Exodus 21:20
“¶ And if a man smite his seruant, or his mayd, with a rod, and hee die vnder his hand, hee shall bee surely punished:”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
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Exodus 21:20 Context
18¶ And if men striue together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed: 19If hee rise againe, and walke abroad vpon his staffe, then shall hee that smote him, be quit: onely he shall pay for the losse of his time, and shall cause him to be throughly healed. 20¶ And if a man smite his seruant, or his mayd, with a rod, and hee die vnder his hand, hee shall bee surely punished: 21Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, hee shall not be punished, for he is his money. 22¶ If men striue, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischiefe follow, he shalbe surely punished, according as the womans husband will lay vpon him, and hee shall pay as the Iudges determine.
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Other Translations for Exodus 21:20
And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
- King James Version
"If a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod and he dies at his hand, he shall be punished.
- New American Standard Version (1995)
And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall surely be punished.
- American Standard Version (1901)
If a man gives his man-servant or his woman-servant blows with a rod, causing death, he is certainly to undergo punishment.
- Basic English Bible
And if a man strike his bondman or his handmaid with a staff, and he die under his hand, he shall certainly be avenged.
- Darby Bible
And if a man shall smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he shall die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
- Webster's Bible
If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
- World English Bible
`And when a man smiteth his man-servant or his handmaid, with a rod, and he hath died under his hand -- he is certainly avenged;
- Youngs Literal Bible
And if a man smite his bondman, or his bondwoman, with a rod, and he die under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
- Jewish Publication Society Bible
Wesley's Notes for Exodus 21:20
21:20 Direction is given what should be done, if a servant died by his master's correction. This servant must not be an Israelite, but a Gentile slave, as the Negroes to our planters; and it is supposed that he smite him with a rod, and not with any thing that was likely to give a mortal wound, yet if he died under his hand, he should be punished for his cruelty, at the discretion of the judges, upon consideration of circumstances.