Revised Literal Translation

Exodus 21

1Now these arethe judgmentsהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔יםha.mish.pa.TimH4941which thou shalt setתָּשִׂ֖יםta.SimH7760beforeלִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃lif.nei.HemH6440them.

2If thou buyתִקְנֶה֙tik.NehH7069an Hebrewעִבְרִ֔י'iv.RiH5680servantעֶ֣בֶד'E.vedH5650,sixשֵׁ֥שׁsheshH8337yearsשָׁנִ֖יםsha.NimH8141he shall serveיַעֲבֹ֑דya.'a.VodH5647:and in the seventhוּבַ֨שְּׁבִעִ֔תu.Va.she.vi.'ItH7637he shall go outיֵצֵ֥אye.Tze'H3318freeלַֽחָפְשִׁ֖יla.cha.fe.ShiH2670for nothingחִנָּֽם׃chi.NamH2600.

3If he came inיָבֹ֖אya.Vo'H935by himselfבְּגַפּ֥וֹbe.ga.PoH1610,he shall go outיֵצֵ֑אye.Tze'H3318by himselfבְּגַפּ֣וֹbe.ga.PoH1610:if he were marriedבַּ֤עַל אִשָּׁה֙Ba.'al 'i.ShahH802 H1167,then his wifeאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ'ish.ToH802shall go outוְיָצְאָ֥הve.ya.tze.'AhH3318with him.

4If his masterאֲדֹנָיו֙'a.do.NavH113have givenיִתֶּן־yi.ten-H5414him a wifeאִשָּׁ֔ה'i.ShahH802,and she have bornוְיָלְדָה־ve.Yal.dah-H3205him sonsבָנִ֖יםva.NimH1121or daughtersבָנ֑וֹתva.NotH1323;the wifeהָאִשָּׁ֣הha.'i.ShahH802and her childrenוִילָדֶ֗יהָvi.la.Dei.haH3206shall be her master’sלַֽאדֹנֶ֔יהָla.do.Nei.haH113,and he shall go outיֵצֵ֥אye.Tze'H3318by himselfבְגַפּֽוֹ׃ve.ga.PoH1610.

5And if the servantהָעֶ֔בֶדha.'E.vedH5650shall plainlyאָמֹ֤ר'a.MorH559sayיֹאמַר֙yo.MarH559,I loveאָהַ֙בְתִּי֙'a.Hav.tiH157my masterאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113,my wifeאִשְׁתִּ֖י'ish.TiH802,and my childrenבָּנָ֑יba.NaiH1121;I will not go outאֵצֵ֖א'e.Tze'H3318freeחָפְשִֽׁי׃cha.fe.ShiH2670:

6Then his masterאֲדֹנָיו֙'a.do.NavH113shall bringוְהִגִּישׁ֤וֹve.hi.gi.ShoH5066him unto the judgesהָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430;he shall also bringוְהִגִּישׁוֹ֙ve.hi.gi.ShoH5066him to the doorהַדֶּ֔לֶתha.De.letH1817,or unto the door postהַמְּזוּזָ֑הha.me.zu.ZahH4201;and his masterאֲדֹנָ֤יו'a.do.NavH113shall boreוְרָצַ֨עve.ra.Tza'H7527his earאָזְנוֹ֙'a.ze.NoH241through with an aulבַּמַּרְצֵ֔עַba.mar.Tze.a'H4836;and he shall serveוַעֲבָד֖וֹva.'a.va.DoH5647him for everלְעֹלָֽם׃ סle.'o.LamH5769.

7And if a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376sellיִמְכֹּ֥רyim.KorH4376his daughterבִּתּ֖וֹbi.ToH1323to be a maidservantלְאָמָ֑הle.'a.MahH519,she shall not go outתֵצֵ֖אte.Tze'H3318as the menservantsהָעֲבָדִֽים׃ha.'a.va.DimH5650doכְּצֵ֥אתke.TzetH3318.

8If she pleaseבְּעֵינֵ֧יbe.'ei.NeiH5869 H7451not her masterאֲדֹנֶ֛יהָ'a.do.Nei.haH113,who hath betrothedיְעָדָ֖הּye.'a.DahH3259her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemedוְהֶפְדָּ֑הּve.hef.DahH6299:to sellלְמָכְרָ֖הּle.ma.khe.RahH4376her unto a strangeנָכְרִ֛יna.khe.RiH5237nationלְעַ֥םle.'AmH5971he shall have no powerיִמְשֹׁ֥לyim.SholH4910,seeing he hath dealt deceitfullyבְּבִגְדוֹ־be.vig.dov-H898with her.

