Exodus 21:20

“If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, the man shall surely be punished.

World English Bible British

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 rises again and walks around with his staff, then he who struck him shall be cleared; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for his healing until he is thoroughly healed.

21Notwithstanding, if his servant gets up after a day or two, he shall not be punished, for the servant is his property.

Read all of Exodus 21

Cross References

Genesis 4:24If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.”

Exodus 21:26“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.

Numbers 35:30“‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain based on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify alone against any person so that he dies.

Proverbs 29:19A servant can’t be corrected by words. Though he understands, yet he will not respond.

Romans 13:4for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who 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 →

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Study Exodus 21:20