Exodus 21:34

KJV

The owner of the pit shall make [it] good, [and] give money unto the owner of them; and the dead [beast] shall be his.

KJV (with Strong's)

The owner {H1167} of the pit {H953} shall make it good {H7999}, and give {H7725} money {H3701} unto the owner {H1167} of them; and the dead {H4191} beast shall be his.

Complete Jewish Bible

the owner of the cistern must make good the loss by compensating the animal's owner; but the dead animal will be his.

Berean Standard Bible

the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he must pay its owner, and the dead animal will be his.

American Standard Version

the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money unto the owner thereof, and the dead beast shall be his.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 21:34, a precise legal statute within the broader "Book of the Covenant," meticulously outlines the liability and required restitution for property damage resulting from negligence, specifically concerning an uncovered pit. This law mandates that the individual responsible for the unmaintained pit must fully compensate the owner of any livestock that perishes as a result, ensuring both justice for the injured party and a clear framework for accountability within the Israelite community. It exemplifies God's commitment to social order, ethical conduct, and the restoration of what is lost due to human oversight.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Exodus 21:34 is situated within the extensive collection of civil and criminal laws known as the "Book of the Covenant," spanning [Exodus 20:22-23:33](/exodus/20-22-33 "Exodus 20:22-23:33 - The Book of the Covenant"). This legal corpus serves as a practical exposition and application of the foundational moral principles articulated in the Ten Commandments, which immediately precede it. Chapter 21 specifically delves into various scenarios concerning personal injury, property rights, and social interactions, establishing a comprehensive legal framework for the nascent Israelite nation. The laws are presented in a casuistic (case-by-case) style, typically beginning with a conditional "If..." or "When..." clause followed by a prescribed legal consequence. The specific unit of [Exodus 21:33-34](/exodus/21-33-34 "Exodus 21:33-34 - Responsibility for an Uncovered Pit") forms a cohesive legal precedent addressing damage caused by an unsealed pit, illustrating how the overarching principles of justice, responsibility, and restitution are applied to specific, everyday situations, ensuring order and fairness in communal life.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel was predominantly an agrarian and pastoral society, where livestock—such as cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats—constituted a primary form of wealth, economic stability, and social status. The unexpected loss of an animal due to negligence could inflict severe economic hardship upon a family or individual. Pits were ubiquitous features in the ancient Near Eastern landscape, serving diverse purposes like water cisterns, storage pits, or even traps for wild animals. An uncovered or poorly maintained pit, therefore, represented a significant and foreseeable hazard, particularly to wandering livestock. This statute directly addresses these practical realities of daily life, where such accidents were common. By holding the pit owner strictly accountable, the law aimed to foster diligence, promote communal safety, and protect private property, thereby contributing to the overall social harmony and economic viability of the community. The emphasis on monetary compensation, rather than solely punitive measures, aligns with broader ancient Near Eastern legal traditions that prioritized restoration and making the injured party whole.
* **Key Themes:** This seemingly minor civil law powerfully underscores several foundational theological and narrative themes prevalent throughout the Pentateuch and beyond. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **personal responsibility and accountability**, demonstrating God's expectation that individuals be answerable for their actions and inactions, especially when they cause harm to others. Secondly, the law emphasizes **justice and equitable restitution**, ensuring that victims are compensated for their losses and that wrongs are appropriately righted, reflecting God's own righteous character. This concern for fairness is echoed in other laws concerning property and injury, such as those found in [Deuteronomy 22:1-4](/deuteronomy/22-1-4 "Deuteronomy 22:1-4 - Laws Concerning Lost Property"). Thirdly, it speaks to the theme of **social order and communal well-being**, as the diligent application of such laws fosters a stable and just society where individuals are encouraged to act with care and consideration for their neighbors' welfare, contributing to the broader concept of _shalom_ (peace and wholeness) within the community, a theme evident throughout [the Law](/exodus/20 "Exodus 20 - The Ten Commandments").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Owner (Hebrew, _baʻal_ H1167):** Derived from the root meaning "to master" or "to possess," this term denotes not merely possession but also the inherent responsibility and authority that comes with it. In this context, it clearly identifies the individual with ultimate control and hence, liability, over the pit. The use of _baʻal_ underscores that ownership is intrinsically linked to accountability for the property's impact on others.
* **Pit (Hebrew, _bôwr_ H953):** This word refers to a hole dug in the ground, commonly a cistern for water collection or a well. However, its usage here specifically points to an excavation that has become a hazard due to neglect. The term highlights the specific nature of the danger—a hidden, unsealed opening—and thus the specific context of negligence that the law addresses.
* **Make good (Hebrew, _shâlam_ H7999):** This verb carries the profound sense of completion, restoration, or making whole. It implies not just a payment, but a full restitution that aims to return the injured party to their original state before the damage occurred. The root of _shâlam_ is famously connected to "shalom" (peace), suggesting that proper restitution is a means of restoring order, harmony, and peace to a disrupted situation, both for the victim and the broader community.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The owner of the pit shall make [it] good":** This opening clause immediately assigns unequivocal responsibility to the individual who owns or is otherwise accountable for the pit. The phrase "make [it] good" (from _shâlam_) signifies a non-negotiable obligation to provide full and complete compensation for the damage caused. This establishes the foundational principle of accountability for one's property and the consequences of one's negligence.
* **"[and] give money unto the owner of them;":** This specifies the precise form of restitution required: monetary payment. The phrase "owner of them" refers to the owner of the deceased livestock, clearly indicating that the compensation is for the financial loss incurred due to the animal's death. This provision ensures that the victim is not left to bear the financial burden of another's oversight, promoting economic justice.
* **"and the dead [beast] shall be his.":** This concluding clause dictates that the carcass of the deceased animal becomes the property of the negligent pit owner. This serves a dual purpose: it provides a clear and final transfer of ownership and liability, preventing further disputes, and it allows the responsible party to potentially salvage some residual value from the carcass (e.g., hide, or meat if still usable), thereby slightly offsetting their financial loss from the compensation. It brings a definitive closure to the transaction of restitution.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 21:34 is a quintessential example of **Casuistic Law**, a prevalent legal form in the ancient Near East. This device structures legal pronouncements as specific cases, typically employing an "if-then" or "when-then" formula. Here, the implied "if a man opens a pit... and does not cover it... and an ox or a donkey falls into it," is followed by the explicit consequence: "the owner of the pit shall make [it] good..." This structure provides clear, practical guidelines for judicial resolution and social conduct. The law also subtly embodies the principle of **Proportionality** in justice, where the restitution demanded directly corresponds to the damage inflicted, aiming for an equitable outcome rather than excessive punishment. While not an exact "eye for an eye" (lex talionis) in its application, it reflects the same underlying spirit of ensuring that the compensation fits the loss. Furthermore, the repeated use of "owner" (of the pit, of the beast) serves as a form of **Emphasis**, clearly delineating roles, responsibilities, and the parties involved in the transaction, reinforcing the clarity of the legal framework.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This seemingly straightforward civil law reveals profound theological truths about God's character and His divine blueprint for human society. It unequivocally underscores the divine principles of **personal responsibility** and **accountability**, demonstrating that God holds individuals answerable for their actions and, crucially, their inactions, particularly when such negligence results in harm to others. The emphasis on **restitution and compensation** illuminates God's deep concern for justice and fairness, ensuring that victims are made whole and that wrongs are righted in a tangible manner. This law reflects God's desire for an orderly, righteous, and compassionate community where property is respected, diligence is practiced, and the vulnerable are protected from preventable harm. It teaches that true peace (_shalom_) within a community is often achieved through the restoration of what is broken or lost, a principle that permeates the entire biblical narrative concerning God's redemptive work.

