Exodus 21:20

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

Darby Translation

In The 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.

In Context

19if he rise, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that struck [him] be guiltless; only he shall pay [for] the loss of his time, and shall cause [him] to be thoroughly healed.

21Only, if he continue [to live] a day or two days, he shall not be avenged; for he is his money.

Read all of Exodus 21

Cross References

Genesis 4:24If Cain shall be avenged seven-fold; Lemech seventy and seven fold.

Exodus 21:26And if a man strike the eye of his bondman or the eye of his handmaid, and it be marred, he shall let him go for his eye.

Numbers 35:30Whoever shall smite a person mortally, at the mouth of witnesses shall the murderer be put to death; but one witness shall not testify against a person to cause him to die.

Proverbs 29:19A servant is not corrected by words: he understandeth indeed, but he will not answer.

Romans 13:4for it is God's minister to thee for good. But if thou practisest evil, fear; for it bears not the sword in vain; for it is God's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil.

Matthew Henry on Exodus 21:13-22

12 He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. 13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. 14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. 15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. 16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Exodus 21:20