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Saturday, December 20th, 2025
the Third Week of Advent
the Third Week of Advent
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Read the Bible
Bible in Basic English
Exodus 21:20
If a man gives his man-servant or his woman-servant blows with a rod, causing death, he is certainly to undergo punishment.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- BridgewayEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Hebrew Names Version
"If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
"If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
King James Version
And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
Lexham English Bible
And if a man strikes his male slave or his female slave with the rod and he dies under his hand, he will surely be avenged.
And if a man strikes his male slave or his female slave with the rod and he dies under his hand, he will surely be avenged.
New Century Version
"If a man beats his male or female slave with a stick, and the slave dies on the spot, the owner must be punished.
"If a man beats his male or female slave with a stick, and the slave dies on the spot, the owner must be punished.
New English Translation
"If a man strikes his male servant or his female servant with a staff so that he or she dies as a result of the blow, he will surely be punished.
"If a man strikes his male servant or his female servant with a staff so that he or she dies as a result of the blow, he will surely be punished.
Amplified Bible
"If a man strikes his male or his female servant with a staff and the servant dies at his hand, he must be punished.
"If a man strikes his male or his female servant with a staff and the servant dies at his hand, he must be punished.
New American Standard Bible
"And if someone strikes his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies at his hand, he shall be punished.
"And if someone strikes his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies at his hand, he shall be punished.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And if a man smite his seruant, or his maide with a rod, and he die vnder his hande, he shalbe surely punished.
And if a man smite his seruant, or his maide with a rod, and he die vnder his hande, he shalbe surely punished.
Legacy Standard Bible
"And if a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod and he dies at his hand, he shall surely be punished.
"And if a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod and he dies at his hand, he shall surely be punished.
Contemporary English Version
Death is the punishment for beating to death any of your slaves.
Death is the punishment for beating to death any of your slaves.
Complete Jewish Bible
(ii) "If a person beats his male or female slave with a stick so severely that he dies, he is to be punished;
(ii) "If a person beats his male or female slave with a stick so severely that he dies, he is to be punished;
Darby Translation
And if a man strike his bondman or his handmaid with a staff, and he die under his hand, he shall certainly be avenged.
And if a man strike his bondman or his handmaid with a staff, and he die under his hand, he shall certainly be avenged.
Easy-to-Read Version
"Sometimes people beat their slaves. If the slave dies after being beaten, the killer must be punished.
"Sometimes people beat their slaves. If the slave dies after being beaten, the killer must be punished.
English Standard Version
"When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged.
"When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged.
George Lamsa Translation
And if a man strikes his servant, or his maid with a staff, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
And if a man strikes his servant, or his maid with a staff, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
Good News Translation
"If a slave owner takes a stick and beats his slave, whether male or female, and the slave dies on the spot, the owner is to be punished.
"If a slave owner takes a stick and beats his slave, whether male or female, and the slave dies on the spot, the owner is to be punished.
Christian Standard Bible®
“When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod, and the slave dies under his abuse, the owner must be punished.
“When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod, and the slave dies under his abuse, the owner must be punished.
Literal Translation
And if a man strikes his male slave or his slave-girl with a rod, and he dies under his hand, avenging he shall be avenged.
And if a man strikes his male slave or his slave-girl with a rod, and he dies under his hand, avenging he shall be avenged.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He that smyteth his seruaunt or mayde with a staff, that he dye vnder his handes, the same shall suffre vengeaunce therfore.
He that smyteth his seruaunt or mayde with a staff, that he dye vnder his handes, the same shall suffre vengeaunce therfore.
American Standard Version
And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall surely be punished.
And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall surely be punished.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And if a man smyte his seruaunt or his mayde with a rod, & they dye vnder his hande, he shalbe greeuously punished.
