Exodus 21:26
in Exodus 21If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the eye.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.
KJV
And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.
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This verse in Exodus 21
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant
on Exodus 21:26-27
The eye and the tooth of the talion list come back two verses later applied to a servant, and the outcome is freedom. Adam Clarke observed that if the law failed to teach the slaveholder mercy it at least taught him caution.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
If a man smite the eye of his servant,....
The Israelites are here directed what to do, 1. In case of hurt done by oxen, or any other brute-creature; for the law, doubtless, was designed to extend to all parallel cases. (1.) As an instance of God's care of the life of man (though forfeited a thousand times into the hands of divine justice), and in token of his detestation of the sin of murder.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
If a man smite the eye, etc. - See the following verse.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Freedom was the proper equivalent for permanent injury.
The words behind it
15 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְכִֽי־ | vekhi- | and if | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| יַכֶּ֨ה | yakeh | he will strike | H5221 → | 499 times |
| אִ֜ישׁ | ʾish | anyone | H376 → | 1663 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| עֵ֥ין | ʾein | [the] eye of | H5869 → | 887 times |
| עַבְדּ֛וֹ | avdo | [male] slave his | H5650 → | 799 times |
| אֽוֹ־ | ʾov- | or | H176 → | 321 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| עֵ֥ין | ʾein | [the] eye of | H5869 → | 887 times |
| אֲמָת֖וֹ | ʾamato | female slave his | H519 → | 56 times |
| וְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּ | veshichatah | and he will destroy it | H7843 → | 146 times |
| לַֽחָפְשִׁ֥י | lachafeshi | to <the> free [person] | H2670 → | 17 times |
| יְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ | yeshallechenu | he will set free him | H7971 → | 845 times |
| תַּ֥חַת | tachat | in place of | H8478 → | 505 times |
| עֵינֽוֹ׃ ס | eino | eye his | H5869 → | 887 times |
וְכִֽי־and if
vekhi-H3588 →4482 times
יַכֶּ֨הhe will strike
yakehH5221 →499 times
אִ֜ישׁanyone
ʾishH376 →1663 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
עֵ֥ין[the] eye of
ʾeinH5869 →887 times
עַבְדּ֛וֹ[male] slave his
avdoH5650 →799 times
אֽוֹ־or
ʾov-H176 →321 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
עֵ֥ין[the] eye of
ʾeinH5869 →887 times
אֲמָת֖וֹfemale slave his
ʾamatoH519 →56 times
וְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּand he will destroy it
veshichatahH7843 →146 times
לַֽחָפְשִׁ֥יto <the> free [person]
lachafeshiH2670 →17 times
יְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּhe will set free him
yeshallechenuH7971 →845 times
תַּ֥חַתin place of
tachatH8478 →505 times
עֵינֽוֹ׃ סeye his
einoH5869 →887 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Colossians 4:1Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:8–20
because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
- Deuteronomy 24:14–15
Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.
- James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- Revelation 17:14
They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen…
- Luke 16:1–13
Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
- Ephesians 6:8–20
Through
Ephesians 6:9And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism…
it leads to
- Colossians 3:25
Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
- Acts 10:34
Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
- Romans 2:11
For God does not show favoritism.
- Colossians 3:25
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this chapter
About Exodus
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.