Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. New Living Translation “If a man hits his male or female slave in the eye and the eye is blinded, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. English Standard Version “When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. Berean Standard Bible If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the eye. King James Bible 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. New King James Version “If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for the sake of his eye. New American Standard Bible “And if someone strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free on account of the eye. NASB 1995 “If a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye. NASB 1977 “And if a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye. Legacy Standard Bible “And if a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave and ruins it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye. Amplified Bible “If a man hits the eye of his male servant or female servant and it is destroyed, he must let the servant go free because of [the loss of] the eye. Christian Standard Bible “When a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he must let the slave go free in compensation for his eye. Holman Christian Standard Bible When a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he must let the slave go free in compensation for his eye. American Standard Version And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. Contemporary English Version If you hit one of your slaves and cause the loss of an eye, the slave must be set free. English Revised Version And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Whenever an owner hits his male or female slave in the eye and the slave is blinded, he must let the slave go free to make up for the loss of the eye. Good News Translation "If someone hits his male or female slave in the eye and puts it out, he is to free the slave as payment for the eye. International Standard Version "If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant and destroys it, he is to release him as a free man in exchange for his eye. Majority Standard Bible If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the eye. NET Bible "If a man strikes the eye of his male servant or his female servant so that he destroys it, he will let the servant go free as compensation for the eye. New Heart English Bible "If a man strikes his servant's eye, or his maid's eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. Webster's Bible Translation And if a man shall smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it shall perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. World English Bible “If a man strikes his servant’s eye, or his maid’s eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd when a man strikes the eye of his manservant, or the eye of his handmaid, and has destroyed it, he sends him away as a freeman for his eye; Young's Literal Translation 'And when a man smiteth the eye of his man-servant, or the eye of his handmaid, and hath destroyed it, as a freeman he doth send him away for his eye; Smith's Literal Translation And if a man strike the eye of his servant or the eye of his maid, and he destroyed it; he shall send him forth free for the sake of his eye. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIf any man strike the eye of his manservant or maidservant, and leave them but one eye, he shall let them go free for the eye which he put out. Catholic Public Domain Version If anyone will have struck the eye of his male or female servant, having left them with one eye, he shall release them freely, because of the eye that he has put out. New American Bible When someone strikes his male or female slave in the eye and destroys the use of the eye, he shall let the slave go free in compensation for the eye. New Revised Standard Version When a slaveowner strikes the eye of a male or female slave, destroying it, the owner shall let the slave go, a free person, to compensate for the eye. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa Bibleland if a man strike the eye of his servant or the eye of his maid, and injure it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And when a man will strike the eye of his Servant or the eye of his Maidservant and will injure it, he will send him/her away a person of freedom for the sake of his/her eye. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And if a man smite the eye of his bondman, or the eye of his bondwoman, and destroy it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. Brenton Septuagint Translation And if one smite the eye of his man-servant, or the eye of his maid-servant, and put it out, he shall let them go free for their eye's sake. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Personal Injury Laws…25burn for burn, wound for wound, and stripe for stripe. 26If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the eye. 27And if he knocks out the tooth of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the tooth.… Cross References Leviticus 24:19-20 If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: / fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Just as he injured the other person, the same must be inflicted on him. Deuteronomy 19:21 You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot. Matthew 5:38-39 You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ / But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; Genesis 9:6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind. Numbers 35:31 You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death. Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you. Romans 12:17-19 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. / If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. / Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” 1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. Matthew 7:12 In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets. Luke 6:29-31 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well. / Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back. / Do to others as you would have them do to you. Colossians 3:25 Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. James 2:13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people. Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.” Treasury of Scripture 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. Exodus 21:20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. Deuteronomy 16:19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. Nehemiah 5:5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. Jump to Previous Account Bondman Bondwoman Causing Compensate Damage Destroy Destroyed Destroys Destruction Eye Female Free Freeman Gives Handmaid Hits Maid Maid's Maidservant Male Manservant Man-Servant Marred Perish Sake Servant Servant's Slave Smite Smiteth Strikes Woman-ServantJump to Next Account Bondman Bondwoman Causing Compensate Damage Destroy Destroyed Destroys Destruction Eye Female Free Freeman Gives Handmaid Hits Maid Maid's Maidservant Male Manservant Man-Servant Marred Perish Sake Servant Servant's Slave Smite Smiteth Strikes Woman-ServantExodus 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 If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant This phrase addresses the treatment of servants, reflecting the broader context of ancient Near Eastern laws. In the cultural and historical setting of the Israelites, servants were often part of the household economy, and their treatment was governed by specific laws. The law here emphasizes the value of human life and dignity, even for those in servitude. It contrasts with other ancient legal codes, such as the Code of Hammurabi, which also dealt with injuries but often with harsher penalties. The biblical law underscores a principle of justice and fairness, ensuring that even servants have rights and protections. he must let the servant go free as compensation for the eye Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe author of Exodus, who received the Law from God on Mount Sinai. 2. Israelites The people to whom the laws were given, forming the covenant community of God. 3. Servants Individuals in servitude, often due to debt or poverty, within the Israelite community. 4. Mount Sinai The place where Moses received the Law from God, including the laws in Exodus 21. 5. God The divine lawgiver who establishes justice and compassion through His commandments. Teaching Points Justice and CompassionThe law in Exodus 21:26 reflects God's justice and compassion, ensuring that even servants are treated with dignity and fairness. It underscores the value of every human life and the importance of protecting the vulnerable. Proportional Retribution The principle of proportional retribution is evident here, where the punishment or compensation must fit the offense. This teaches us about fairness and the need for balanced justice in our dealings with others. Value of Human Life The requirement to free a servant for the loss of an eye highlights the intrinsic value of human life and well-being over material possessions or economic gain. Freedom and Restoration The law provides a means of restoration and freedom for the injured servant, pointing to God's desire for liberation and healing in our lives. Ethical Treatment of Others This passage calls us to consider how we treat those who are under our authority or care, urging us to act with integrity and kindness.(26, 27) The eye . . . Tooth.--An exception to the law of retaliation is here made. If the injurer is a free man and the injured person a slave, the marked social inequality of the parties would make exact retaliation an injustice. Is the slave, then, to be left without protection? By no means. As the legislation had already protected his life (Exodus 21:20), so it now protects him from permanent damage to his person. The master who inflicts any such permanent damage--from the least to the greatest--loses all property in his slave, and is bound at once to emancipate him. The loss of an eye is viewed as the greatest permanent injury to the person; the loss of a tooth as the least.Verses 26, 27. - Assaults on Slaves. The general law of retaliation was not made to extend to slaves. For ordinary blows the slave was not thought entitled to compensation, any more than the child. They were natural incidents of his condition. In extremer cases, where he was permanently injured in an organ or a member, he was, however, considered to have ground of complaint and to deserve a recompense. But for him to revenge himself upon his master by inflicting the same on him was not to be thought cf. It would have put the slave into a false position, have led to his prolonged ill-treatment, and have been an undue degradation of the master. Therefore, compulsory emancipation was made the penalty of all such aggravated assaults, even the slightest (ver. 27). Verses 26, 27. - If a man smite the eye, etc. The "eye" seems to be selected as the most precious of our organs, the "tooth" as that the loss of which is of least consequence. The principle was that any permanent loss of any part of his frame entitled the slave to his liberty. A very considerable check must have been put on the brutality of masters by this enactment. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Ifוְכִֽי־ (wə·ḵî-) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction a man אִ֜ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person strikes יַכֶּ֨ה (yak·keh) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5221: To strike the eye עֵ֥ין (‘ên) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain of his manservant עַבְדּ֛וֹ (‘aḇ·dōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant or אֽוֹ־ (’ōw-) Conjunction Strong's 176: Desire, if maidservant אֲמָת֖וֹ (’ă·mā·ṯōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 519: A maidservant, female slave and blinds it, וְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּ (wə·ši·ḥă·ṯāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin he must let the servant go יְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ (yə·šal·lə·ḥen·nū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out free לַֽחָפְשִׁ֥י (la·ḥā·p̄ə·šî) Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2670: Exempt in compensation for תַּ֥חַת (ta·ḥaṯ) Preposition Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of the eye. עֵ֥ין (‘ên) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain Links Exodus 21:26 NIVExodus 21:26 NLT Exodus 21:26 ESV Exodus 21:26 NASB Exodus 21:26 KJV Exodus 21:26 BibleApps.com Exodus 21:26 Biblia Paralela Exodus 21:26 Chinese Bible Exodus 21:26 French Bible Exodus 21:26 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 21:26 If a man strikes his servant's eye (Exo. 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