Exodus 21:29

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.

Complete Jewish Bible:

However, if the ox was in the habit of goring in the past, and the owner was warned but did not confine it, so that it ended up killing a man or a woman; then the ox is to be stoned, and its owner too is to be put to death.

Berean Standard Bible:

But if the ox has a habit of goring, and its owner has been warned yet does not restrain it, and it kills a man or woman, then the ox must be stoned and its owner must also be put to death.

American Standard Version:

But if the ox was wont to gore in time past, and it hath been testified to its owner, and he hath not kept it in, but it hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But if the ox^{H7794} were wont to push with his horn^{H5056} in time past^{{H8543}{H8032}}, and it hath been testified^{H5749} to his owner^{H1167}, and he hath not kept^{H8104} him in, but that he hath killed^{H4191} a man^{H376} or a woman^{H802}; the ox^{H7794} shall be stoned^{H5619}, and his owner^{H1167} also shall be put to death^{H4191}.

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Commentary for Exodus 21:29

1. Themes:
- Accountability: Exodus 21:29 emphasizes the responsibility of an owner for the actions of their property, particularly when there is prior knowledge of potential danger.
- Legal Justice: The verse reflects a legal code designed to protect human life and assign appropriate punishment for negligence resulting in death.
- Precedent and Witness: The law requires testimony regarding the ox's previous behavior, indicating the importance of evidence and due process.

2. Historical Context:
- The verse is part of the Covenant Code, one of the oldest collections of laws in the Hebrew Bible, which includes a variety of civil, moral, and religious statutes.
- The laws were given to the Israelites after their escape from slavery in Egypt, providing a framework for a just and orderly society.
- In an agrarian society, oxen were valuable assets, and their behavior could significantly impact the community. This law addresses the liability of an ox owner for damages caused by their animal, especially if the owner was aware of the animal's dangerous tendencies but failed to take preventive measures.
- The prescribed punishment, stoning for the ox and capital punishment for the owner, reflects the gravity with which the society regarded human life and the necessity of safeguarding it against foreseeable threats.

In summary, Exodus 21:29 deals with themes of personal responsibility and the sanctity of life, within the context of ancient Israelite society, where maintaining communal safety and administering justice were paramount.

*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: 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).
   
2. Strong's Number: H5056
   There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נַגָּח
   Transliteration: naggâch
   Pronunciation: nag-gawkh'
   Description: from נָגַח; butting, i.e. vicious; used (wont) to push.
   
3. Strong's Number: H8543
   There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תְּמוֹל
   Transliteration: tᵉmôwl
   Pronunciation: tem-ole'
   Description: or תְּמֹל; probably for אֶתְמוֹל; sometimes with שִׁלְשׁוֹם; properly, ago, i.e. a (short or long) time since; especially yesterday, or day before yesterday; [phrase] before (-time), [phrase] these (three) days, [phrase] heretofore, [phrase] time past, yesterday.
   
4. Strong's Number: H8032
   There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שִׁלְשׁוֹם
   Transliteration: shilshôwm
   Pronunciation: shil-shome'
   Description: or שִׁלְשֹׁם; from the same as שֶׁלֶשׁ; trebly, i.e. (in time) day before yesterday; [phrase] before (that time, -time), excellent things (from the margin), [phrase] heretofore, three days, [phrase] time past.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5749
   There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עוּד
   Transliteration: ʻûwd
   Pronunciation: ood
   Description: a primitive root; to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively, to encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication); admonish, charge, earnestly, lift up, protest, call (take) to record, relieve, rob, solemnly, stand upright, testify, give warning, (bear, call to, give, take to) witness.
   
6. 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.
   
7. Strong's Number: H8104
   There are 440 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַר
   Transliteration: shâmar
   Pronunciation: shaw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
   
8. 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.
   
9. 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.
   
10. 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.
    
11. 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.