King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"Whoever attacks his father or mother must be put to death.
Berean Standard Bible:
Whoever strikes his father or mother must surely be put to death.
American Standard Version:
And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And he that smiteth{H5221} his father{H1}, or his mother{H517}, shall be surely{H4191} put to death{H4191}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Proverbs 30:11
- [There is] a generation [that] curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
Proverbs 30:17
- The eye [that] mocketh at [his] father, and despiseth to obey [his] mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
1 Timothy 1:9
- Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
Deuteronomy 27:24
- Cursed [be] he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Deuteronomy 21:18
- ¶ If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and [that], when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
Deuteronomy 21:21
- And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 21:15
1. **Themes:**
- **Respect for Parents:** Exodus 21:15 emphasizes the gravity of honoring one's parents, a theme consistent with the Ten Commandments, which include the directive to "honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12).
- **Social Order and Authority:** The verse reflects the importance of maintaining social order and respect for authority within the ancient Israelite society. Striking a parent was considered a severe violation of this order.
- **Retributive Justice:** The prescribed punishment for such a transgression, capital punishment, illustrates the principle of lex talionis (law of retaliation), where the penalty corresponds to the severity of the crime.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Covenant Code:** Exodus 21:15 is part of the Covenant Code, a collection of laws found in Exodus 20:23–23:33, which is one of the four law codes in the Pentateuch. These laws were likely written during the time of Moses, reflecting the legal practices and moral standards of the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt, around the 13th century BCE.
- **Ancient Near Eastern Parallels:** Similar laws regarding the striking of parents can be found in other ancient Near Eastern legal texts, such as the Code of Hammurabi. However, the Israelite law is distinctive in its directive for capital punishment for such an act, underscoring the high value placed on family loyalty and respect in Hebrew society.
- **Cultural Significance:** In the broader context of ancient Israelite culture, the family unit was central to society's stability and religious identity. The prohibition against striking parents, with the severe consequence of death, served to protect the integrity of the family and, by extension, the community.
This verse reflects the seriousness with which the ancient Israelites regarded the sanctity of family relationships and the need to uphold societal norms through strict legal measures.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5221
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָכָה
Transliteration: nâkâh
Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound. - Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - Strong's Number: H517
There are 387 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵם
Transliteration: ʼêm
Pronunciation: ame
Description: a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father)); dam, mother, [idiom] parting. - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.