How does Exodus 21:19 guide us in resolving personal injury disputes today? The Snapshot of Exodus 21:19 “if he gets up and walks around outside with his staff, then the one who struck him will be cleared; however, he must pay for the victim’s lost time and ensure that he is completely healed.” What the Verse Meant Then • God is legislating for real-life injuries, not hypothetical ones. • The offender is not criminally liable if the victim recovers enough to walk, yet he remains financially responsible. • Justice is measured in practical restitution, not revenge. Core Principles God Highlights • Personal responsibility—injury caused means costs covered. • Restitution—lost wages and medical care must be paid in full. • Preservation of life—the goal is the victim’s complete recovery. • Objective assessment—a visible return to mobility clears criminal guilt but not financial duty. How This Guides Personal Injury Disputes Today • Admit fault quickly; hiding or excusing injury violates God’s pattern. • Prioritize the victim’s well-being—cover medical bills, therapy, rehab. • Replace punitive mind-sets with restorative ones; courts and settlements should aim at making the injured whole. • Calculate compensation fairly: wages lost, time missed, ongoing care. • Accept that clearing legal blame does not erase moral duty; compassion continues. Practical Counsel for Believers • Document the incident honestly; truth is part of loving your neighbor (Ephesians 4:25). • Seek reconciliation before litigation when possible (Matthew 5:25-26). • Offer tangible help—meals, rides, childcare—alongside financial restitution. • Submit to governing authorities and insurance processes, seeing them as servants for justice (Romans 13:1-4). • Model forgiveness and generosity even when settlement figures are reached (Luke 6:31). Supporting Scriptures • Leviticus 24:19-20: “If anyone injures his neighbor…he must receive in return the injury inflicted.” (Principle of equivalent restitution.) • Luke 10:34-35: The Good Samaritan “bandaged his wounds…took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper…‘Whatever more you spend, I will repay.’” (Voluntary assumption of costs.) • Colossians 4:1: “Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.” (Fair treatment in all power dynamics.) Living the Text Exodus 21:19 calls believers to own their actions, restore what their actions cost others, and keep the injured person’s welfare at the center of every settlement. When these priorities shape mediation, insurance claims, or courtroom proceedings, modern disputes reflect the justice and mercy God laid down from the beginning. |
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