Exodus 21:1

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ Now these [are] the judgments which thou shalt set before them.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"These are the rulings you are to present to them:

Berean Standard Bible:

“These are the ordinances that you are to set before them:

American Standard Version:

Now these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Now these are the judgments^{H4941} which thou shalt set^{H7760} before^{H6440} them.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Exodus 21:1

Exodus 21:1 serves as a transition point in the narrative of the Book of Exodus. It marks the beginning of a section that outlines various laws and statutes given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. These laws are to be communicated to the Israelites, establishing a legal framework for the fledgling nation. This verse introduces what is often referred to as the Covenant Code or the Book of the Covenant, which includes a series of civil, criminal, and religious laws.

The historical context of this verse is set after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their arrival at Mount Sinai, where they entered into a covenant with God. The verse reflects a shift from the narrative of liberation to the practicalities of establishing a society governed by divine law. The themes include justice, righteousness, and the establishment of a distinct Israelite identity through the application of God's commandments in everyday life.

In the broader context of the ancient Near East, the laws presented in Exodus 21-23 show similarities to other legal collections of the time, such as the Code of Hammurabi. However, the laws in Exodus are unique in their theological underpinnings, emphasizing the sovereignty of God and the value of each individual as made in the image of God. Exodus 21:1 sets the stage for a comprehensive legal system that addresses various aspects of social life, including the treatment of slaves, property rights, personal injuries, and moral conduct, all of which are meant to guide the Israelites in living as a holy nation set apart by God.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4941
   There are 406 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִשְׁפָּט
   Transliteration: mishpâṭ
   Pronunciation: mish-pawt'
   Description: from שָׁפַט; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style; [phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, [idiom] worthy, [phrase] wrong.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7760
   There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׂוּם
   Transliteration: sûwm
   Pronunciation: soom
   Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.