And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:
Parallel translations
- WEB “If men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he doesn’t die, but is confined to bed;
- BSB If men are quarreling and one strikes the other with a stone or a fist, and he does not die but is confined to bed,
- ESV “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,
- NKJV “If men contend with each other, and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but is confined to his bed,
- NASB “Now if people have a quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with a fist, and he does not die but is confined to bed,
- NLT “Now suppose two men quarrel, and one hits the other with a stone or fist, and the injured person does not die but is confined to bed.
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
When a quarrel leads to injury that confines a man to bed but not death, the law addresses liability. It shows God's concern for justice even in non-fatal harm.
Overview
This begins a case law distinguishing degrees of harm and assigning fair responsibility for injury. It reflects the principle that human life and well-being are precious and that wrongs must be made right. The proportionate justice here points forward to a God who is perfectly just, ultimately satisfying justice through Christ's atonement.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Exod 21:20And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
- Exod 21:22If 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’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
- 2 Sam 14:6And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.
- Exod 2:13And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
- 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 25:11When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets:
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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 21:18 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
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