And if a man smyte his seruaunt or his mayde with a rod, & they dye vnder his hande, he shalbe greeuously punished.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And if a man smite his bondman, or his bondwoman, with a rod, and he die under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
And if a man smite his bondman, or his bondwoman, with a rod, and he die under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
King James Version (1611)
And if a man smite his seruant, or his mayd, with a rod, and hee die vnder his hand, hee shall bee surely punished:
And if a man smite his seruant, or his mayd, with a rod, and hee die vnder his hand, hee shall bee surely punished:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And if a man smite his man-servant or his maid-servant, with a rod, and the party die under his hands, he shall be surely punished.
And if a man smite his man-servant or his maid-servant, with a rod, and the party die under his hands, he shall be surely punished.
English Revised Version
And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall surely be punished.
And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall surely be punished.
Berean Standard Bible
If a man strikes his manservant or maidservant with a rod, and the servant dies by his hand, he shall surely be punished.
If a man strikes his manservant or maidservant with a rod, and the servant dies by his hand, he shall surely be punished.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He that smytith his seruaunt, ether handmayde, with a yerde, and thei ben deed in hise hondis, schal be gilti of cryme.
He that smytith his seruaunt, ether handmayde, with a yerde, and thei ben deed in hise hondis, schal be gilti of cryme.
Young's Literal Translation
`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;
`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;
Update Bible Version
And if a man smites his male slave, or his female slave, with a rod, and he dies under his hand; he shall surely be punished.
And if a man smites his male slave, or his female slave, with a rod, and he dies under his hand; he shall surely be punished.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
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.
World English Bible
"If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
"If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
New King James Version
"And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
"And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
New Living Translation
"If a man beats his male or female slave with a club and the slave dies as a result, the owner must be punished.
"If a man beats his male or female slave with a club and the slave dies as a result, the owner must be punished.
New Life Bible
"When a man hits his male or female servant with a stick so that he or she dies, he will be punished.
"When a man hits his male or female servant with a stick so that he or she dies, he will be punished.
New Revised Standard
When a slaveowner strikes a male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies immediately, the owner shall be punished.
When a slaveowner strikes a male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies immediately, the owner shall be punished.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And when a man shall smite his servant or his handmaid with a rod, and he die under his hand, he shall, surely be avenged;
And when a man shall smite his servant or his handmaid with a rod, and he die under his hand, he shall, surely be avenged;
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that striketh his bondman, or bondwoman, with a rod, and they die under his hands, shall be guilty of the crime.
He that striketh his bondman, or bondwoman, with a rod, and they die under his hands, shall be guilty of the crime.
Revised Standard Version
"When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished.
"When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished.
THE MESSAGE
"If a slave owner hits a slave, male or female, with a stick and the slave dies on the spot, the slave must be avenged. But if the slave survives a day or two, he's not to be avenged—the slave is the owner's property.
"If a slave owner hits a slave, male or female, with a stick and the slave dies on the spot, the slave must be avenged. But if the slave survives a day or two, he's not to be avenged—the slave is the owner's property.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"If a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod and he dies at his hand, he shall be punished.
"If a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod and he dies at his hand, he shall be punished.
Contextual Overview
12 He who gives a man a death-blow is himself to be put to death. 13 But if he had no evil purpose against him, and God gave him into his hand, I will give you a place to which he may go in flight. 14 But if a man makes an attack on his neighbour on purpose, to put him to death by deceit, you are to take him from my altar and put him to death. 15 Any man who gives a blow to his father or his mother is certainly to be put to death. 16 Any man who gets another into his power in order to get a price for him is to be put to death, if you take him in the act. 17 Any man cursing his father or his mother is to be put to death. 18 If, in a fight, one man gives another a blow with a stone, or with the shut hand, not causing his death, but making him keep in bed; 19 If he is able to get up again and go about with a stick, the other will be let off; only he will have to give him payment for the loss of his time, and see that he is cared for till he is well. 20 If a man gives his man-servant or his woman-servant blows with a rod, causing death, he is certainly to undergo punishment. 21 But, at the same time, if the servant goes on living for a day or two, the master is not to get punishment, for the servant is his property.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
smite: Exodus 21:26, Exodus 21:27, Deuteronomy 19:21, Proverbs 29:19, Isaiah 58:3, Isaiah 58:4
he shall: Genesis 9:6, Numbers 35:30-33
punished: Heb. avenged, Genesis 4:15, Genesis 4:24, Numbers 35:19, Romans 13:4
Reciprocal: Exodus 20:13 - General Exodus 21:18 - a stone Leviticus 19:20 - she shall be scourged Deuteronomy 17:8 - between blood Job 31:13 - the cause
Cross-References
Genesis 10:9
He was a very great bowman, so that there is a saying, Like Nimrod, a very great bowman.
