Exodus 21:28

Laws about Animals

21:28 ¹ “If an ox ²  gores a man or a woman so that either dies, ³  then the ox must surely ⁴  be stoned and its flesh must not be eaten, but the owner of the ox will be acquitted.

Exodus 21:31

21:31 If the ox ⁵  gores a son or a daughter, the owner ⁶  will be dealt with according to this rule. ⁷ 

[21:28]  ¹ sn The point that this section of the laws makes is that one must ensure the safety of others by controlling the circumstances.

[21:28]  ² tn Traditionally “ox,” but “bull” would also be suitable. The term may refer to one of any variety of large cattle.

[21:28]  ³ tn Heb “and he dies”; KJV “that they die”; NAB, NASB “to death.”

[21:28]  ⁴ tn The text uses סָקוֹל יִסָּקֵל (saqol yissaqel), a Qal infinitive absolute with a Niphal imperfect. The infinitive intensifies the imperfect, which here has an obligatory nuance or is a future of instruction.

[21:31]  ⁵ tn Heb “it”; the referent (the ox) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[21:31]  ⁶ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the owner) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[21:31]  ⁷ tn Heb “according to this judgment it shall be done to him.”