King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.
Complete Jewish Bible:
If he knocks out his male or female slave's tooth, he must let him go free in compensation for his tooth.
Berean Standard Bible:
And if he knocks out the tooth of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the tooth.
American Standard Version:
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.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And if he smite{H5307} out his manservant's{H5650} tooth{H8127}, or his maidservant's{H519} tooth{H8127}; he shall let him go{H7971} free{H2670} for his tooth's{H8127} sake.
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Exodus 21:27
**Exodus 21:27 Summary:**
This verse is part of the Law of the Covenant, a series of laws given to the Israelites after the exodus from Egypt, which includes regulations for social and religious life. The broader context of Exodus 21 deals with laws concerning slavery, personal injuries, and property rights.
**Themes:**
1. **Human Dignity:** The law emphasizes the value of a person, even a servant, by mandating emancipation as compensation for a permanent and visible injury, such as the loss of a tooth.
2. **Justice and Fairness:** The verse reflects a legal system that seeks to provide proportional and restorative justice. The loss of a tooth is met with the gain of freedom for the injured party.
3. **Restitution:** It illustrates the principle of restitution, where the offender is required to make amends for the harm caused, in this case, by granting freedom to the servant.
4. **Limitation of Punishment:** The law restricts the extent of punishment or retribution by prescribing a specific consequence for a specific harm, preventing further abuse.
**Historical Context:**
The laws in Exodus, including this verse, were given to the Israelites in the wilderness, likely during the 15th century BCE, as they were transitioning from a state of slavery to becoming a nation under God's covenant. These laws were revolutionary for their time, offering protections to the most vulnerable members of society, including servants and foreigners. They reflect an early form of legal code that sought to balance the rights and responsibilities of individuals within a community, and they laid the groundwork for subsequent developments in biblical and Western legal traditions.
*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: H5307
There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָפַל
Transliteration: nâphal
Pronunciation: naw-fal'
Description: a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative); be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for פָּלַל), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down. - Strong's Number: H5650
There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶבֶד
Transliteration: ʻebed
Pronunciation: eh'-bed
Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. - Strong's Number: H8127
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁן
Transliteration: shên
Pronunciation: shane
Description: from שָׁנַן; compare שֶׁנְהַבִּים; a tooth (as sharp); specifically ivory; figuratively, a cliff; crag, [idiom] forefront, ivory, [idiom] sharp, tooth. - Strong's Number: H519
There are 134 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמָה
Transliteration: ʼâmâh
Pronunciation: aw-maw'
Description: apparently a primitive word; a maidservant or female slave; (hand-) bondmaid(-woman), maid(-servant). - Strong's Number: H7971
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַח
Transliteration: shâlach
Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). - Strong's Number: H2670
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חׇפְשִׁי
Transliteration: chophshîy
Pronunciation: khof-shee'
Description: from חָפַשׁ; exempt (from bondage, tax or care); free, liberty.