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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 21:26 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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/21-26.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/02_Exo_21_26.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 21:26 - Personal Injury Laws" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="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." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for the sake of his eye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“And if someone strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free on account of the eye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220If a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“And if a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“And if a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave and ruins it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“If a man hits the eye of his male servant or female servant and it is destroyed, he must let the servant go free because of [the loss of] the eye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“When a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he must let the slave go free in compensation for his eye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he must let the slave go free in compensation for his eye. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />If you hit one of your slaves and cause the loss of an eye, the slave must be set free. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Whenever an owner hits his male or female slave in the eye and the slave is blinded, he must let the slave go free to make up for the loss of the eye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"If someone hits his male or female slave in the eye and puts it out, he is to free the slave as payment for the eye. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant and destroys it, he is to release him as a free man in exchange for his eye. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"If a man strikes the eye of his male servant or his female servant so that he destroys it, he will let the servant go free as compensation for the eye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And if a man shall smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it shall perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“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. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And when a man strikes the eye of his manservant, or the eye of his handmaid, and has destroyed it, he sends him away as a freeman for his eye;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'And when a man smiteth the eye of his man-servant, or the eye of his handmaid, and hath destroyed it, as a freeman he doth send him away for his eye;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And if a man strike the eye of his servant or the eye of his maid, and he destroyed it; he shall send him forth free for the sake of his eye.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />If any man strike the eye of his manservant or maidservant, and leave them but one eye, he shall let them go free for the eye which he put out. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />If anyone will have struck the eye of his male or female servant, having left them with one eye, he shall release them freely, because of the eye that he has put out.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />When someone strikes his male or female slave in the eye and destroys the use of the eye, he shall let the slave go free in compensation for the eye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />When a slaveowner strikes the eye of a male or female slave, destroying it, the owner shall let the slave go, a free person, to compensate for the eye.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />land if a man strike the eye of his servant or the eye of his maid, and injure it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And when a man will strike the eye of his Servant or the eye of his Maidservant and will injure it, he will send him/her away a person of freedom for the sake of his/her eye.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And if a man smite the eye of his bondman, or the eye of his bondwoman, and destroy it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And if one smite the eye of his man-servant, or the eye of his maid-servant, and put it out, he shall let them go free for their eye's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/21-26.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=5352" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/21.htm">Personal Injury Laws</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">25</span>burn for burn, wound for wound, and stripe for stripe. <span class="reftext">26</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: wə·ḵî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">If</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">a man</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5221.htm" title="5221: yak·keh (V-Hifil-Imperf-3ms) -- To smite. A primitive root; to strike.">strikes</a> <a href="/hebrew/7843.htm" title="7843: wə·ši·ḥă·ṯāh (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConjPerf-3ms:: 3fs) -- Perhaps to go to ruin. A primitive root; to decay, i.e. ruin.">and blinds</a> <a href="/hebrew/5869.htm" title="5869: ‘ên (N-csc) -- An eye. Probably a primitive word; an eye; by analogy, a fountain.">the eye</a> <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: ‘aḇ·dōw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">of his manservant</a> <a href="/hebrew/176.htm" title="176: ’ōw- (Conj) -- Or. Presumed to be the constructive or genitival form of -av; short for 'avvah; desire; hence or, also if.">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/519.htm" title="519: ’ă·mā·ṯōw (N-fsc:: 3ms) -- A maid, handmaid. Apparently a primitive word; a maid-servant or female slave.">maidservant,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7971.htm" title="7971: yə·šal·lə·ḥen·nū (V-Piel-Imperf-3ms:: 3mse) -- To send. A primitive root; to send away, for, or out.">he must let the servant go</a> <a href="/hebrew/2670.htm" title="2670: la·ḥā·p̄ə·šî (Prep-l, Art:: Adj-ms) -- Free. From chaphash; exempt.">free</a> <a href="/hebrew/8478.htm" title="8478: ta·ḥaṯ (Prep) -- Underneath, below, instead of. From the same as Towach; the bottom; only adverbially, below, in lieu of, etc.">as compensation for</a> <a href="/hebrew/5869.htm" title="5869: ‘ê·nōw (N-csc:: 3ms) -- An eye. Probably a primitive word; an eye; by analogy, a fountain."