Leviticus 24:19
If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Leviticus 24:19
If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
While it sounds like a harsh "eye for an eye" punishment, the focus here is less about precise physical retribution and more about ensuring the offender makes full restitution for the harm caused. The principle is about proportional justice and restoring what was taken or damaged, not simply inflicting equal pain.
This passage follows the account of a man who blasphemed God's name and was stoned to death. Now, the focus shifts from crimes against God to crimes against neighbors, establishing the principle of just recompense for physical injury. This law, often known as "an eye for an eye," isn't about cruel revenge but about ensuring proportionate restitution, though its application would later be clarified to often involve monetary compensation rather than literal physical retaliation.
When you read 'as he has done it shall be done to him,' does your mind immediately jump to brutal revenge? Let's unpack what this ancient law really meant.
This phrase, often called the 'lex talionis' or law of retaliation, sounds harsh at first. However, the context within the Old Testament, particularly in passages like Exodus, shows that this wasn't usually a command for literal, matching injury.
Beyond Physical Revenge
Instead, it often served as a limit on punishment. Before this law, revenge could be far greater than the original offense. This principle meant that the punishment should fit the crime, not exceed it. It was a step towards a more just and controlled system of justice.
The Goal: Restitution, Not Ruin
Commentaries suggest the primary aim was not to inflict identical harm, but to ensure the offender made amends. This meant compensating the injured party for their loss, pain, and any lasting consequences, like a physical blemish or disfigurement. The focus was on restoring what was lost, rather than causing equal ruin.
Who did this law apply to? Was it just for Israelites, or did it extend further?
The context surrounding this law in Leviticus 24 is crucial. It arises from an incident involving a man with an Egyptian father and an Israelite mother. This detail highlights a significant point: the laws of Israel were intended to apply to everyone within the community, not just native-born Israelites.
Extending the Law's Reach
This meant that both Israelites and foreigners living among them were held to the same standard of conduct and justice. If an Israelite injured a foreigner, the law applied. Likewise, if a foreigner injured an Israelite, the same principles of justice were enacted.
Respecting God's Name
Ultimately, the incident that sparked this particular law involved blasphemy. The severity of the laws, including those addressing personal injury, underscored the overarching concern for respecting God's name and maintaining holiness within the community.
Understand the original words
rea' · Hebrew Noun
A fellow member of the covenant community; someone to be treated with justice, fairness, and love under God's law.
mum · Hebrew Noun
A physical injury or blemish; biblically, it signifies the disruption of the wholeness (shalom) God intended for human bodies.
This passage directly parallels Leviticus 24:19, outlining the 'eye for an eye' principle for physical injury within the context of ancient Israelite law.
Matthew 5:38-39Jesus quotes the 'eye for an eye' principle found in Exodus and Leviticus, but then radically reinterprets it, calling His followers to turn the other cheek instead of seeking retaliation.
Deuteronomy 19:18-19This passage details the judicial process for establishing guilt in cases of false witness, emphasizing that the punishment should be exactly what the false witness intended to bring upon the accused.
Genesis 9:6This earlier command states that 'whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed,' reflecting a similar principle of justice tied to the gravity of the offense.
gillLeviticus 24:19: "And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;"
And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour,.... Does him any hurt or mischief, causes any mutilation or deformity in him by striking him: as he hath done, so shall it be done unto him: not that a like damage or hurt should be done to him, but that he should make satisfaction for it in a pecuniary way; pay for the cure of him, and for loss of time, and in consideration of the pain he…
pooleLeviticus 24:19: "And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;"
No text from Poole on this verse.
While it sounds like a harsh "eye for an eye" punishment, the focus here is less about precise physical retribution and more about ensuring the offender makes full restitution for the harm caused. The principle is about proportional justice and restoring what was taken or damaged, not simply inflicting equal pain.
This passage follows the account of a man who blasphemed God's name and was stoned to death. Now, the focus shifts from crimes against God to crimes against neighbors, establishing the principle of just recompense for physical injury. This law, often known as "an eye for an eye," isn't about cruel revenge but about ensuring proportionate restitution, though its application would later be clarified to often involve monetary compensation rather than literal physical retaliation.
This passage follows the account of a man who blasphemed God's name and was stoned to death. Now, the focus shifts from crimes against God to crimes against neighbors, establishing the principle of just recompense for physical injury. This law, often known as "an eye for an eye," isn't about cruel revenge but about ensuring proportionate restitution, though its application would later be clarified to often involve monetary compensation rather than literal physical retaliation.
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"If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him," — While it sounds like a harsh "eye for an eye" punishment, the focus here is less about precise physical retribution and more about ensuring the offender makes full restitution for the harm caused. Th…