Exodus 21:16

Anyone who kidnaps another person, either in order to sell that person or to keep him as a slave, must be executed.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

In Context

15Anyone who strikes his father or mother must surely be executed.

17Anyone who reviles/curses his father or his mother must be executed.

Read all of Exodus 21

Cross References

Genesis 37:28When those traders from the Midian area came near, Joseph’s brothers pulled him up out of the pit/cistern. Then they sold him to the men from Midian for 20 pieces of silver. The traders then took Joseph to Egypt.

Exodus 22:4If the thief still has the animal when he is caught, whether it is a bull or a donkey or a sheep, and it is still alive, the thief must give back the stolen animal as well as giving two additional animals for each one that he stole.

1 Timothy 1:10He condemns those who are sexually immoral and those who are homosexuals. He condemns those who kidnap/steal people in order to make them slaves. He condemns those who lie and those who promise something strongly but do not do what they promised. He condemns every other action that is contrary to our true teaching.

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 21:16