Exodus 21:20

If someone strikes his male or female slave with a stick, if the slave dies ◄immediately/as a result► [IDM], the one who struck him must be punished.

Translation for Translators

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

19and later he is able to walk outside using a cane. Then the person who struck him does not have to be punished. However, he must pay the injured person the money he could not earn while he was recovering, and he must also pay the injured person’s medical expenses until that person is well.

21But if the slave lives for a day or two after he is struck and then dies, you must not punish the one who struck him. Not having that slave to be able to work for him any longer is enough punishment.

Read all of Exodus 21

Cross References

Genesis 4:24Yahweh said long ago that he would avenge and punish anyone who killed Cain seven times as much as he punished Cain for killing his younger brother. So if anyone tries to kill me, I will punish him 77 times as much as Yahweh punished Cain.”

Exodus 21:26If the owner of a slave strikes the eye of his male or female slave and ruins it, he must free that slave because of what he did to the slave’s eye.

Numbers 35:30“If someone is accused of killing another person, the one who is accused may be executed only if there are people who saw him do it. There must be more than one witness; no one is permitted to be executed if there was only one ◄witness/person who saw him do it►.

Proverbs 29:19It is not possible to correct/discipline servants only by talking to them; they understand what you are saying, but they do not pay attention to it.

Romans 13:4It is in order to serve God by doing their work that every official exists, in order that they may benefit each of you. If any of you does what is evil, you (sg) will rightfully have reason to be afraid, because the authority that they have to punish people [MTY] is very real [LIT]! The officials exist to serve God. That is, they act as God’s agents as they punish those who do 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