What is the meaning of Exodus 21:31? If the ox gores – “If the ox gores…” (Exodus 21:31a). The setting continues the case law begun in vv. 28–30, where an ox that kills carries consequences for both animal and owner. The verb “gores” anchors the issue in real, bodily harm, underscoring that God’s law speaks to everyday life (see Exodus 21:28; Genesis 9:5–6). – God recognizes that even livestock can become instruments of violence; the owner’s responsibility is therefore moral, not merely economic (compare Proverbs 12:10). – By naming the specific act—goring—the text calls us to proactive stewardship, echoing the earlier warning that negligence makes the owner liable (Exodus 21:29). A son or a daughter – “…a son or a daughter…” (21:31b). The wording deliberately includes children, affirming the equal value of every human life regardless of age or gender (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 127:3). – In the broader context (Exodus 22:21–24), God’s law consistently protects the vulnerable. Placing sons and daughters here prevents any thought that minors are of lesser worth in matters of justice. – This clause also widens application: the same principle applies whether the victim is an adult man (v. 29), a slave (vv. 32–34), or a child—God’s standard of justice is impartial (Deuteronomy 1:17). It shall be done to him – “…it shall be done to him…” (21:31c). Responsibility falls squarely on the negligent owner. Actions toward the ox mirror actions toward the owner, stressing personal accountability (Numbers 35:16–18). – Earlier, if the ox is known to gore and the owner fails to restrain it, “the ox must be stoned, and its owner also must be put to death” unless a ransom is set (Exodus 21:29–30). Verse 31 extends that liability to cases involving children, removing loopholes or excuses. – Justice here is not revenge but measured retribution administered by the community (cf. Deuteronomy 19:12; Romans 13:4). According to the same rule – “…according to the same rule” (21:31d). God insists on consistent standards: what applied in vv. 29–30 applies unchanged when the victim is a son or daughter. – Leviticus 24:22 echoes this principle: “You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born.” Consistent justice safeguards society from favoritism and maintains respect for life (James 2:1). – The phrase also points to the broader biblical ethic of equitable restitution: “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (Exodus 21:24), always within lawful, judicial process—not personal vengeance (Matthew 5:38–39 shows the heart behind the law). summary Exodus 21:31 extends the liability of an ox’s owner to include cases where children are harmed. God’s law values every human life equally, demands proactive responsibility from those who own potentially dangerous property, and insists on consistent, impartial justice. The verse reinforces the seriousness with which Scripture treats negligence and upholds a standard that safeguards the community while honoring the sanctity of life. |
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