But if a serious injury results,
This phrase introduces a condition within the broader context of the laws given to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. These laws are part of the covenant code, which provides guidelines for social justice and personal responsibility. The term "serious injury" indicates a situation where harm has escalated beyond minor disputes, reflecting the importance of justice and fairness in the community. This principle underscores the value of human life and the need for accountability.

then you must require a life for a life—
This phrase is an example of the lex talionis, or the law of retaliation, which is a principle of justice that ensures the punishment fits the crime. It is meant to prevent excessive retribution and maintain order within society. This concept is echoed in other parts of the Old Testament, such as Leviticus 24:19-20 and Deuteronomy 19:21. In the New Testament, Jesus addresses this principle in Matthew 5:38-39, where He calls for a higher standard of forgiveness and mercy, pointing to the transformative power of grace. The phrase also foreshadows the sacrificial system and ultimately the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who gave His life to atone for the sins of humanity, fulfilling the law and offering redemption.

1. Moses
The prophet and leader of the Israelites who received the Law from God on Mount Sinai, which includes the ordinances found in Exodus 21.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, who were given the Law to guide their community and moral conduct.

3. Mount Sinai
The place where God delivered the Law to Moses, including the civil and moral laws found in Exodus.

4. The Law
A set of rules and ordinances given by God to the Israelites, which includes moral, ceremonial, and civil laws.

5. Ancient Near Eastern Context
The cultural and legal backdrop against which the laws in Exodus were given, often reflecting a principle of justice and retribution common in that era.Principle of Justice
The "life for a life" principle underscores the seriousness of taking a life and the need for justice in society. It reflects God's concern for justice and the value of human life.

Moral Responsibility
This law teaches the importance of personal responsibility and accountability for one's actions, emphasizing that actions have consequences.

Value of Human Life
The requirement of a life for a life highlights the intrinsic value of human life, as each person is made in the image of God.

Transition to Mercy
While the Old Testament law emphasizes justice, the New Testament introduces the concept of mercy and forgiveness, encouraging believers to seek reconciliation and peace.

Cultural Context
Understanding the cultural and historical context of these laws helps us appreciate their purpose and how they point to a higher moral standard fulfilled in Christ.1. What is the meaning of Exodus 21:23?

2. How does Exodus 21:23 emphasize the value of human life in God's eyes?

3. What principles of justice are highlighted in Exodus 21:23 for modern society?

4. How does "life for life" connect with Jesus' teachings in the New Testament?

5. In what ways can Exodus 21:23 guide our views on accountability today?

6. How can Exodus 21:23 influence our approach to conflict resolution and fairness?

7. How does Exodus 21:23 align with the concept of justice in the Bible?

8. What does "life for life" in Exodus 21:23 imply about the value of human life?

9. How is the principle in Exodus 21:23 applied in modern Christian ethics?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 21?

11. What is the Bible's stance on vigilante justice?

12. What do Exodus 21:22-23 say about abortion?

13. Historically or archaeologically, is there evidence that these specific slave and injury laws were widely practiced as described in Exodus 21?

14. What does "eye for an eye" mean biblically?But if

- The phrase signals a conditional situation in Israel’s civil code. God is laying out case law, not vague ideals (Exodus 21:1).

- It reminds us that God’s justice addresses real-life scenarios rather than theoretical ethics (Deuteronomy 4:5-8).

- The contrast with the previous verses (vv. 22) shows a shift from accidental harm that requires fines to harm that calls for more serious restitution (Numbers 35:22-24).

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a serious injury results

- Scripture distinguishes between minor and major harm; here the damage is severe, life-altering, or fatal (Leviticus 24:19-20).

- This clause upholds the sanctity of human life—every life bears God’s image (Genesis 1:27; 9:6).

- By specifying “serious,” the law avoids trivializing justice and prevents harsh penalties for lesser offenses (Proverbs 11:1).

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then you must require

- Justice is portrayed as an imperative, not an option. The community, through its judges, is responsible to carry it out (Deuteronomy 16:18-20).

- Personal vengeance is replaced with a structured, impartial process (Leviticus 19:18; Romans 12:19).

- The standard protects both victim and offender: punishment is neither lax nor excessive (Deuteronomy 19:15-21).

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a life for a life

- Often called the lex talionis, this principle limits retaliation to exact equivalence, preventing escalating blood feuds (Genesis 4:23-24 vs. Matthew 5:38).

- It underscores life’s precious value: taking a life is so weighty that only a life can satisfy justice (Numbers 35:30-31).

- Civil authorities bear the sword to administer this penalty, not individuals (Romans 13:4).

- While the New Testament offers personal forgiveness, it never nullifies government’s God-given duty to punish evil (1 Peter 2:13-14).

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summary

Exodus 21:23 teaches that when severe harm occurs, God’s just order demands proportionate restitution, ultimately valuing life so highly that deliberate taking of life warrants the ultimate penalty. This principle restrains revenge, honors God’s image in humanity, and entrusts justice to lawful authority.

Verse 23. - Then thou shalt give life for life. "Life for life" seems an excessive penalty, where the injury was in a great measure accidental, and when there was certainly no design to take life. Probably the law was not now enacted for the first time, but was an old tribal institution, like the law of the "avenger of blood." There are many things in the Mosaic institutions which Moses tolerated, like "bills of divorce" - on account of "the hardness of their hearts." Verses 23, 24. - Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, etc. Aristotle says in the Nicomachean Ethics, that this was the rule of justice which Rhadamanthus was supposed to act on in the judgment after death (book 5, see. 3), and that it had the approval of the Pythagoreans. Solon admitted it to a certain extent into the laws of Athens, and at Rome it found its way. into the Twelve Tables. There is a prima facie appearance of exact equality in it, which would captivate rude minds and cause the principle to be widely adopted in a rude state of society. But in practice objections would soon be felt to it. There is no exact measure of the hardness of a blow, or the severity of a wound; and "wound for wound, stripe for stripe," would open a door for very unequal inflictions "Eye for eye" would be flagrantly unjust in the case of a one-eyed man. Moreover, it is against public policy to augment unnecessarily the number of mutilated and maimed citizens, whose power to serve the state is lessened by their mutilation. Consequently in every society retaliation has at an early date given way to pecuniary compensation; and this was the case even among the Hebrews, as Kalisch has shown satisfactorily. If the literal sense was insisted on in our Lord' s day (Matthew 5:38), it was only by the Sadducees, who declined to give the law a spiritual interpretation.

Parallel Commentaries ...


But if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

a serious injury
אָס֖וֹן (’ā·sō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 611: Mischief, evil, harm

results,
יִהְיֶ֑ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

then you must require
וְנָתַתָּ֥ה (wə·nā·ṯat·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

a life
נֶ֖פֶשׁ (ne·p̄eš)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

for
תַּ֥חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

a life—
נָֽפֶשׁ׃ (nā·p̄eš)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion


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OT Law: Exodus 21:23 But if any harm follows then you (Exo. Ex)