Exodus 21:22 – 32 “If men who are fighting strike a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely, but there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband demands and as the court allows. But if a serious injury results, then you must require a life for a life— eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, and stripe for stripe.
If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the eye. And if he knocks out the tooth of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the tooth.
If an ox gores a man or woman to death, the ox must surely be stoned, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the ox shall not be held responsible. But if the ox has a habit of goring, and its owner has been warned yet does not restrain it, and it kills a man or woman, then the ox must be stoned and its owner must also be put to death. If payment is demanded of him instead, he may redeem his life by paying the full amount demanded of him. If the ox gores a son or a daughter, it shall be done to him according to the same rule. If the ox gores a manservant or maidservant, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of that servant, and the ox must be stoned.”
There’s a popular meme that says “An eye for an eye means everyone can go blind,” but this statement actually quotes a popular misinterpretation of these verses. Dennis Prager conducts an excellent discussion of Lex Talionis, the Law of Compensation, that was established in these verses.
First, it is important to know the practices that prevailed prior to God giving these commandments. Prager summarizes it this way:
1. The Babylonian Code of Hammurabi dictated that the eye of a noble was far more precious than the eye of a servant or a slave. Now God is stating emphatically that all eyes are equally precious.
2. Previously, if someone killed a member of your family, say, your daughter, then you might seek revenge by killing that man’s daughter. But under Lex Talionis, only the guilty party suffers for his crime. This restriction prohibits unjust revenge and feuds and vendettas.
3. These commands also ensure that there will be appropriate compensation. No two injuries would be exactly alike, so inflicting a matching injury on someone is not possible. The idea here is that the judges will determine how the injured party is to be compensated. The punishment also must fit the crime and not be excessive.
What about the pregnant lady who accidentally gets hurt while two men are fighting and who gives birth prematurely? If mother and baby (babies) survive and are all right, compensation will be determined by a court with the husband making his appeals. But if the woman dies, it will be considered as murder.
What about the verses about the ox that attacks people? The big question here is whether or not the owner has already known the ox to be foul – tempered and likely to gore people. Anyone watching veterinarian shows such as Dr. Pol knows that cows and bulls are very dangerous animals and can injure or kill in an instant. Jan Pol even entitled his autobiography Never Turn Your Back on an Angus Cow. The idea in these verses is that the owner of a vicious animal has a public responsibility to destroy the animal himself before he has to pay the ultimate price. The Israelites are still out in the desert and there are no fences. Keeping a large animal tied up might be really tough. No wonder the punishment for keeping an animal known to be vicious is so extreme!
APPLICATION: Those who wish to serve their own ends will always twist Scripture, and the passage about “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” has been misquoted many times to justify revenge.
Jesus said of himself in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.” But Jesus also told His disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also…” (Matthew 5:38 – 39) Jesus was not setting aside the idea of just compensation but was adding the concepts of mercy and forgiveness for those who had offended or injured.
Very few of us keep oxen anymore; however, do any of us keep bad – tempered dogs or other pets that might attack the innocent? And how many of us at one time or another have quoted the terrible sentiment that “revenge is a dish best served cold,” indicating that we are nursing grudges and waiting for the day when we can take our revenge on those who have hurt us? Romans 12:19 warns us, “Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
PRAYER: Father God, thank you for your Word! Thank you, that you have recognized the equal worth of every individual and that they are all precious in your sight. Lord, help us to realize that your commands have been established to protect and not as excuses for revenge and plotted attacks. Help us to forgive those who have hurt us and to leave them to you. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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