Leviticus - 24:20



20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has injured someone, so shall it be done to him.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Leviticus 24:20.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be rendered unto him.
Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, shall he restore. What blemish he gave, the like shall he be compelled to suffer.
breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him.
breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he putteth a blemish in a man so it is done in him.
Wound for wound, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever damage he has done, so let it be done to him.
breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he hath maimed a man, so shall it be rendered unto him.
fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, shall he repay. Whatever degree of blemish he has inflicted, so shall he be compelled to suffer.
Fracturam pro fractura, oculum pro oculo, dentem pro dente: sicut intulerit maculam hominis, sic inferetur ei.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Breach for breach - This is a repetition of the lex talionis, which See explained Exodus 21:24 (note).

Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth,.... Which is not to be taken strictly or literally, but for the price or value of those, which is to be given in a pecuniary way; See Gill on Exodus 21:24, Exodus 21:25,
as he hath caused a blemish in a man, shall it be done to him; unless he gives satisfaction, and pays a valuable consideration for it.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


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