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5869.htm" title="5869: ‘ên (N-csc) -- An eye. Probably a primitive word; an eye; by analogy, a fountain.">the eye.</a> </span><span class="reftext">27</span>And if he knocks out the tooth of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the tooth.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/24-19.htm">Leviticus 24:19-20</a></span><br />If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: / fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Just as he injured the other person, the same must be inflicted on him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/19-21.htm">Deuteronomy 19:21</a></span><br />You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-38.htm">Matthew 5:38-39</a></span><br />You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ / But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/9-6.htm">Genesis 9:6</a></span><br />Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/35-31.htm">Numbers 35:31</a></span><br />You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/20-22.htm">Proverbs 20:22</a></span><br />Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-17.htm">Romans 12:17-19</a></span><br />Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. / If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. / Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-9.htm">1 Peter 3:9</a></span><br />Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-12.htm">Matthew 7:12</a></span><br />In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-29.htm">Luke 6:29-31</a></span><br />If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well. / Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back. / Do to others as you would have them do to you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-25.htm">Colossians 3:25</a></span><br />Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/6-7.htm">Galatians 6:7</a></span><br />Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/2-13.htm">James 2:13</a></span><br />For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/5-15.htm">1 Thessalonians 5:15</a></span><br />Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-17.htm">Isaiah 1:17</a></span><br />Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/21-20.htm">Exodus 21:20</a></b></br> And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/16-19.htm">Deuteronomy 16:19</a></b></br> Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nehemiah/5-5.htm">Nehemiah 5:5</a></b></br> Yet now our flesh <i>is</i> as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and <i>some</i> of our daughters are brought unto bondage <i>already</i>: neither <i>is it</i> in our power <i>to redeem them</i>; for other men have our lands and vineyards.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/18-8.htm">Account</a> <a href="/exodus/21-20.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/exodus/21-20.htm">Bondwoman</a> <a href="/exodus/21-20.htm">Causing</a> <a href="/2_samuel/19-36.htm">Compensate</a> <a href="/exodus/21-23.htm">Damage</a> <a href="/exodus/15-9.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/exodus/10-7.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/genesis/32-8.htm">Destroys</a> <a href="/exodus/19-21.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/exodus/21-24.htm">Eye</a> <a href="/exodus/21-20.htm">Female</a> <a href="/exodus/21-11.htm">Free</a> <a href="/exodus/21-2.htm">Freeman</a> <a href="/exodus/21-22.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/exodus/21-20.htm">Handmaid</a> <a href="/exodus/21-18.htm">Hits</a> <a href="/exodus/21-20.htm">Maid</a> <a href="/esther/2-12.htm">Maid's</a> <a href="/exodus/21-7.htm">Maidservant</a> <a href="/exodus/21-20.htm">Male</a> <a href="/exodus/20-17.htm">Manservant</a> <a href="/exodus/21-20.htm">Man-Servant</a> <a href="/mark/2-22.htm">Marred</a> <a href="/exodus/19-21.htm">Perish</a> <a href="/exodus/18-8.htm">Sake</a> <a href="/exodus/21-21.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/genesis/19-2.htm">Servant's</a> <a href="/exodus/21-21.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/exodus/21-20.htm">Smite</a> <a href="/exodus/21-15.htm">Smiteth</a> <a href="/exodus/21-20.htm">Strikes</a> <a href="/exodus/21-20.htm">Woman-Servant</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Account</a> <a href="/exodus/21-32.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/exodus/21-32.htm">Bondwoman</a> <a href="/exodus/21-35.htm">Causing</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Compensate</a> <a href="/exodus/21-35.htm">Damage</a> <a href="/exodus/23-23.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/exodus/22-20.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/job/9-22.htm">Destroys</a> <a href="/exodus/22-6.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-20.htm">Eye</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Female</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Free</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Freeman</a> <a href="/exodus/22-7.