* [Leviticus 24:18](/leviticus/24-18 "Restitution for Animal Injury")
* [Deuteronomy 22:8](/deuteronomy/22-8 "Building a Parapet")
* [Proverbs 27:23](/proverbs/27-23 "Diligence in Caring for Flocks")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific scenario of uncovered pits and lost livestock may seem far removed from our modern context, the enduring principles embedded in Exodus 21:34 remain profoundly relevant for contemporary life. This passage calls us to cultivate a posture of vigilant diligence and conscientious care in all our spheres of influence, recognizing that our actions, or indeed our failures to act, inevitably have consequences for others. Whether it involves maintaining our personal property, fulfilling our professional duties with integrity, or engaging responsibly in community life, we are divinely called to act with foresight and prudence to prevent foreseeable harm. Furthermore, this law serves as a powerful reminder of the imperative for accountability when negligence does lead to damage. When harm occurs through our oversight or inaction, God's righteous standard demands that we take full responsibility and earnestly seek to provide appropriate restitution, striving to make whole those who have been wronged. This commitment fosters a society built upon integrity, empathy, and a steadfast dedication to justice, thereby reflecting God's own character in our daily interactions and relationships.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life might I be neglecting responsibilities that could inadvertently cause harm, inconvenience, or distress to others?**
* **How does the principle of "making good" apply to contemporary situations where negligence leads to damage, even if the harm is not purely financial (e.g., emotional pain, reputational harm, environmental impact)?**
* **What does this ancient law teach me about God's profound concern for justice, order, and neighborly love in human relationships, and how can I more fully embody that concern in my own life and community?**

### FAQ
**Why does the owner of the pit receive the dead beast after paying compensation?**

Answer: This provision serves as a practical and equitable measure to ensure a complete and final transfer of ownership and liability. Once the pit owner has "made good" by paying the full monetary value of the deceased animal, the carcass legally becomes their property. This prevents any lingering claims or disputes from the original owner regarding the animal and allows the negligent party to potentially salvage some residual value from the carcass (e.g., for its hide, bones, or meat if it was not diseased and still usable). This slight mitigation of their financial loss, combined with the clear delineation of ownership, demonstrates a legal system designed for definitive resolution and the prevention of ongoing contention, bringing closure to the transaction.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 21:34, like the entirety of God's perfect Law, serves as a profound pointer beyond itself to its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. This law, which demands full restitution for damage caused by negligence, beautifully foreshadows the greatest "making good" in all of history. Humanity, through its sin and rebellion, has effectively dug a "pit" of spiritual separation and death, causing immeasurable and irreparable harm to its relationship with a holy God. We, in our fallen state, are utterly incapable of "making good" or providing adequate restitution for this cosmic negligence. It is precisely at this point of human inadequacy that Christ steps in. As the sinless [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), He bore the full consequences of our spiritual negligence and sin. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, He paid the ultimate "money"—His own precious life—to "make good" the damage caused by sin, fully satisfying divine justice and reconciling us to God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). He did not merely compensate; He fully restored, bringing true peace (_shalom_) where there was brokenness and enmity. Just as the pit owner took possession of the dead beast, Christ, in His death and glorious resurrection, took upon Himself the "dead beast" of our sin and its devastating consequences, triumphing over it and offering us new, eternal life ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin and the Gift of God")). Thus, this ancient law, by highlighting the inherent need for perfect restitution and accountability, ultimately directs our gaze to the One who perfectly fulfilled the Law's demands and provided the complete and eternal "making good" for all who place their faith in Him ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 22:14

And if a man borrow [ought] of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof [being] not with it, he shall surely make [it] good.

Exodus 21:29

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.

Exodus 21:30

If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.

Exodus 22:6

If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed [therewith]; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.