Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession. New Living Translation “Kidnappers must be put to death, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves. English Standard Version “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death. Berean Standard Bible Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession. King James Bible And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. New King James Version “He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death. New American Standard Bible “Now one who kidnaps someone, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall certainly be put to death. NASB 1995 “He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death. NASB 1977 “And he who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death. Legacy Standard Bible “He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death. Amplified Bible “Whoever kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or is found with him in his possession, must be put to death. Christian Standard Bible “Whoever kidnaps a person must be put to death, whether he sells him or the person is found in his possession. Holman Christian Standard Bible Whoever kidnaps a person must be put to death, whether he sells him or the person is found in his possession.” American Standard Version And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. Contemporary English Version Death is the punishment for kidnapping. If you sell the person you kidnapped, or if you are caught with that person, the penalty is death. English Revised Version And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Whoever kidnaps another person must be put to death, whether he has sold the kidnapped person or still has him. Good News Translation "Whoever kidnaps someone, either to sell him or to keep him as a slave, is to be put to death. International Standard Version "Whoever kidnaps a person, whether he has sold him or whether the victim is still in his possession, is certainly to be put to death. Majority Standard Bible Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession. NET Bible "Whoever kidnaps someone and sells him, or is caught still holding him, must surely be put to death. New Heart English Bible "Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his possession, he shall surely be put to death. Webster's Bible Translation And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he shall be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. World English Bible “Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd he who steals a man, and has sold him, and he has been found in his hand, is certainly put to death. Young's Literal Translation 'And he who stealeth a man, and hath sold him, and he hath been found in his hand, is certainly put to death. Smith's Literal Translation And he stealing a man, and selling him, and being found in his hand, dying, he shall die. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe that shall steal a man, and sell him, being convicted of guilt, shall be put to death. Catholic Public Domain Version Whoever will have stolen a man and sold him, having been convicted of the crime, shall be put to death. New American Bible A kidnapper, whether he sells the person or the person is found in his possession, shall be put to death. New Revised Standard Version Whoever kidnaps a person, whether that person has been sold or is still held in possession, shall be put to death. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe who steals a person and sells him, or he is found in his possession, he shall surely be put to death. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated He who will steal a person and will sell him and be found with him surely shall be killed. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. Brenton Septuagint Translation Whosoever shall steal one of the children of Israel, and prevail over him and sell him, and he be found with him, let him certainly die. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Personal Injury Laws…15Whoever strikes his father or mother must surely be put to death. 16Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession. 17Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death.… Cross References Deuteronomy 24:7 If a man is caught kidnapping one of his Israelite brothers, whether he treats him as a slave or sells him, the kidnapper must die. So you must purge the evil from among you. 1 Timothy 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching Matthew 19:18 “Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, Revelation 18:13 of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves. Genesis 37:28 So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. Leviticus 19:11 You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another. Amos 1:6 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they exiled a whole population, delivering them up to Edom. Amos 1:9 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Tyre, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they delivered up a whole congregation of exiles to Edom and broke a covenant of brotherhood. 