Bible Strands
Exodus 21:24
eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God delivers this judicial standard to the Israelites through Moses at Mount Sinai, immediately following the rule for lethal injury in Exodus 21:23. It addresses private disputes where one person inflicts non-lethal bodily harm on another.
The words — The Hebrew preposition תַּחַת (taḥat) literally means "in place of" and repeatedly links the injured body part to its equivalent. It connects עַיִן (ʿayin, "eye") and שֵׁן (šēn, "tooth") to specify exact reciprocal restitution.
The thread — This proportional formula reappears in Deuteronomy 19:21 to govern litigation and is explicitly quoted in Matthew 5:38 before Jesus reorients its application. Matthew 7:2 later echoes the underlying principle of reciprocal judgment.
Why it lands — The text demands measured, equivalent compensation for injury rather than unbounded retaliation. It requires a reader to apply strict proportionality when adjudicating harm between individuals.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 19:21 You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.
- Matthew 7:2 For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
- Matthew 5:38 You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’
- Leviticus 24:19 If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him:
- Judges 1:6 As Adoni-bezek fled, they pursued him, seized him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.
- Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
- Revelation 16:6 For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, as they deserve.”
- Exodus 21:26 If a man strikes and blinds the eye of his manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the eye.
- 1 Samuel 15:33 But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.