What is the meaning of Exodus 21:21? However – This word connects the verse to the previous law: “If a man strikes his male or female servant with a rod and the servant dies… he must be punished” (Exodus 21:20). – Here the Holy Spirit signals a contrast. Death brings the full penalty (Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:12), but a lesser outcome brings a different ruling. – God’s justice never ignores wrongdoing, yet always distinguishes between murder and non-fatal injury (Numbers 35:22-24; Deuteronomy 19:4-6). If the servant gets up after a day or two – The phrase describes recovery that proves the blow was not mortal. – Exodus 21:19 uses the same principle for fights between free men: if the injured “rises again and walks outside,” restitution replaces retribution. – The “day or two” provides a clear, observable window so judges can rule fairly (Deuteronomy 25:1). – Survival here does not excuse cruelty; it simply shifts the case from capital crime to civil damages (Proverbs 12:10; Colossians 4:1). The owner shall not be punished – “Punished” in context refers to the death-penalty standard already stated (Exodus 21:20). – Civil courts were not to exact blood for blood when the servant lived (Romans 13:3-4 shows government’s role in justice, not vengeance). – God protects life while preventing disproportionate sentences (Exodus 21:23-25). Since the servant is his property – Literally “for he is his money”: the servant’s labor represents the owner’s economic loss. – The law assumes the owner will bear costs of healing and lost productivity, a built-in financial deterrent (Exodus 21:18-19). – Scripture never endorses brutal treatment; later commands call masters to kindness and respect (Leviticus 25:43; Ephesians 6:9). – Even within this ancient system, God reminds Israel that every servant ultimately belongs to Him (Leviticus 25:55; 1 Corinthians 7:22-23). summary Exodus 21:21 distinguishes between fatal and non-fatal abuse. If a servant survives, the owner escapes the death penalty, yet still incurs economic loss and moral accountability. The verse upholds proportional justice, restrains excessive punishment, and quietly points toward God’s deeper goal: a people who treat every human—free or servant—with dignity shaped by His righteous character. |
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