Exodus 21:12-36

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• Examples to show us how to apply the Sixth Commandment. (See Case Law.) These examples (and the command) are directly linked to God's command to Noah, about capital punishment.

Details and/or Comments

Applications of the Sixth Commandment Include:

• Both intentional and unintentional killing of humans.

• Actions that are considered equivalent to intentional killing of humans.

• Occasions in which the injured person does not die (whether or not the injury is permanent).

• Relevance to both "free" people and servants, to born and unborn.

• Situations in which an animal kills a human

• Situations in which a human kills an animal, or an animal kills an animal.

Relationship to God's covenant with Noah

• The commands given to Noah are permanently binding upon all people everywhere.

• These principles are Old Covenant applications of the commands given by God to Noah.

• There are specific reasons for requiring death. There are specific reasons for NOT requiring death.

Scripture

Exodus 21:12-36 – Death-deserving sins

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Exo 21:12 "One who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death, Exo 21:13 but not if it is unintentional, but God allows it to happen: then I will appoint you a place where he shall flee. Exo 21:14 If a man schemes and comes presumptuously on his neighbor to kill him, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.	WHEN THE PERSON DIES: The basic rule: A distinction is made between intentional and accidental killing. Death if it is intentional; certain restrictions if it is accidental.
Exo 21:15 "Anyone who attacks his father or his mother shall be surely put to death. Exo 21:16 "Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. Exo 21:17 "Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.	Certain attitudes and actions are considered equivalent to murder. Examples include: attacking or cursing one's parents, or kidnapping someone (whether or not the kidnapped person is recovered). Curses (and Their Nature) Fifth Commandment
Exo 21:18 "If men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he doesn't die, but is confined to bed; Exo 21:19 if he rises again and walks around with his staff, then he who struck him shall be cleared: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for his healing until he is thoroughly healed.	WHEN THE PERSON DOESN'T DIE: If there is no permanent injury, the basic rule: Pay medical expenses and restitution for lost time.
Exo 21:20 "If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. Exo 21:21 Notwithstanding, if he gets up after a day or two, he shall not be punished, for he is his property.	APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLE IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS If it involves the person's servant: Punishment if the servant dies, but no restitution if he lives. (The fact that he's unable to receive his servant's services is like a self-punishment.) Servant, Slave
Exo 21:22 "If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman's husband demands and the judges allow. Exo 21:23 But if any harm follows, then you must take life for life, Exo 21:24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Exo 21:25 burning for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise.	If it involves a pregnant woman and the child ends-up being prematurely born... If born without lasting harm: payment of a fine If born with lasting harm: punishment according to the damage caused, including death if death is caused. This probably refers to both mother and child, rather than just to the child. THE ISSUE OF PERMANENT VS. TEMPORARY INJURY If there is permanent injury: The punishment must match the crime. This basic principle applies to any situation. "Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth"
Exo 21:26 "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. Exo 21:27 If he strikes out his male servant's tooth, or his female servant's tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.	If it involves the person's servant: freedom for the servant, if there is permanent damage.
Exo 21:28 "If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the bull shall not be held responsible. Exo 21:29 But if the bull had a habit of goring in the past, and it has been testified to its owner, and he has not kept it in, but it has killed a man or a woman, the bull shall be stoned, and its owner shall also be put to death. Exo 21:30 If a ransom is laid on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is laid on him. Exo 21:31 Whether it has gored a son or has gored a daughter, according to this judgment it shall be done to him. Exo 21:32 If the bull gores a male servant or a female servant, thirty shekels of silver shall be given to their master, and the ox shall be stoned.	WHEN AN ANIMAL KILLS A HUMAN: The animal is to be killed. See also: Genesis 9:1-29 If the owner knew that the animal had this tendency, and did not restrain it.. he must also be put to death, unless a different agreement is made with the family of the person who died. If it involves a servant, the animal must be killed , the servant's master must be paid a set amount. Treatment of Animals
Exo 21:33 "If a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and doesn't cover it, and a bull or a donkey falls into it, Exo 21:34 the owner of the pit shall make it good. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall be his.	WHEN A HUMAN KILLS AN ANIMAL (including through carelessness): The animal must be paid for, and the guilty person gets the dead animal.
Exo 21:35 "If one man's bull injures another's, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live bull, and divide its price; and they shall also divide the dead animal. Exo 21:36 Or if it is known that the bull was in the habit of goring in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall surely pay bull for bull, and the dead animal shall be his own.	WHEN AN ANIMAL KILLS AN ANIMAL: If the "guilty" animal has no negative past history: the two owners “divide” the two equally. If the "guilty" animal does have a negative past history: the owner of the "guilty" animal must buy the dead animal.

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—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.