Exodus 21
1 Laws for men servants.
5 For the servant whose ear is bored.
7 For women servants.
12 For manslaughter.
16 For stealers of men.
17 For cursers of parents.
18 For smiters.
22 For a hurt by chance.
28 For an ox that gores.
33 For him that is an occasion of harm.
decisions <04941> [the judgments.]
set <07760> [which.]
Hebrew <05680> [an Hebrew.]
seventh <07637> [and in the.]
himself ....... himself <01610> [by himself. Heb. with his body.]
servant <05650> [And if.]
<0559> [shall plainly say. Heb. saying shall say.]
judges <0430> [the judges.]
pierce ... ear <0241 07527> [bore his ear.]
This significant ceremony was intended as a mark of permanent servitude, and was calculated to impress the servant with the duty of hearing all his master's orders, and obeying them punctually.
forever <05769> [for ever.]
sells <04376> [sell.]
go out <03318> [go out.]
does not please ... master <07451 0113> [please not. Heb. be evil in the eyes of, etc.]
designated <03259> [who hath.]
deceitfully <0898> [seeing.]
food <07607> [her food.]
{Sheairah,} "her flesh;" he shall not only afford her a sufficient quantity of food, as before, but of the same quality. She is not to be fed, like a common slave, with a sufficiency of bread, vegetables, milk, etc., but with her customary supply of flesh, and other agreeable articles of food.
premeditation <06658> [lie not.]
<0430> [God.]
appoint <07760> [I will appoint.]
if .... willfully <02102> [presumptuously.]
kill <02026> [slay.]
take ...... altar <03947 04196> [take him.]
To smite either father or mother, in a manner which indicated either contempt or malice, or left marks of violence, was deemed a proof of so ungrateful and unnatural a disposition, that no provocation was admitted as an excuse, but the offence was made capital: nay, he who cursed his father or mother, who uttered imprecations, ill wishes, or revilings, against a parent, was included in the same sense; though few crimes were made capital by the law of Moses. The law of God, as delegated to parents is honoured when they are honoured, and despised when they are despised: and to rebel against the lawful exercise of this authority is rebellion against God.--Rev. T. Scott
kidnaps <01589> [stealeth.]
sells him .... caught <04376 04672> [selleth him.]
him .... caught ... holding <04672 03027> [found in.]
treats <07043> [curseth. or, revilteth.]
<0582> [men.]
neighbor <07453> [another. or, his neighbour. a stone.]
staff <04938> [upon his staff.]
<05414> [only he shall pay.]
This was a wise and excellent institution. The same provision is made in the civil law; and most courts of justice still regulate their decisions in such cases by this Mosaic precept.
loss of time <07674> [the loss. Heb. his ceasing.]
strikes <05221> [smite.]
surely ... punished <05358> [he shall.]
surely ... punished <05358> [punished. Heb. avenged.]
fight <05327> [strive.]
court decides <06414> [as the judges.]
life .... life <05315> [life for life.]
This is the earliest account we have of the [towtopatheia,] tautopatheia,] Lex Talionis, law of like for like.
ox .............. ox .................. ox <07794> [the ox.]
owner ............... killed .............. man .... put to death <01167 04191> [his owner also.]
redemption <06306> [for the ransom.]
ox .................... ox <07794> [and the ox.]
