1“Now these are the rules that you shall set before them. (Ex 24:3; De 4:14; De 6:1)2When you buy a Hebrew slave,[1] he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. (Le 25:39; De 15:12; Jer 34:14)3If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him.4If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out alone.5But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ (De 15:16)6then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever. (Ps 82:6; Joh 10:34)7“When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. (Ne 5:5)8If she does not please her master, who has designated her[2] for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her.9If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter.10If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. (1Co 7:5)11And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.12“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. (Ge 9:6; Le 24:17; Nu 35:30; Mt 26:52)13But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. (Nu 35:11; Nu 35:22; De 4:41; De 19:2; De 19:4; Jos 20:2)14But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die. (1Ki 2:28)15“Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.16“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death. (Ex 22:4; De 24:7; 1Ti 1:10)17“Whoever curses[3] his father or his mother shall be put to death. (Le 20:9; De 27:16; Pr 20:20; Pr 30:11; Mt 15:4; Mr 7:10)18“When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed,19then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed.20“When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged.21But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money. (Le 25:45)22“When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. (De 22:18; Job 31:11)23But if there is harm,[4] then you shall pay life for life, (De 19:21)24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, (Le 24:20; De 19:21; Mt 5:38)25burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.26“When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye.27If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.28“When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. (Ge 9:5)29But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.30If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him. (Ex 21:22; Ex 30:12; Nu 35:31)31If it gores a man’s son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to this same rule.32If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels[5] of silver, and the ox shall be stoned. (Ex 21:28; Zec 11:12; Mt 26:15)
Laws About Restitution
33“When a man opens a pit, or when a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,34the owner of the pit shall make restoration. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead beast shall be his.35“When one man’s ox butts another’s, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and share its price, and the dead beast also they shall share.36Or if it is known that the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall repay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his.
Exodus 21
New International Version
1‘These are the laws you are to set before them:
Hebrew servants
2‘If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything.3If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him.4If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.5‘But if the servant declares, “I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,”6then his master must take him before the judges.[1] He shall take him to the door or the door-post and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.7‘If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do.8If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself,[2] he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her.9If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter.10If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.11If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.
Personal injuries
12‘Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death.13However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate.14But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.15‘Anyone who attacks[3] their father or mother is to be put to death.16‘Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.17‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.18‘If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist[4] and the victim does not die but is confined to bed,19the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed.20‘Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result,21but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.22‘If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely[5] but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows.23But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life,24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,25burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.26‘An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye.27And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.28‘If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible.29If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death.30However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded.31This law also applies if the bull gores a son or a daughter.32If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels[6] of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death.33‘If anyone uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it,34the one who opened the pit must pay the owner for the loss and take the dead animal in exchange.35‘If anyone’s bull injures someone else’s bull and it dies, the two parties are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally.36However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up, the owner must pay, animal for animal, and take the dead animal in exchange.
Exodus 21
King James Version
1Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.2If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.3If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.4If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master', and he shall go out by himself.5And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:6Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.7And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.8If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.9And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.10If he take him another wife ; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.11And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.12He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.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.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.15And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.16And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.17And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.18And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed: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.20And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.21Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.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' husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine .23And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,24Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,25Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.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' sake.27And if he smite out his manservant' tooth, or his maidservant' tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth' sake.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.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.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.31Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.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.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;34The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.35And if one man' ox hurt another', that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.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.
Exodus 21
New International Reader’s Version
1‘Here are the laws you must explain to the people of Israel.
Other laws
Set your Hebrew servants free
2‘Suppose you buy a Hebrew servant. He must serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, you must set him free. He does not have to pay anything.3If he does not have a wife when he comes, he must go free alone. But if he has a wife when he comes, she must go with him.4Suppose his master gives him a wife. And suppose she has sons or daughters by him. Then only the man will go free. The woman and her children will belong to her master.5‘But suppose the servant says, “I love my master and my wife and children. I don’t want to go free.”6Then his master must take him to the judges. His master must take him to the door or doorpost of his master’s house. His master must poke a hole through his servant’s earlobe into the door or doorpost. Then he will become his servant for life.7‘Suppose a man sells his daughter as a servant. Then she can’t go free as male servants do.8But what if the master who has chosen her does not like her? Then he must let the man buy her back. He has no right to sell her to strangers. He has broken his promise to her.9What if he chooses her to marry his son? Then he must grant her the rights of a daughter.10What if her master marries another woman? He must still give the first one her food and clothes and sleep with her.11If he does not provide her with those three things, she can go free. She does not have to pay anything.
Laws about harming others
12‘Anyone who hits and kills someone else must be put to death.13Suppose they did not do it on purpose. Suppose I let it happen. Then they can escape to a place I will choose.14But suppose they kill someone on purpose. Then take them away from my altar and put them to death.15‘Anyone who attacks their father or mother must be put to death.16‘Anyone who kidnaps and sells another person must be put to death. If they still have the person with them when they are caught, they must be put to death.17‘Anyone who asks for something bad to happen to their father or mother must be put to death.18‘Suppose two people get into a fight and argue with each other. One hits the other with a stone or his fist. And the person who was hit does not die but has to stay in bed.19And later that person gets up and walks around outside with a walking stick. Then the person who hit the other person will not be held responsible. But that person must pay the one who was hurt for the time spent in bed. The one who hit the other person must be sure that person is completely healed.20‘Suppose a person beats their male or female slave to death with a club. That person must be punished.21But they will not be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two. After all, the slave is their property.22‘Suppose some people are fighting and one of them hits a pregnant woman. And suppose she has her baby early but is not badly hurt. Then the one who hurt her must pay a fine. That person must pay what the woman’s husband asks for and the court allows.23But if someone is badly hurt, a life must be taken for a life.24An eye must be put out for an eye. A tooth must be knocked out for a tooth. A hand must be cut off for a hand and a foot for a foot.25A burn must be given for a burn, a wound for a wound, and a bruise for a bruise.26‘Suppose an owner hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it. Then the owner must let the slave go free to pay for the eye.27Suppose an owner knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave. Then he must let the slave go free to pay for the tooth.28‘Suppose a bull kills a man or woman with its horns. Then you must kill the bull by throwing stones at it. Its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held accountable.29But suppose the bull has had the habit of attacking people. And suppose the owner has been warned but has not kept it fenced in. Then if it kills a man or woman, you must kill it with stones. The owner must also be put to death.30But suppose payment is required of him instead. Then the owner can save his life by paying what is required.31The same law applies if the bull wounds a son or daughter with its horns.32Suppose the bull wounds a male or female slave. Then the owner must pay the slave’s master 360 grams of silver. You must kill the bull with stones.33‘Suppose someone uncovers a pit or digs one and does not cover it. And suppose an ox or donkey falls into it.34Then the person who opened the pit must pay the animal’s owner for the loss. The dead animal will belong to the person who opened the pit.35‘Suppose someone’s bull wounds a neighbour’s bull and it dies. Then the owner and the neighbour must sell the live one. And they must share the money and the dead animal equally.36But suppose people knew that the bull had the habit of attacking. And suppose the owner did not keep it fenced in. Then the owner must give another animal to pay for the dead animal. And the dead animal will belong to the owner.