"And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. {punish…" — Exodus 21:20

Exodus 21:20 · KJV

“And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. {punished: Heb. avenged}”

— Exodus 21:20

Verse 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. {the loss...: Heb. his ceasing}

Verse 21

Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he {is} his money.

Exodus 21 — Context

And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with {his} fist, and he die not, but keepeth {his} bed: {another: or, his neighbour}

And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. {punished: Heb. avenged}

Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he {is} his money.

If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart {from her}, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges {determine}.

Cross References

Deuteronomy 19:21

And thine eye shall not pity; {but} life {shall go} for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Proverbs 29:19

A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.

Numbers 35:30-33

Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person {to cause him} to die.

Genesis 9:6

Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Numbers 35:19

The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

Isaiah 58:3-4

Wherefore have we fasted, {say they}, and thou seest not? {wherefore} have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. {labours: or, things wherewith ye grieve others: Heb. griefs}

Genesis 4:15

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Exodus 21:26-27

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.