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Exodus 21
1 Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.
2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant (i.e. one of their own [an Israelite]), six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
See also: Deuteronomy 15:12-15.
3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.
In other words, if the manservant gets married and has children during his time of servitude, then he is free to leave after six years while his wife and children are not. The reason for this is because it is the master that is providing for the manservant's wife and children, not the manservant, and just as he wasn't able to provide for his family during his time in slavery, his income would stop when he became free and so his family's only support would be provided by the master. The whole purpose for this was for the protection of the family when there wasn't any competent provider (i.e. the manservant) to do so.
5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
In other words, his ear would be pierced to show his consent.
7 And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
The maidservants were not to perform the same heavy physical tasks as the menservants.
8 If she please not her master, who hath betrothed (i.e. engaged) her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.
In other words, if the master is not pleased with the maidservant and he breaks his promise of engagement, then he is to send her back to her father and let her be redeemed. If he breaks his promise of engagement, he is not allowed to sell her to non-Israelites (i.e. foreigners).
9 And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.
In other words, if the master engages her unto his son, the master is to treat her as a daughter [or daughter-in-law] and not as a slave.
10 If he take him another wife; her (= the maidservant [the formally engaged one]) food, her raiment (= clothing), and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish (i.e. take away).
11 And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.
12 He that smiteth a man, so that he die (i.e. premeditated murder), shall be surely put to death.
13 And if a man lie not in wait (i.e. accidentally kills someone else), but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
In other words, if someone accidentally kills someone else, they are to move to another place for refuge.
14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
And so it is, if someone murders someone on purpose, they are to receive capital punishment (the death penalty).
15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
Though there are many bad parents in the world today, you should always have at least enough respect for the part that they brought you into the world, as GOD is the one who decided it would be through them that you would come through; now regardless of how bad or poor some parents may seem, for that aspect alone that they brought you into the world, you should honor them. Note that this does not allow them to abuse you, but GOD respects and honors the family unit, and rising up to abuse/murder your parents is absolutely forbidden.
16 And he that stealeth (i.e. kidnaps) a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
This word "curseth" in the Hebrew is qâlal and as defined in the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, it means to bring into contempt, despise, accurse and revile. Though the laws of the land dismiss this today, GOD does not tolerate children who do this and mistreat their parents and regardless of whether or not this is enforced today, judgment day awaits for each and every soul. Whenever there are hard feelings, it's time to just turn and walk away.
18 And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:
19 If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.
In other words, the one who did the striking is to pay for the injured one's medical expenses.
20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
21 Notwithstanding, if he continue (= ʻâmad) a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
In the Hebrew, this word "continue" is ʻâmad and it can mean arise, to stand, remain, or stay. Overall this verse could be interpreted in different ways as some translations have it translated differently. It could mean that if the servant recovers in a day or two, then the master doesn't have to pay for the servants medical expenses [compare verse 19] as his servant is his money, or it could mean that if the servant dies after a day or two from being struck, then the master isn't to be punished, as it would be presumed that the servant's death wasn't intended due to the servant being the master's money, and the master would be hurting himself, or presumed the servant's death could have been caused by something else. Regardless, even at this time, every situation had a trial that would be investigated which is why Moses needed help and ultimately in the end (judgment day), no wicked person gets off the hook in GOD's eyes.
22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her (i.e. it leads to a premature birth), and yet no mischief (= hurt) follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
23 And if any mischief (= hurt) follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
Whether it be the mother, the child, or both, if death results from someone purposely hitting or striking a pregnant woman, that is murder and they are to receive the death penalty. Abortion also falls into this category and although in many places it is considered legal in the eyes of man, in GOD's eyes it is never legal.
24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
26 And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.
27 And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.
28 If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.
29 But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.
In other words, if the owner is aware that his animal has killed someone and he refuses to do anything about it, then the owner is to receive the death penalty along with the animal for causing innocent people to be killed.
30 If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
In other words, if the family of the person/people killed wants, they can decide to accept money instead of the owner being put to death, and it's very likely this could cost that owner nearly if not everything he had.
31 Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.
GOD is always fair and so it doesn't matter if it's male or female, the punishment for refusing to do anything about a deadly animal is the same.
32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he (= the owner of the ox) shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver (= the price of a servant), and the ox shall be stoned.
33 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;
34 The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.
In other words, the one who dug the pit is to pay restitution to the owner of the dead animal.
35 And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.
36 Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.
If the owner has been made aware that his animal has killed other animals in the past and he refuses to do anything about it, then he is to provide the owner of the dead animal with a new animal. And so it is, these are simple common sense laws.
