Exodus 21:24
eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Exodus 21:24
eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse isn't a green light for personal revenge; it's a divine directive for judges to ensure punishment fits the crime, preventing a society where a minor offense could lead to total ruin. It sets a boundary for the court's decision, not a license for individuals to enact their own "eye for an eye."
This passage is part of a series of laws given to Israel detailing how they should administer justice and live together in community. Following instructions on slavery and accidental harm, these verses lay out specific punishments for causing bodily injury, establishing a principle of proportionate justice that the courts were to enforce. The principle of "eye for eye" is presented as a standard for magistrates to follow, not an excuse for personal vengeance.
This phrase, 'eye for eye,' sounds harsh, doesn't it? Like a free pass for payback. But what if it was actually meant to limit revenge, not unleash it?
The principle of lex talionis, or "an eye for an eye," was revolutionary for its time. Instead of unlimited blood feuds where a minor injury could lead to death, this law set a strict boundary. It meant the punishment should match the crime, no more, no less.
Limiting Vengeance
This wasn't about encouraging personal revenge; it was about establishing a framework for fair judgment by authorities.
Imagine your neighbor damages your property. Would you have the right to smash their prized possession in return? This ancient law wasn't about that kind of street justice.
A crucial misunderstanding of "eye for eye" is thinking it allowed individuals to take justice into their own hands. The biblical context makes it clear that these were guidelines for magistrates and judges, not for personal vengeance.
Who Carried Out Justice?
This Leviticus passage reiterates the 'eye for an eye' principle, emphasizing its application in divine justice and serving as a direct parallel within the Law.
Matthew 5:38-39Jesus directly addresses this principle in the Sermon on the Mount, contrasting the Old Testament law with His teaching on non-retaliation and turning the other cheek, showing a deeper spiritual intent.
Deuteronomy 19:18-19This passage clarifies that the 'eye for an eye' principle was to be carried out by judges after a thorough investigation, not as a license for private vengeance, highlighting its judicial context.
Numbers 35:31This verse states that no payment or ransom should be accepted for a murderer, underscoring that while compensation was permissible for lesser injuries like those in Exodus 21, the gravest offense (murder) demanded the ultimate penalty, providing important context for the limits of retaliation.
gillExodus 21:24: "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,"
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. This is "lex talionis", the law of retaliation, and from whence the Heathens had theirs; but whether this is to be taken strictly and literally, or only for pecuniary mulcts, is a question; Josephus (d) understands it in the former sense, the Jewish writers generally in the latter; and so the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it;"the price of an eye for an eye, &c…
pooleExodus 21:24: "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,"
This is called the law of retaliation, and from hence the heathen lawgivers took it and put it into their laws. But though this might sometimes be practised in the letter, yet it was not necessarily to be understood and executed so; as may appear, 1. By the impossibility of the just execution of it in many cases, as when a man that had but one eye or hand was to lose the other, which to him was a far greater mischief th…
This verse isn't a green light for personal revenge; it's a divine directive for judges to ensure punishment fits the crime, preventing a society where a minor offense could lead to total ruin. It sets a boundary for the court's decision, not a license for individuals to enact their own "eye for an eye."
This passage is part of a series of laws given to Israel detailing how they should administer justice and live together in community. Following instructions on slavery and accidental harm, these verses lay out specific punishments for causing bodily injury, establishing a principle of proportionate justice that the courts were to enforce. The principle of "eye for eye" is presented as a standard for magistrates to follow, not an excuse for personal vengeance.
This passage is part of a series of laws given to Israel detailing how they should administer justice and live together in community. Following instructions on slavery and accidental harm, these verses lay out specific punishments for causing bodily injury, establishing a principle of proportionate justice that the courts were to enforce. The principle of "eye for eye" is presented as a standard for magistrates to follow, not an excuse for personal vengeance.
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When left to individuals, revenge always tends to go too far. This law aimed to channel justice through proper, impartial channels.
What happens when the offender is blind, or has only one hand? How can 'eye for eye' be applied literally? This highlights a deeper wisdom in the law.
The commentators noted a significant challenge: literal application wasn't always possible or just. If someone with one eye injured another, should they lose their only eye? The wisdom of the law often leaned towards fair compensation rather than exact physical replication of the injury.
Beyond the Literal
This shows God's law is not rigid dogma but alive with wisdom, seeking genuine justice that considers all circumstances.
"eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot," — This verse isn't a green light for personal revenge; it's a divine directive for judges to ensure punishment fits the crime, preventing a society where a minor offense could lead to total ruin. It se…