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Handmaid</a> <a href="/numbers/35-18.htm">Hits</a> <a href="/exodus/22-16.htm">Maid</a> <a href="/esther/2-12.htm">Maid's</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Maidservant</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Male</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Manservant</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Man-Servant</a> <a href="/proverbs/23-8.htm">Marred</a> <a href="/numbers/5-21.htm">Perish</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Sake</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Servant's</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Smite</a> <a href="/leviticus/24-17.htm">Smiteth</a> <a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Strikes</a> <a href="/exodus/21-32.htm">Woman-Servant</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 21</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-1.htm">Laws for men servants</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-5.htm">For the servant whose ear is bored</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-7.htm">For women servants</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-12.htm">For manslaughter</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-16.htm">For kidnappers</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-17.htm">For cursers of parents</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-18.htm">For smiters</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-22.htm">For a hurt by chance</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-28.htm">For an ox that gores</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/21-33.htm">For him who is an occasion of harm</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/21.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/exodus/21.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant</b><br>This phrase addresses the treatment of servants, reflecting the broader context of ancient Near Eastern laws. In the cultural and historical setting of the Israelites, servants were often part of the household economy, and their treatment was governed by specific laws. The law here emphasizes the value of human life and dignity, even for those in servitude. It contrasts with other ancient legal codes, such as the Code of Hammurabi, which also dealt with injuries but often with harsher penalties. The biblical law underscores a principle of justice and fairness, ensuring that even servants have rights and protections.<p><b>he must let the servant go free</b><br>This provision highlights the concept of restitution and justice within the Mosaic Law. The freedom granted to the servant serves as a form of compensation for the injury suffered. This reflects the biblical principle of lex talionis, or the law of retaliation, which is not about revenge but about proportional justice. The release of the servant can be seen as a type of redemption, a theme that runs throughout Scripture, pointing to the ultimate redemption found in Jesus Christ. The act of setting a servant free prefigures the spiritual liberation that Christ offers to all believers.<p><b>as compensation for the eye</b><br>The specific mention of the eye indicates the seriousness of the injury and the corresponding need for adequate compensation. In biblical symbolism, the eye often represents insight, understanding, and perception. The loss of an eye would significantly impact a person's ability to function and contribute to the household. This law ensures that the servant is not left without recourse or support. It also reflects the broader biblical theme of God's concern for justice and the protection of the vulnerable, as seen in other passages such as <a href="/deuteronomy/10-18.htm">Deuteronomy 10:18</a>, which speaks of God's care for the fatherless and the widow.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The author of Exodus, who received the Law from God on Mount Sinai.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people to whom the laws were given, forming the covenant community of God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/servants.htm">Servants</a></b><br>Individuals in servitude, often due to debt or poverty, within the Israelite community.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_sinai.htm">Mount Sinai</a></b><br>The place where Moses received the Law from God, including the laws in <a href="/bsb/exodus/21.htm">Exodus 21</a>.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The divine lawgiver who establishes justice and compassion through His commandments.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/j/justice_and_compassion.htm">Justice and Compassion</a></b><br>The law in <a href="/exodus/21-26.htm">Exodus 21:26</a> reflects God's justice and compassion, ensuring that even servants are treated with dignity and fairness. It underscores the value of every human life and the importance of protecting the vulnerable.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/proportional_retribution.htm">Proportional Retribution</a></b><br>The principle of proportional retribution is evident here, where the punishment or compensation must fit the offense. This teaches us about fairness and the need for balanced justice in our dealings with others.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/v/value_of_human_life.htm">Value of Human Life</a></b><br>The requirement to free a servant for the loss of an eye highlights the intrinsic value of human life and well-being over material possessions or economic gain.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/freedom_and_restoration.htm">Freedom and Restoration</a></b><br>The law provides a means of restoration and freedom for the injured servant, pointing to God's desire for liberation and healing in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/ethical_treatment_of_others.htm">Ethical Treatment of Others</a></b><br>This passage calls us to consider how we treat those who are under our authority or care, urging us to act with integrity and kindness.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_21.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 21</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_meaning_of_30_silver_pieces.htm">What is the significance of thirty pieces of silver?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_the_bible_allow_slavery.htm">Why does the Bible condone slavery in some passages?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_job_31_13-15_view_servant_treatment.htm">In Job 31:13–15, how does Job’s stance on treating servants align with what we know of ancient slavery practices and laws? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_you_be_trusted_with_all_things.htm">Is it right to desire what others possess?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(26, 27) <span class= "bld">The eye </span>. . . <span class= "bld">Tooth.