2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant (i.e. one of their own [an Israelite]), six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
See also: Deuteronomy 15:12-15.
3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.
In other words, if the manservant gets married and has children during his time of servitude, then he is free to leave after six years while his wife and children are not. The reason for this is because it is the master that is providing for the manservant's wife and children, not the manservant, and just as he wasn't able to provide for his family during his time in slavery, his income would stop when he became free and so his family's only support would be provided by the master. The whole purpose for this was for the protection of the family when there wasn't any competent provider (i.e. the manservant) to do so.
5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
In other words, his ear would be pierced to show his consent.
7 And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
The maidservants were not to perform the same heavy physical tasks as the menservants.
8 If she please not her master, who hath betrothed (i.e. engaged) her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.
In other words, if the master is not pleased with the maidservant and he breaks his promise of engagement, then he is to send her back to her father and let her be redeemed. If he breaks his promise of engagement, he is not allowed to sell her to non-Israelites (i.e. foreigners).
9 And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.
In other words, if the master engages her unto his son, the master is to treat her as a daughter [or daughter-in-law] and not as a slave.
10 If he take him another wife; her (= the maidservant [the formally engaged one]) food, her raiment (= clothing), and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish (i.e. take away).
11 And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.
12 He that smiteth a man, so that he die (i.e. premeditated murder), shall be surely put to death.
13 And if a man lie not in wait (i.e. accidentally kills someone else), but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
In other words, if someone accidentally kills someone else, they are to move to another place for refuge.
14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
And so it is, if someone murders someone on purpose, they are to receive capital punishment (the death penalty).
15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
Though there are many bad parents in the world today, you should always have at least enough respect for the part that they brought you into the world, as GOD is the one who decided it would be through them that you would come through; now regardless of how bad or poor some parents may seem, for that aspect alone that they brought you into the world, you should honor them. Note that this does not allow them to abuse you, but GOD respects and honors the family unit, and rising up to abuse/murder your parents is absolutely forbidden.
16 And he that stealeth (i.e. kidnaps) a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
This word "curseth" in the Hebrew is qâlal and as defined in the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, it means to bring into contempt, despise, accurse and revile. Though the laws of the land dismiss this today, GOD does not tolerate children who do this and mistreat their parents and regardless of whether or not this is enforced today, judgment day awaits for each and every soul. Whenever there are hard feelings, it's time to just turn and walk away.
18 And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:
19 If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.
In other words, the one who did the striking is to pay for the injured one's medical expenses.
20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
21 Notwithstanding, if he continue (= ʻâmad) a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
In the Hebrew, this word "continue" is ʻâmad and it can mean arise, to stand, remain, or stay. Overall this verse could be interpreted in different ways as some translations have it translated differently. It could mean that if the servant recovers in a day or two, then the master doesn't have to pay for the servants medical expenses [compare verse 19] as his servant is his money, or it could mean that if the servant dies after a day or two from being struck, then the master isn't to be punished, as it would be presumed that the servant's death wasn't intended due to the servant being the master's money, and the master would be hurting himself, or presumed the servant's death could have been caused by something else. Regardless, even at this time, every situation had a trial that would be investigated which is why Moses needed help and ultimately in the end (judgment day), no wicked person gets off the hook in GOD's eyes.
22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her (i.e. it leads to a premature birth), and yet no mischief (= hurt) follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
23 And if any mischief (= hurt) follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
Whether it be the mother, the child, or both, if death results from someone purposely hitting or striking a pregnant woman, that is murder and they are to receive the death penalty. Abortion also falls into this category and although in many places it is considered legal in the eyes of man, in GOD's eyes it is never legal.
24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
26 And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.
27 And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.
28 If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.
29 But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.
In other words, if the owner is aware that his animal has killed someone and he refuses to do anything about it, then the owner is to receive the death penalty along with the animal for causing innocent people to be killed.
30 If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
In other words, if the family of the person/people killed wants, they can decide to accept money instead of the owner being put to death, and it's very likely this could cost that owner nearly if not everything he had.
31 Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.
GOD is always fair and so it doesn't matter if it's male or female, the punishment for refusing to do anything about a deadly animal is the same.
32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he (= the owner of the ox) shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver (= the price of a servant), and the ox shall be stoned.
33 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;
34 The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.
In other words, the one who dug the pit is to pay restitution to the owner of the dead animal.
35 And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.
36 Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.
If the owner has been made aware that his animal has killed other animals in the past and he refuses to do anything about it, then he is to provide the owner of the dead animal with a new animal. And so it is, these are simple common sense laws.