“If a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and doesn’t cover it, and a bull or a donkey falls into it,
Parallel translations
- KJV And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;
- BSB If a man opens or digs a pit and fails to cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,
- NKJV “And if a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls in it,
- NASB “Now if someone opens a pit, or digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,
- NLT “Suppose someone digs or uncovers a pit and fails to cover it, and then an ox or a donkey falls into it.
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
If a man leaves a pit uncovered and an animal falls in, he is liable. Carelessness that harms others must be answered for.
Overview
This law assigns responsibility for negligence that endangers a neighbor's property, requiring the careless to bear the loss. It teaches that love of neighbor includes guarding others from harm we might cause. Such concern for the neighbor's good anticipates the law's summary in loving one's neighbor as oneself, fulfilled in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Ps 119:85The proud have dug pits for me, contrary to your law.
- Jer 18:20Shall evil be recompensed for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
- Jer 18:22Let a cry be heard from their houses, when you shall bring a troop suddenly on them; for they have dug a pit to take me, and hidden snares for my feet.
- Ps 9:15The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made. In the net which they hid, their own foot is taken.
- Eccl 10:8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
- Prov 28:10Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.
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 21:33 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.