH519 H5650, he shall letthe slave goיְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּye.shal.le.Che.nuH7971freeלַֽחָפְשִׁ֥יla.cha.fe.ShiH2670onH8478accountH8478ofH8478the toothH8127.

28“Now ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588an oxשׁ֥וֹרShorH7794goresיִגַּ֨חyi.GachH5055a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376orא֥וֹ'oH176a womanאִשָּׁ֖ה'i.ShahH802to deathוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191,the oxהַשּׁ֗וֹרha.ShorH7794shall certainlyסָק֨וֹלsa.KolH5619be stonedיִסָּקֵ֜לyi.sa.KelH5619and its fleshבְּשָׂר֔וֹbe.sa.RoH1320shall not be eatenיֵאָכֵל֙ye.'a.KhelH398;but the ownerוּבַ֥עַלu.Va.'alH1167of the oxהַשּׁ֖וֹרha.ShorH7794shall go unpunishedנָקִֽי׃na.KiH5355.

29Ifוְאִ֡םve.'ImH518,however, an oxשׁוֹר֩shOrH7794was previouslyמִתְּמֹ֣ל שִׁלְשֹׁ֗םmi.te.Mol shil.ShomH8543 H8032in the habitH5056ofH5056goringנַגָּ֨חna.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.MatH4191toH4191deathH4191.

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.

Property Rights

33“Now ifH3588someoneH376opensיִפְתַּ֨חyif.TachH6605a pitבּ֗וֹרBorH953,orא֠וֹ'oH176digsיִכְרֶ֥הyikh.RehH3738a pitבֹּ֖רborH953and does not coverיְכַסֶּ֑נּוּye.khas.Se.nuH3680it, 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“And ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588someone’sאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376oxשֽׁוֹר־shor-H7794injuresיִגֹּ֧ףyi.GofH5062another’sרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453oxשׁ֥וֹרShorH7794so that it diesוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191,then they shall sellוּמָ֨כְר֜וּu.Ma.khe.RuH4376the liveהַחַי֙ha.ChaiH2416oxהַשּׁ֤וֹרha.ShorH7794and divideוְחָצ֣וּve.cha.TzuH2673its proceedsכַּסְפּ֔וֹkas.PoH3701equally; and they shall alsoוְגַ֥םve.GamH1571divideיֶֽחֱצֽוּן׃Ye.che.TzunH2673the deadהַמֵּ֖תha.MetH4191ox.

36Orא֣וֹ'oH176ifit is knownנוֹדַ֗עno.Da'H3045that the oxשׁ֣וֹרShorH7794was previouslyמִתְּמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔םmi.te.Mol shil.ShomH8543 H8032in the habitH5056ofH5056goringנַגָּ֥חna.GachH5056,yet its ownerבְּעָלָ֑יוbe.'a.LavH1167has not confinedיִשְׁמְרֶ֖נּוּyish.me.Re.nuH8104it, he mustH7999makeH7999restitutionH7999of oxשׁוֹר֙shOrH7794for oxהַשּׁ֔וֹרha.ShorH7794,and the deadוְהַמֵּ֖תve.ha.MetH4191animalshall becomeיִֽהְיֶה־yih.yeh-H1961his.

Ordinances for the People

Personal Injuries

Property Rights

Commentaries on Exodus 21