New King James Version
Exodus 21:12
12“He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.
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 Living Translation (NLT)“Anyone who assaults and kills another person must be put to death.
Context of Exodus 21:12
10If he takes another wife, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marriage rights. 11And if he does not do these three for her, then she shall go out free, without paying money. “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. 13However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. 14“But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die.
Read all of Exodus 21Exodus 21:12 word by word
מַכֵּ֥ה אִ֛ישׁ וָמֵ֖ת מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Exodus 21:12
- Exodus 20:13“You shall not murder.
- Genesis 9:6“Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.
- Leviticus 24:17‘Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death.
- Numbers 35:16‘But if he strikes him with an iron implement, so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
- Deuteronomy 19:11“But if anyone hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises against him and strikes him mortally, so that he dies, and he flees to one of these cities,
- 2 Samuel 12:13So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
- Matthew 26:52But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the 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
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries