He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
Parallel translations
- WEB “One who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death,
- BSB Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death.
- ESV “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death.
- NKJV “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.
- NASB “He who strikes someone so that he dies shall certainly be put to death.
- NLT “Anyone who assaults and kills another person must be put to death.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Whoever strikes a person fatally must be put to death. Murder is a grave offense against God's image-bearer requiring the highest penalty.
Overview
This case law applies the sixth commandment, treating the taking of human life with utmost seriousness because people bear God's image (Gen. 9:6). The death penalty here underscores life's sanctity. The gravity of sin against God's image magnifies the wonder that Christ gave His life to redeem murderers and all sinners.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Gen 9:6Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
- Lev 24:17And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.
- Matt 26:52Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
- Num 35:30–31Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.
- Num 35:16–24And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
- Deut 19:11–13But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:
- Exod 20:13Thou shalt not kill.
- 2 Sam 12:13And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 21:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.