9And if he have betrothedיִֽיעָדֶ֑נָּהyi.'a.De.nahH3259her unto his sonלִבְנ֖וֹliv.NoH1121,he shall dealיַעֲשֶׂה־ya.'a.seh-H6213with her after the mannerכְּמִשְׁפַּ֥טke.mish.PatH4941of daughtersהַבָּנ֖וֹתha.ba.NotH1323.

10If he takeיִֽקַּֽח־yi.kach-H3947him anotherאַחֶ֖רֶת'a.Che.retH312wife;her foodשְׁאֵרָ֛הּshe.'e.RahH7607,her raimentכְּסוּתָ֥הּke.su.TahH3682,and her duty of marriageוְעֹנָתָ֖הּve.'o.na.TahH5772,shall he not diminishיִגְרָֽע׃yig.Ra'H1639.

11And if he doיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.SehH6213not these threeשְׁלָ֨שׁ־she.Lash-H7969unto her, then shall she go outוְיָצְאָ֥הve.ya.tze.'AhH3318freeחִנָּ֖םchi.NamH2600without moneyכָּֽסֶף׃ סKa.sefH3701.

12He that smitethמַכֵּ֥הma.KehH5221a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376,so that he dieוָמֵ֖תva.MetH4191,shall be surelyמ֥וֹתMotH4191put to deathיוּמָֽת׃yu.MatH4191.

13And if a man lie not in waitצָדָ֔הtza.DahH6658,but Godוְהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםve.ha.'E.lo.HimH430deliverאִנָּ֣ה'i.NahH579himinto his handלְיָד֑וֹle.ya.DoH3027;then I will appointוְשַׂמְתִּ֤יve.sam.TiH7760thee a placeמָק֔וֹםma.KomH4725whither he shall fleeיָנ֖וּסya.NusH5127.

14But if a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376come presumptuouslyיָזִ֥דya.ZidH2102upon his neighbourרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453,to slayלְהָרְג֣וֹle.ha.re.GoH2026him with guileבְעָרְמָ֑הve.'a.re.MahH6195;thou shalt takeתִּקָּחֶ֖נּוּti.ka.Che.nuH3947him from mine altarמִזְבְּחִ֔יmiz.be.ChiH4196,that he may dieלָמֽוּת׃ סla.MutH4191.

15And he that smitethוּמַכֵּ֥הu.ma.KehH5221his fatherאָבִ֛יו'a.VivH1,or his motherוְאִמּ֖וֹve.'i.MoH517,shall be surelyמ֥וֹתMotH4191put to deathיוּמָֽת׃yu.MatH4191.

16And he that stealethוְגֹנֵ֨בve.go.NevH1589a manאִ֧ישׁ'ishH376,and sellethוּמְכָר֛וֹu.me.kha.RoH4376him, or if he be foundוְנִמְצָ֥אve.nim.Tza'H4672in his handבְיָד֖וֹve.ya.DoH3027,he shall surelyמ֥וֹתMotH4191be put to deathיוּמָֽת׃ סyu.MatH4191.

17And he that cursethוּמְקַלֵּ֥לu.me.ka.LelH7043his fatherאָבִ֛יו'a.VivH1,or his motherוְאִמּ֖וֹve.'i.MoH517,shall surelyמ֥וֹתMotH4191be put to deathיוּמָֽת׃ סyu.MatH4191.

18And if menאֲנָשִׁ֔ים'a.na.ShimH582striveיְרִיבֻ֣ןye.ri.VunH7378together, and oneאִישׁ֙'ishH376smiteוְהִכָּה־ve.hi.kah-H5221anotherרֵעֵ֔הוּre.'E.huH7453with a stoneבְּאֶ֖בֶןbe.'E.venH68,orא֣וֹ'oH176with hisfistבְאֶגְרֹ֑ףve.'eg.RofH106,and he dieיָמ֖וּתya.MutH4191not, but keepethוְנָפַ֥לve.na.FalH5307hisbedלְמִשְׁכָּֽב׃le.mish.KavH4904:

19If he rise againיָק֞וּםya.KumH6965,and walkוְהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְve.hit.ha.LekhH1980abroadבַּח֛וּץba.ChutzH2351upon his staffמִשְׁעַנְתּ֖וֹmish.'an.ToH4938,then shall he that smoteהַמַּכֶּ֑הha.ma.KehH5221himbe quitוְנִקָּ֣הve.ni.KahH5352:only he shall payיִתֵּ֖ןyi.TenH5414forthe loss of his timeשִׁבְתּ֛וֹshiv.ToH7674, and shall cause himto be thoroughlyוְרַפֹּ֥אve.ra.Po'H7495healedיְרַפֵּֽא׃ סye.ra.Pe'H7495.