</span>--An exception to the law of retaliation is here made. If the injurer is a free man and the injured person a slave, the marked social inequality of the parties would make exact retaliation an injustice. Is the slave, then, to be left without protection? By no means. As the legislation had already protected his life (<a href="/exodus/21-20.htm" title="And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.">Exodus 21:20</a>), so it now protects him from permanent damage to his person. The master who inflicts any such permanent damage--from the least to the greatest--loses all property in his slave, and is bound at once to emancipate him. The loss of an eye is viewed as the greatest permanent injury to the person; the loss of a tooth as the least.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 26, 27.</span> - <span class="accented">Assaults on Slaves</span>. The general law of retaliation was not made to extend to slaves. For ordinary blows the slave was not thought entitled to compensation, any more than the child. They were natural incidents of his condition. In extremer cases, where he was permanently injured in an organ or a member, he was, however, considered to have ground of complaint and to deserve a recompense. But for him to revenge himself upon his master by inflicting the same on him was not to be thought cf. It would have put the slave into a false position, have led to his prolonged ill-treatment, and have been an undue degradation of the master. Therefore, compulsory emancipation was made the penalty of all such aggravated assaults, even the slightest (ver. 27). <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 26, 27.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">If a man smite the eye</span>, etc. The "eye" seems to be selected as the most precious of our organs, the "tooth" as that the loss of which is of least consequence. The principle was that any permanent loss of any part of his frame entitled the slave to his liberty. A very considerable check must have been put on the brutality of masters by this enactment. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/21-26.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">If</span><br /><span class="heb">וְכִֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḵî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a man</span><br /><span class="heb">אִ֜ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">strikes</span><br /><span class="heb">יַכֶּ֨ה</span> <span class="translit">(yak·keh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5221.htm">Strong's 5221: </a> </span><span class="str2">To strike</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the eye</span><br /><span class="heb">עֵ֥ין</span> <span class="translit">(‘ên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5869.htm">Strong's 5869: </a> </span><span class="str2">An eye, a fountain</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of his manservant</span><br /><span class="heb">עַבְדּ֛וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(‘aḇ·dōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5650.htm">Strong's 5650: </a> </span><span class="str2">Slave, servant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or</span><br /><span class="heb">אֽוֹ־</span> <span class="translit">(’ōw-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_176.htm">Strong's 176: </a> </span><span class="str2">Desire, if</span><br /><br /><span class="word">maidservant</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲמָת֖וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·mā·ṯōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_519.htm">Strong's 519: </a> </span><span class="str2">A maidservant, female slave</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and blinds it,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ši·ḥă·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7843.htm">Strong's 7843: </a> </span><span class="str2">Perhaps to go to ruin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he must let the servant go</span><br /><span class="heb">יְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ</span> <span class="translit">(yə·šal·lə·ḥen·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7971.htm">Strong's 7971: </a> </span><span class="str2">To send away, for, out</span><br /><br /><span class="word">free</span><br /><span class="heb">לַֽחָפְשִׁ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(la·ḥā·p̄ə·šî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2670.htm">Strong's 2670: </a> </span><span class="str2">Exempt</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in compensation for</span><br /><span class="heb">תַּ֥חַת</span> <span class="translit">(ta·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8478.htm">Strong's 8478: </a> </span><span class="str2">The bottom, below, in lieu of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the eye.</span><br /><span class="heb">עֵ֥ין</span> <span class="translit">(‘ên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5869.htm">Strong's 5869: </a> </span><span class="str2">An eye, a fountain</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/21-26.htm">Exodus 21:26 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/21-26.htm">Exodus 21:26 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/21-26.htm">Exodus 21:26 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/21-26.htm">Exodus 21:26 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/21-26.htm">Exodus 21:26 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/21-26.htm">Exodus 21:26 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/21-26.htm">Exodus 21:26 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/21-26.htm">Exodus 21:26 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/21-26.htm">Exodus 21:26 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/21-26.htm">Exodus 21:26 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/21-26.htm">OT Law: Exodus 21:26 If a man strikes his servant's eye (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/21-25.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 21:25"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 21:25" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/21-27.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 21:27"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 21:27" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>