What is the meaning of Exodus 21:35? If a man’s ox injures his neighbor’s ox Exodus 21:35 opens with responsibility. Ownership of animals carried real legal duty. Earlier in the same chapter (21:28–29) God already addressed an ox that kills a person, showing that His law scales from human life down to property. Here He turns to neighbor-to-neighbor losses: • God affirms personal accountability; the owner can’t shrug and say, “Animals will be animals.” • Scripture consistently upholds the duty to guard what is ours so no one else is harmed (Deuteronomy 22:8 on parapet safety; Romans 13:10, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor”). • The verse assumes both men value their livestock. A single ox could be a family’s tractor, savings account, and food source all at once. and it dies The death of the neighbor’s ox raises the loss from nuisance to economic disaster. Leviticus 24:18, “Whoever kills an animal must make restitution,” lays out the same principle. By specifying “and it dies,” God signals: • Full restitution is now required; partial injury would have led to lesser payment (compare Exodus 21:35 with v. 36). • The standard treats property destruction seriously yet not on the same level as human life (Genesis 9:6 shows the higher standard for taking a person’s life). they must sell the live one and divide the proceeds God prescribes a shared remedy, not a lawsuit. Practical points flow from this: • The attacking ox isn’t destroyed; it retains value, but its owner no longer profits alone. • Both parties receive 50 percent, balancing loss and preventing endless wrangling. Proverbs 3:27 urges, “Do not withhold good… when it is in your power to act.” • The solution forces the negligent owner to feel the sting of loss, curbing future carelessness (compare 21:29 where a habitually goring ox costs the owner his life if a person dies). • The offended neighbor also bears part of the burden, keeping community harmony (Philippians 2:4, “Look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others”). they also must divide the dead animal Even the carcass is split. God leaves no room for quarrels over leftover value. • In an agrarian setting the hide, meat, or bones could still be used or sold. • Sharing the carcass ensures both households tangibly experience the fallout; neither walks away empty-handed nor wholly penalized. • This fosters reconciliation. Ephesians 4:3 urges believers to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” and fair restitution supports that unity. summary Exodus 21:35 teaches that God’s justice system is practical, balanced, and neighbor-minded. When one person’s property causes another’s loss, both share the remaining assets—living ox and carcass—to restore equity and preserve peace. The verse reinforces stewardship, personal responsibility, and love for neighbor, principles that still guide believers in handling modern disputes with fairness and grace. |
    |