He was a very great bowman, so that there is a saying, Like Nimrod, a very great bowman.
Genesis 16:12
And he will be like a mountain ass among men; his hand will be against every man and every man's hand against him, and he will keep his place against all his brothers.
And he will be like a mountain ass among men; his hand will be against every man and every man's hand against him, and he will keep his place against all his brothers.
Genesis 17:20
As for Ishmael, I have given ear to your prayer: truly I have given him my blessing and I will make him fertile and give him great increase; he will be the father of twelve chiefs, and I will make him a great nation.
As for Ishmael, I have given ear to your prayer: truly I have given him my blessing and I will make him fertile and give him great increase; he will be the father of twelve chiefs, and I will make him a great nation.
Genesis 21:2
And Sarah became with child, and gave Abraham a son when he was old, at the time named by God.
And Sarah became with child, and gave Abraham a son when he was old, at the time named by God.
Genesis 21:3
And Abraham gave to his son, to whom Sarah had given birth, the name Isaac.
And Abraham gave to his son, to whom Sarah had given birth, the name Isaac.
Genesis 21:23
Now, then, give me your oath, in the name of God, that you will not be false to me or to my sons after me, but that as I have been good to you, so you will be to me and to this land where you have been living.
Now, then, give me your oath, in the name of God, that you will not be false to me or to my sons after me, but that as I have been good to you, so you will be to me and to this land where you have been living.
Genesis 21:24
And Abraham said, I will give you my oath.
And Abraham said, I will give you my oath.
Genesis 21:25
But Abraham made a protest to Abimelech because of a water-hole which Abimelech's servants had taken by force.
But Abraham made a protest to Abimelech because of a water-hole which Abimelech's servants had taken by force.
Genesis 25:27
And the boys came to full growth; and Esau became a man of the open country, an expert bowman; but Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.
And the boys came to full growth; and Esau became a man of the open country, an expert bowman; but Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.
Genesis 27:3
So take your arrows and your bow and go out to the field and get meat for me;
So take your arrows and your bow and go out to the field and get meat for me;
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And if a man smite his servant or his maid with a rod,.... A Canaanitish servant or maid, as the Targum of Jonathan, and so Jarchi; and that only with a rod for the correction of them, and not with a sword or any such destroying weapon, which would seem as though he intended to kill, yet nevertheless:
and he die under his hand; immediately, while he is smiting or beating him or her, on the same day, as the above Targum interprets it:
he shall be surely punished; or condemned to the punishment of being slain with the sword, as the said Targum and Jarchi explain it: this law was made to deter masters from using severity and cruelty towards their servants.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The Jewish authorities appear to be right in referring this law, like those in Exodus 21:26-27, Exodus 21:32, to foreign slaves (see Leviticus 25:44-46). The protection here afforded to the life of a slave may seem to us but a slight one; but it is the very earliest trace of such protection in legislation, and it stands in strong and favorable contrast with the old laws of Greece, Rome, and other nations. If the slave survived the castigation a day or two, the master did not become amenable to the law, because the loss of the slave was accounted, under the circumstances, as a punishment.
