King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox [shall be] quit.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox is to be stoned and its flesh not eaten, but the owner of the ox will have no further liability.
Berean Standard Bible:
If an ox gores a man or woman to death, the ox must surely be stoned, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the ox shall not be held responsible.
American Standard Version:
And if an ox gore a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be surely stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
If an ox{H7794} gore{H5055} a man{H376} or a woman{H802}, that they die{H4191}: then the ox{H7794} shall be surely{H5619} stoned{H5619}, and his flesh{H1320} shall not be eaten{H398}; but the owner{H1167} of the ox{H7794} shall be quit{H5355}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 21:32
- If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
Genesis 9:5
- And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
Genesis 9:6
- Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Leviticus 20:15
- And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
Leviticus 20:16
- And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.
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Commentary for Exodus 21:28
Exodus 21:28 is part of a larger collection of laws found in the book of Exodus, which includes regulations that Moses received from God on Mount Sinai. These laws were meant to govern the daily lives of the Israelites, providing a framework for a just and orderly society. The specific law mentioned in this verse addresses the case of an ox that gores a person to death.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, oxen were commonly used for plowing and other agricultural tasks, and thus were valuable assets but also potential dangers. The verse stipulates that if an ox kills someone, the ox is to be stoned to death, a practice that would prevent it from causing further harm. Additionally, the meat of the ox is not to be eaten, which may reflect a taboo against consuming an animal that has caused human death or perhaps a way to avoid any benefit from the misfortune of another.
Importantly, the owner of the ox is not held liable for the death if the animal had no prior history of goring. The phrase "the owner of the ox shall be quit" suggests that there is no bloodguilt on the part of the owner, provided that they were not negligent in some way (which is addressed in the preceding verses, Exodus 21:29-32, regarding the case of a previously known dangerous ox). This law, therefore, touches on themes of personal responsibility, justice, and the value of human life, while also considering the practical realities of living in an agrarian society where animals were integral to daily life. It reflects a concern for both the protection of individuals and the fair treatment of property owners.
*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: H7794
There are 69 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוֹר
Transliteration: shôwr
Pronunciation: shore
Description: from שׁוּר; a bullock (as a traveller); bull(-ock), cow, ox, wall (by mistake for שׁוּר). - Strong's Number: H5055
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָגַח
Transliteration: nâgach
Pronunciation: naw-gakh'
Description: a primitive root; to butt with the horns; figuratively, to war against; gore, push (down, -ing). - Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - 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. - Strong's Number: H5619
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָקַל
Transliteration: çâqal
Pronunciation: saw-kal'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to be weighty; but used only in the sense of lapidation or its contrary (as if a delapidation); (cast, gather out, throw) stone(-s), [idiom] surely. - Strong's Number: H1320
There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּשָׂר
Transliteration: bâsâr
Pronunciation: baw-sawr'
Description: from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. - Strong's Number: H398
There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָכַל
Transliteration: ʼâkal
Pronunciation: aw-kal'
Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. - Strong's Number: H1167
There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּעַל
Transliteration: baʻal
Pronunciation: bah'-al
Description: from בָּעַל; a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense); [phrase] archer, [phrase] babbler, [phrase] bird, captain, chief man, [phrase] confederate, [phrase] have to do, [phrase] dreamer, those to whom it is due, [phrase] furious, those that are given to it, great, [phrase] hairy, he that hath it, have, [phrase] horseman, husband, lord, man, [phrase] married, master, person, [phrase] sworn, they of. - Strong's Number: H5355
There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָקִי
Transliteration: nâqîy
Pronunciation: naw-kee'
Description: or נָקִיא; (Joel 4:19; Jonah [1:14), from נָקָה; innocent; blameless, clean, clear, exempted, free, guiltless, innocent, quit.