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

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

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 all of Exodus 21

Cross References

Genesis 4:24If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

Exodus 21:26If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the eye.

Numbers 35:30If 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.

Proverbs 29:19A servant cannot be corrected by words alone; though he understands, he will not respond.

Romans 13:4For 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.

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