20And if a manאִ֨ישׁ'ishH376smiteיַכֶּה֩ya.KehH5221his servantעַבְדּ֜וֹav.DoH5650,or his maidאֲמָתוֹ֙'a.ma.ToH519,with a rodבַּשֵּׁ֔בֶטba.She.vetH7626,and he dieוּמֵ֖תu.MetH4191under his handיָד֑וֹya.DoH3027;he shall be surelyנָקֹ֖םna.KomH5358punishedיִנָּקֵֽם׃yi.na.KemH5358.

21Notwithstandingאַ֥ךְ'akhH389,if he continueיַעֲמֹ֑דya.'a.ModH5975a dayH3117or twoH8147,he shall not be punishedיֻקַּ֔םyu.KamH5358: for he ishis moneyכַסְפּ֖וֹkhas.PoH3701.

22If menאֲנָשִׁ֗ים'a.na.ShimH582striveיִנָּצ֣וּyi.na.TzuH5327,and hurtוְנָ֨גְפ֜וּve.Na.ge.FuH5062a womanאִשָּׁ֤ה'i.ShahH802with childהָרָה֙ha.RahH2030,so that her fruitיְלָדֶ֔יהָye.la.Dei.haH3206departוְיָצְא֣וּve.ya.tze.'UH3318from her,and yet no mischief followאָס֑וֹן'a.SonH611:he shall be surelyעָנ֣וֹשׁa.No.oshH6064punishedיֵעָנֵ֗שׁye.'a.NeshH6064,according as the woman’sהָֽאִשָּׁ֔הha.'i.ShahH802husbandבַּ֣עַלBa.'alH1167will layיָשִׁ֤יתya.ShitH7896upon him; and he shall payוְנָתַ֖ןve.na.TanH5414as the judgesבִּפְלִלִֽים׃bif.li.LimH6414determine.

23And if anymischief followאָס֖וֹן'a.SonH611,then thou shalt giveוְנָתַתָּ֥הve.na.ta.TahH5414lifeנֶ֖פֶשׁNe.feshH5315for lifeנָֽפֶשׁ׃Na.feshH5315,

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

25Burningכְּוִיָּה֙ke.vi.YahH3555for burningכְּוִיָּ֔הke.vi.YahH3555,woundפֶּ֖צַעPe.tza'H6482for woundפָּ֑צַעPa.tza'H6482,stripeחַבּוּרָ֕הcha.bu.RahH2250for stripeחַבּוּרָֽה׃ סcha.bu.RahH2250.

26And if a manאִ֜ישׁ'ishH376smiteיַכֶּ֨הya.KehH5221the eyeעֵ֥ין'einH5869of his servantעַבְדּ֛וֹav.DoH5650,or the eyeעֵ֥ין'einH5869of his maidאֲמָת֖וֹ'a.ma.ToH519,that it perishוְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּve.shi.cha.TahH7843;he shall let him goיְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּye.shal.le.Che.nuH7971freeלַֽחָפְשִׁ֥יla.cha.fe.ShiH2670forתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478his eye’sעֵינֽוֹ׃ סei.NoH5869sake.

27And if he smiteיַפִּ֑ילya.PilH5307out his manservant’sעַבְדּ֛וֹav.DoH5650toothשֵׁ֥ןshenH8127,or his maidservant’sאֲמָת֖וֹ'a.ma.ToH519toothשֵׁ֥ןshenH8127;he shall let him goיְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּye.shal.le.Che.nuH7971freeלַֽחָפְשִׁ֥יla.cha.fe.ShiH2670for his tooth’sשִׁנּֽוֹ׃ פshi.NoH8127sake.

28If an oxשׁ֥וֹרShorH7794goreיִגַּ֨חyi.GachH5055a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376or a womanאִשָּׁ֖ה'i.ShahH802,that they dieוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191:then the oxהַשּׁ֗וֹרha.ShorH7794shall be surelyסָק֨וֹלsa.KolH5619stonedיִסָּקֵ֜לyi.sa.KelH5619,and his fleshבְּשָׂר֔וֹbe.sa.RoH1320shall not be eatenיֵאָכֵל֙ye.'a.KhelH398;but the ownerוּבַ֥עַלu.Va.'alH1167of the oxהַשּׁ֖וֹרha.ShorH7794shall bequitנָקִֽי׃na.KiH5355.

