And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
Read it in contextPersonal Injury Laws
Start reading at Exodus 21:12 (Exodus 21:12 to Exodus 21:36).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
This unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. God addresses the delivered people, gives covenant commands, and the covenant is confirmed before instructions for the sanctuary begin.
21:12He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
21:13And 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.
21:14But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
21:15And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
21:16And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
21:17And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
21:18And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:
21:19If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.
21:20And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
21:21Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
21:22If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
21:23And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
21:24Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
21:25Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
21:26And 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.
21:27And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.
21:28If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.
21:29But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.
21:30If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
21:31Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.
21:32If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
21:33And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;
21:34The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.
21:35And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.
21:36Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Moses is the traditional author. Exodus explicitly records him writing covenant words and other material; that supports his central role without identifying every stage in the book's final compilation. Biblical references: Exodus 17:14; Exodus 24:4; Exodus 34:27. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Exodus 21:1–23:33): The LORD gives Moses ordinances for Israel's covenant community. The persons described in individual laws are the people to whom the laws apply, not necessarily people standing in a narrated scene. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? The Israelites delivered from Egypt, and succeeding generations of Israel who were to remember the deliverance and keep the covenant. Biblical references: Exodus 12:24; Exodus 12:26; Exodus 24:7. stated in the text
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? Personal Injury Laws. Read Exodus 21:12 through Exodus 21:36 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? This unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. God addresses the delivered people, gives covenant commands, and the covenant is confirmed before instructions for the sanctuary begin. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? Events follow Israel's growth in Egypt and continue through the exodus, arrival at Sinai, and erection of the tabernacle. Exodus 40:17 dates the erection within that journey. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? The book moves from Egypt, through the sea and wilderness, to Sinai. Do not confuse the place of a narrated event with the place where the final book was written. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Personal Injury Laws (Exodus 21:12 to Exodus 21:36).
Start reading at Exodus 21:12. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Paul explicitly calls Christ our Passover. Hebrews compares sanctuary worship with Christ's work. These later connections should be cited rather than treating every tabernacle detail as a self-explanatory symbol. See 1 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 9:12. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Respond to deliverance with worship and obedience. When applying a covenant command, identify whom it addresses and its purpose before deciding how it relates to life under the new covenant. interpretation
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Exodus 21
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Exodus follows the children of Israel from oppression in Egypt to covenant and tabernacle worship. The text records commands to Moses and Israel; instructions for that covenant must not be silently turned into identical commands to every later reader. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. God addresses the delivered people, gives covenant commands, and the covenant is confirmed before instructions for the sanctuary begin.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. God addresses the delivered people, gives covenant commands, and the covenant is confirmed before instructions for the sanctuary begin.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Exodus
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Exodus follows the children of Israel from oppression in Egypt to covenant and tabernacle worship. The text records commands to Moses and Israel; instructions for that covenant must not be silently turned into identical commands to every later reader.
Connection to the wholeThe plagues, Passover, departure, and crossing of the sea display the deliverance celebrated in the song that closes this movement.
Connection to the wholeGod addresses the delivered people, gives covenant commands, and the covenant is confirmed before instructions for the sanctuary begin.
Connection to the wholeIsrael's idolatry interrupts the sanctuary instructions. Moses intercedes, and renewed covenant words prepare the people to carry out the work.
Connection to the wholeThe people supply and construct the sanctuary according to the commands, and the book ends with the glory of the LORD filling it.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.