Exodus 21:20 “If a man strikes his manservant or maidservant with a rod, and the ser…”

Exodus 21:20

If a man strikes his manservant or maidservant with a rod, and the servant dies by his hand, he shall surely be punished.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.

World English Bible

“If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, the man shall surely be punished.

American Standard Version

And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall surely be punished.

Geneva Bible 1599

And if a man smite his seruant, or his maide with a rod, and he die vnder his hande, he shalbe surely punished.

Darby Translation

And if a man strike his bondman or his handmaid with a staff, and he die under his hand, he shall certainly be avenged.

Young's Literal Translation

'And when a man smiteth his man-servant or his handmaid, with a rod, and he hath died under his hand — he is certainly avenged;

Bible in Basic English

If a man gives his man-servant or his woman-servant blows with a rod, causing death, he is certainly to undergo punishment.

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Cross references

“smite”

Deuteronomy 19:21 Proverbs 29:19 Exodus 21:26 Exodus 21:27 Isaiah 58:3 Isaiah 58:4

Deuteronomy 19:21 · BSB

You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.

Proverbs 29:19 · BSB

A servant cannot be corrected by words alone; though he understands, he will not respond.

Exodus 21:26 · BSB

If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the eye.

Exodus 21:27 · BSB

And if he knocks out the tooth of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the tooth.

Isaiah 58:3 · BSB

“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.

Isaiah 58:4 · BSB

You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high.

“he shall”

Genesis 9:6 Numbers 35:30–33

Genesis 9:6 · BSB

Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

Numbers 35:30–33 · BSB

If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.

“punished”

Genesis 4:15 Genesis 4:24 Numbers 35:19 Romans 13:4

Genesis 4:15 · BSB

“Not so!” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.

Genesis 4:24 · BSB

If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

Numbers 35:19 · BSB

The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when he finds him, he is to kill him.

Romans 13:4 · BSB

For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

19then the one who struck him shall go unpunished, as long as the other can get up and walk around outside with his staff. Nevertheless, he must compensate the man for his lost work and see that he is completely healed.

21However, if the servant gets up after a day or two, the owner shall not be punished, since the servant is his property.

Read Exodus 21