Exodus 21:26-27 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 21:26-27

If a man smite the eye , etc. The "eye" seems to be selected as the most precious of our organs, the "tooth" as that the loss of which is of least consequence. The principle was that any permanent loss of any part of his frame entitled the slave to his liberty. A very considerable check must have been put on the brutality of masters by this enactment. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 21:26-27

Freedom was the proper equivalent for permanent injury. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 21:26-28

Exodus 21:26-28. He shall let him go free A very fit recompense to a servant for such a loss, and certainly meant to be extended to every other material personal injury. If an ox Or any other creature. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:12-27

Concerning violence and injury (21:12-27)Death was the penalty for wilful murder, violence to parents and kidnapping for slavery. Israelite law did not allow the widespread ancient practice of a murderer trying to escape punishment by clinging to the horns of the altar and pleading for mercy. But cases of manslaughter were different. When the Israelites settled in their new homeland, they were to appoint certain places as cities of refuge, where a person guilty of manslaughter could find safety... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 21:26

go free . By Code of Khammurabi, the master was compensated, 199 (see App-15 ). Compare Deuteronomy 4:8 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 21:27

smite . Not the same word as elsewhere in this chapter. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 21:26-27

THE RIGHTS OF THE DISMEMBERED"And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye' s sake. And if he smite out his man-servant's tooth, or his maid-servant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake."Thus, this whole chapter must be viewed as a Bill of Rights. From first to last, it lays down protections one after another for certain persons long subject to mistreatment in the societies of that age. Here a master's... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 21:18-32

Bodily injuries 21:18-32Moses cited five cases in this section, as was true in the preceding one (Exodus 21:12-17). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 21:26-27

In contrast to Exodus 21:27, the Code of Hammurabi prescribed that in such a case the offender had to pay the slave’s master half the price of the slave. [Note: Code of Hammurabi, section 199.] If a master blinded his own slave, this code required no penalty. The Torah shows greater concern for the slave. This law would have discouraged masters from physically abusing their slaves. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:1-36

The Book of the Covenant (continued)I-ii. Regulations regarding the Treatment of Hebrew Slaves.Slavery was universal in ancient times, and the Mosaic Law does not abolish it. Among the Hebrews, however, slavery was by no means the degrading and oppressive thing that it was among other nations. Manstealing, upon which modern systems of slavery are based, was a crime punishable by death (see Exodus 21:16), and the Law of Moses recognises the right of a slave to just and honourable treatment. A... read more