1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Proverbs 22:22 Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, Jeremiah 34:8-17 After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD / that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage. / So all the officials and all the people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their menservants and maidservants and no longer hold them in bondage. They obeyed and released them, ... Philemon 1:10-16 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains. / Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. / I am sending back to you him who is my very heart. ... Genesis 40:15 For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing for which they should have put me in this dungeon.” Isaiah 42:22 But this is a people plundered and looted, all trapped in caves or imprisoned in dungeons. They have become plunder with no one to rescue them, and loot with no one to say, “Send them back!” Ezekiel 27:13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. They exchanged slaves and bronze utensils for your merchandise. Treasury of Scripture And he that steals a man, and sells him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. stealeth Genesis 40:15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. Deuteronomy 24:7 If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you. 1 Timothy 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; selleth him Genesis 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. found in Exodus 22:4 If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double. Jump to Previous Caught Death Either Found Gets Hand Order Possession Power Price Selleth Sells Sold Someone Stealeth Steals Surely WhetherJump to Next Caught Death Either Found Gets Hand Order Possession Power Price Selleth Sells Sold Someone Stealeth Steals Surely WhetherExodus 21 1. Laws for men servants5. For the servant whose ear is bored 7. For women servants 12. For manslaughter 16. For kidnappers 17. For cursers of parents 18. For smiters 22. For a hurt by chance 28. For an ox that gores 33. For him who is an occasion of harm Whoever kidnaps The Hebrew word for "kidnaps" is "גּוֹנֵב" (gonev), which is derived from the root "גנב" (ganav), meaning to steal or take by stealth. This term emphasizes the act of taking someone unlawfully and against their will. In the ancient Near Eastern context, kidnapping was a severe crime, disrupting the social order and family structures. The act of kidnapping is not merely a theft of property but a violation of personal freedom and dignity, reflecting the high value placed on human life and liberty in the biblical worldview. another man must be put to death whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe author of Exodus, who received the laws from God on Mount Sinai. 2. Israelites The recipients of the law, who were being formed into a covenant community under God's guidance. 3. Mount Sinai The place where God delivered the law to Moses, including the commandments and ordinances. 4. Kidnapper The individual who unlawfully takes another person, as described in this law. 5. Victim The person who is kidnapped, highlighting the crime's severity and the need for justice. Teaching Points The Sanctity of Human LifeThis law underscores the value God places on human life and personal freedom. Kidnapping is a violation of both, warranting the severest penalty. Justice and Deterrence The prescribed death penalty serves as a deterrent and a means of upholding justice within the community. It reflects the seriousness with which God views the protection of individuals. Respect for Personal Freedom The law highlights the importance of respecting each person's freedom and autonomy, a principle that remains relevant in contemporary discussions on human rights. Moral Responsibility Believers are called to uphold justice and protect the vulnerable, reflecting God's character in their communities. Community Integrity The law serves to maintain the integrity and moral fabric of the community, ensuring that such grievous acts do not go unpunished.Verse 16. - He that stealeth a man. Kidnapping, or stealing men to make them slaves, was a very early and very wide-spread crime. Joseph' s brothers must be regarded as having committed it (Genesis 37:28); and there are many traces of it in the remains of antiquity. (See Herod. 4:183; Strab. 7. p. 467; Sueton. Octav. § 32; etc.) Most kidnapping was of foreigners; and this was a practice of which the laws of states took no cognizance, though a certain disrepute may have attached to it. But the kidnapping of a fellow-country-man was generally punished with severity. At Athens it was a capital offence. At Rome it made a man infamous. We may gather from Deuteronomy 24:7, that the Mosaic law was especially levelled against this lena of the crime, though the words of the present passage are general, and forbid the crime altogether. Man-stealing, in the general sense, is now regarded as an offence by the chief civilised states of Europe and America, and is punished by confiscation of the stolen goods, and sometimes by imprisonment of the man-stealers. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whoever kidnapsוְגֹנֵ֨ב (wə·ḡō·nêḇ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 1589: To thieve, to deceive another man אִ֧ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person must be put to death, מ֥וֹת (mō·wṯ) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 4191: To die, to kill whether he sells him וּמְכָר֛וֹ (ū·mə·ḵā·rōw) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 4376: To sell or the man is found וְנִמְצָ֥א (wə·nim·ṣā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present in his possession. בְיָד֖וֹ (ḇə·yā·ḏōw) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 3027: A hand Links Exodus 21:16 NIVExodus 21:16 NLT Exodus 21:16 ESV Exodus 21:16 NASB Exodus 21:16 KJV Exodus 21:16 BibleApps.com Exodus 21:16 Biblia Paralela Exodus 21:16 Chinese Bible Exodus 21:16 French Bible Exodus 21:16 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 21:16 Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him (Exo. 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