Exodus 21:20 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

²⁰ “When a slaveowner strikes a male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies immediately, the owner shall be punished.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

²⁰ And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

²⁰ And if a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod and he [or she] dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.

American Standard Version (1901)

²⁰ And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall surely be punished.

Common English Bible

²⁰ When a slave owner hits a male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies immediately, the owner should be punished.

Catholic Public Domain Version

²⁰ Whoever strikes his male or female servant with a staff, and if they have died by his hands, he shall be guilty of a crime.

Exodus 21:20 Cross References

Romans 13:4

for it is God’s agent for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the agent of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer.

Proverbs 29:19

By mere words slaves are not disciplined, for though they understand, they will not give heed.

Deuteronomy 19:21

Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Numbers 35:19

The avenger of blood is the one who shall put the murderer to death; when they meet, the avenger of blood shall execute the sentence.

Genesis 9:6

Whoever sheds the blood of a human, by a human shall that person’s blood be shed, for in his own image God made humans.

Genesis 4:24

If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

Genesis 4:15

Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him.

Exodus 21:19

but recovers and walks around outside with the help of a staff, then the assailant shall be free of liability, except to pay for the loss of time and to arrange for full recovery.

Exodus 21:21

But if the slave survives a day or two, there is no punishment, for the slave is the owner’s property.