And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
- BSB Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession.
- ESV “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
- NKJV “He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.
- NASB “Now one who kidnaps someone, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall certainly be put to death.
- NLT “Kidnappers must be put to death, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves.
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
Kidnapping a person to sell or hold him is a capital crime. Human beings bear God's image and may not be treated as property to be traded.
Overview
This law (later cited in 1 Timothy 1:10) forbids man-stealing and the slave trade that flows from it, valuing human life made in God's image above any profit. It stands among Israel's case laws applying the eighth and sixth commandments. The gospel deepens this: Christ comes to set captives free (Luke 4:18), redeeming those held in bondage.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Deut 24:7If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.
- 1 Tim 1:10For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
- Exod 22:4If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
- Gen 37:28Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
- Gen 40:15For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
- Rev 18:12The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 21:16 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.