29But if the oxשׁוֹר֩shOrH7794were wont to push with his hornנַגָּ֨חna.GachH5056in time pastמִתְּמֹ֣ל שִׁלְשֹׁ֗םmi.te.Mol shil.ShomH8032 H8543,and it hath been testifiedוְהוּעַ֤דve.hu.'AdH5749to his ownerבִּבְעָלָיו֙biv.'a.LavH1167,and he hath not keptיִשְׁמְרֶ֔נּוּyish.me.Re.nuH8104him in, but that he hath killedוְהֵמִ֥יתve.he.MitH4191a manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376or a womanאִשָּׁ֑ה'i.ShahH802;the oxהַשּׁוֹר֙ha.shOrH7794shall be stonedיִסָּקֵ֔לyi.sa.KelH5619,and his ownerבְּעָלָ֖יוbe.'a.LavH1167also shall be put to deathיוּמָֽת׃yu.MatH4191.

30If there be laidיוּשַׁ֣תyu.ShatH7896on him a sum of moneyכֹּ֖פֶרKo.ferH3724,then he shall giveוְנָתַן֙ve.na.TanH5414for the ransomפִּדְיֹ֣ןpid.YonH6306of his lifeנַפְשׁ֔וֹnaf.ShoH5315whatsoever is laidיוּשַׁ֖תyu.ShatH7896upon him.

31Whether he have goredיִגָּ֖חyi.GachH5055a sonבֵ֥ןvenH1121,orH176have goredיִגָּ֑חyi.GachH5055a daughterבַ֣תvatH1323,according to this judgmentכַּמִּשְׁפָּ֥טka.mish.PatH4941shall it be doneיֵעָ֥שֶׂהye.'A.sehH6213unto him.

32If the oxהַשּׁ֖וֹרha.ShorH7794shall pushיִגַּ֥חyi.GachH5055a manservantעֶ֛בֶד'E.vedH5650or a maidservantאָמָ֑ה'a.MahH519;he shall giveיִתֵּן֙yi.TenH5414unto their masterלַֽאדֹנָ֔יוla.do.NavH113thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970shekelsשְׁקָלִ֗יםshe.ka.LimH8255of silverכֶּ֣סֶף׀Ke.sefH3701,and the oxוְהַשּׁ֖וֹרve.ha.ShorH7794shall be stonedיִסָּקֵֽל׃ סyi.sa.KelH5619.

33And if a manאִ֜ישׁ'ishH376shall openיִפְתַּ֨חyif.TachH6605a pitבּ֗וֹרBorH953,or if a manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376shall digיִכְרֶ֥הyikh.RehH3738a pitבֹּ֖רborH953,and not coverיְכַסֶּ֑נּוּye.khas.Se.nuH3680it, and an oxשּׁ֖וֹרShorH7794or a donkeyחֲמֽוֹר׃cha.MorH2543fallוְנָֽפַל־ve.na.fal-H5307therein;

34The ownerבַּ֤עַלBa.'alH1167of the pitהַבּוֹר֙ha.bOrH953shall make itgoodיְשַׁלֵּ֔םye.sha.LemH7999, andgiveיָשִׁ֣יבya.ShivH7725moneyכֶּ֖סֶףKe.sefH3701unto the ownerלִבְעָלָ֑יוliv.'a.LavH1167of them; and the deadוְהַמֵּ֖תve.ha.MetH4191beast shall be his.

35And if one man’sאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376oxH7794hurtיִגֹּ֧ףyi.GofH5062another’sרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453,that he dieוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191;then they shall sellוּמָ֨כְר֜וּu.Ma.khe.RuH4376the liveהַחַי֙ha.ChaiH2416oxH7794,and divideוְחָצ֣וּve.cha.TzuH2673the moneyכַּסְפּ֔וֹkas.PoH3701of it; and the deadהַמֵּ֖תha.MetH4191oxalso they shall divideיֶֽחֱצֽוּן׃Ye.che.TzunH2673.

36Or if it be knownנוֹדַ֗עno.Da'H3045that the oxשׁ֣וֹרShorH7794hath used to pushנַגָּ֥חna.GachH5056in time pastמִתְּמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔םmi.te.Mol shil.ShomH8032 H8543,and his ownerבְּעָלָ֑יוbe.'a.LavH1167hath not keptיִשְׁמְרֶ֖נּוּyish.me.Re.nuH8104him in; he shall surelyשַׁלֵּ֨םsha.LemH7999payיְשַׁלֵּ֥םye.sha.LemH7999oxשׁוֹר֙shOrH7794for oxהַשּׁ֔וֹרha.ShorH7794;and the deadוְהַמֵּ֖תve.ha.MetH4191shall be his own.

Commentaries on Exodus 21