Exodus 21:23-25
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This verse isn't just about simple revenge; it’s a foundational legal principle for the community. "Life for life" establishes a standard of justice where the punishment is proportional to the offense, but it was meant to be administered by judges, not through personal vengeance, preventing chaos and ensuring fairness.
But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage shifts from an accidental miscarriage to a general principle of justice. If a violent act leads to death, the penalty is severe, "life for life." This principle of retaliation, known as the law of retaliation, is then expanded in the following verses to include "eye for eye, tooth for tooth," establishing a standard for compensation for injuries.
Imagine a moment of anger or carelessness leading to unintended, devastating consequences. This verse grapples with that exact scenario.
This passage, part of the legal section in Exodus, addresses a situation where a fight between two men results in injury to a pregnant woman. If the injury causes the woman to miscarry, the offender is fined based on the husband's judgment. However, if a more severe consequence follows – the death of the woman – the penalty shifts dramatically: 'life for life.'
This wasn't about automatic, personal revenge. The ancient Israelite legal system, even in its early stages, understood that a magistrate, not the victim's family, would determine and administer the punishment. This principle aimed to ensure justice was measured and administered impartially, preventing blood feuds.
The phrase 'life for life' sounds harsh. Was this meant to be a call for brutal revenge, or something else entirely?
This verse is a classic example of the lex talionis, or the 'law of retaliation.' In many ancient societies, this principle served as a guideline for judicial systems, ensuring that punishments were proportionate to the crime. It wasn't necessarily about inflicting the exact same injury on the offender.
Instead, it often functioned as a cap on punishment and a framework for compensation, administered by a judge. The goal was to prevent excessive retribution and provide a basis for civil settlements. While it appears severe to us today, in its original context, it was a move towards a more ordered and equitable justice system compared to unchecked vengeance.
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Understand the original words
nephesh tachat nephesh · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A fundamental legal principle known as lex talionis (the law of retaliation). It mandates that the penalty must exactly match the nature and severity of the crime, ensuring proportionality in justice.
petsa · Hebrew Noun
Physical injury or a bruise caused by a blow. It signifies the lasting mark or damage left on the body by violence, necessitating corresponding restitution.
chabbuwrah · Hebrew Noun
A weal or welt resulting from a lash or blow. It represents the physical evidence of corporal punishment or violent assault.
This passage directly echoes the principle of 'life for life' by stating 'If anyone injures their neighbor, whatever the injury, so shall be inflicted on him,' demonstrating a consistent theme of proportionate retribution in the Law.
Deuteronomy 19:21This verse applies the principle of retaliation specifically to false witnesses, stating, 'Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, hand for hand, foot for foot.' It highlights the severity of bearing false witness and the application of equivalent punishment.
Matthew 5:38Jesus directly addresses and reinterprets the 'eye for eye' principle found in the Law, showing its application as a limit on punishment rather than an encouragement for personal revenge. He calls for a higher standard of love and non-retaliation.
Romans 12:17Paul advises believers to 'Repay no one evil for evil,' which contrasts with the direct application of lex talionis. This passage points toward a spiritual interpretation and a higher ethic that moves beyond literal retribution.
gillExodus 21:23: "And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,"
And if any mischief follow,.... According as that is, so shall it be done to the smiter: if death follows: then thou shalt give life for life; if death to the woman, so Jarchi and Aben Ezra interpret it; to which agrees the Targum of Jonathan,"but if there is death in her, then ye shall judge or condemn the life of the murderer for the life of the woman;''about which, Jarchi says, there is a difference among their d…
cambridgeExodus 21:23: "And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,"
23–25 . The Lex Talionis . But if any mischief happen , then compensation is to be made on the principle of the lex talionis . Vv. 23–25 are, however, worded quite generally, and mention many injuries not at all likely to happen to the woman in the special case contemplated in v. 22, or even to the combatants themselves (injuries to whom Di. thinks might be included in the ‘mischief’ meant): hence, probably, either…
This verse isn't just about simple revenge; it’s a foundational legal principle for the community. "Life for life" establishes a standard of justice where the punishment is proportional to the offense, but it was meant to be administered by judges, not through personal vengeance, preventing chaos and ensuring fairness.
This passage shifts from an accidental miscarriage to a general principle of justice. If a violent act leads to death, the penalty is severe, "life for life." This principle of retaliation, known as the law of retaliation, is then expanded in the following verses to include "eye for eye, tooth for tooth," establishing a standard for compensation for injuries.
This passage shifts from an accidental miscarriage to a general principle of justice. If a violent act leads to death, the penalty is severe, "life for life." This principle of retaliation, known as the law of retaliation, is then expanded in the following verses to include "eye for eye, tooth for tooth," establishing a standard for compensation for injuries.
"But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe." — This verse isn't just about simple revenge; it’s a foundational legal principle for the community. "Life for life" establishes a standard of justice where the punishment is proportional to the offens…
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Last reviewed October 2026
