Lectionary Calendar
Monday, December 22nd, 2025
the Fourth Week of Advent
the Fourth Week of Advent
video advertismenet
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!
Click here to join the effort!
Read the Bible
New Life Version
Exodus 21:16
"Whoever steals a man and sells him, or keeps him for himself, will be put to death.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Hebrew Names Version
"Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
"Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
King James Version
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Lexham English Bible
"‘And whoever kidnaps someone and sells him, or he is found in his possession, he will surely be put to death.
"‘And whoever kidnaps someone and sells him, or he is found in his possession, he will surely be put to death.
New Century Version
"Anyone who kidnaps someone and either sells him as a slave or still has him when he is caught must be put to death.
"Anyone who kidnaps someone and either sells him as a slave or still has him when he is caught must be put to death.
New English Translation
"Whoever kidnaps someone and sells him, or is caught still holding him, must surely be put to death.
"Whoever kidnaps someone and sells him, or is caught still holding him, must surely be put to death.
Amplified Bible
"Whoever kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or is found with him in his possession, must be put to death.
"Whoever kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or is found with him in his possession, must be put to death.
New American Standard Bible
"Now one who kidnaps someone, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall certainly be put to death.
"Now one who kidnaps someone, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall certainly be put to death.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, if it be founde with him, shal die the death.
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, if it be founde with him, shal die the death.
Legacy Standard Bible
"He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.
"He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.
Contemporary English Version
Death is the punishment for kidnapping. If you sell the person you kidnapped, or if you are caught with that person, the penalty is death.
Death is the punishment for kidnapping. If you sell the person you kidnapped, or if you are caught with that person, the penalty is death.
Complete Jewish Bible
"Whoever kidnaps someone must be put to death, regardless of whether he has already sold him or the person is found still in his possession.
"Whoever kidnaps someone must be put to death, regardless of whether he has already sold him or the person is found still in his possession.
Darby Translation
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall certainly be put to death.
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall certainly be put to death.
Easy-to-Read Version
"Whoever steals someone to sell them as a slave or to keep them for their own slave must be killed.
"Whoever steals someone to sell them as a slave or to keep them for their own slave must be killed.
English Standard Version
"Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
"Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
George Lamsa Translation
He who steals a person and sells him, or he is found in his possession, he shall surely be put to death.
He who steals a person and sells him, or he is found in his possession, he shall surely be put to death.
Good News Translation
"Whoever kidnaps someone, either to sell him or to keep him as a slave, is to be put to death.
"Whoever kidnaps someone, either to sell him or to keep him as a slave, is to be put to death.
Christian Standard Bible®
“Whoever kidnaps a person must be put to death, whether he sells him or the person is found in his possession.
“Whoever kidnaps a person must be put to death, whether he sells him or the person is found in his possession.
Literal Translation
And he that steals a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, dying he shall die.
And he that steals a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, dying he shall die.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, so that he be founde by him, the same shall dye the death.
He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, so that he be founde by him, the same shall dye the death.
American Standard Version
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Bible in Basic English
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.
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.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, if he be proued vppon hym, shalbe slayne for it.
He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, if he be proued vppon hym, shalbe slayne for it.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
King James Version (1611)
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
(21:17) Whosoever shall steal one of the children of Israel, and prevail over him and sell him, and he be found with him, let him certainly die.
(21:17) Whosoever shall steal one of the children of Israel, and prevail over him and sell him, and he be found with him, let him certainly die.
English Revised Version
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Berean Standard Bible
Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession.
Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He that cursith his fadir, ether modir, die bi deeth.
He that cursith his fadir, ether modir, die bi deeth.
Young's Literal Translation
`And he who stealeth a man, and hath sold him, and he hath been found in his hand, is certainly put to death.
`And he who stealeth a man, and hath sold him, and he hath been found in his hand, is certainly put to death.
Update Bible Version
And he that steals a man, and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
And he that steals a man, and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he shall be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he shall be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
World English Bible
"Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
"Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
New King James Version
"He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.
"He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.
New Living Translation
"Kidnappers must be put to death, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves.
"Kidnappers must be put to death, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves.
New Revised Standard
Whoever kidnaps a person, whether that person has been sold or is still held in possession, shall be put to death.
Whoever kidnaps a person, whether that person has been sold or is still held in possession, shall be put to death.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, he that stealeth a man of the sons of Israel, and selleth him, or he be found in his hand, shall, surely be put to death.
And, he that stealeth a man of the sons of Israel, and selleth him, or he be found in his hand, shall, surely be put to death.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that shall steal a man, and sell him, being convicted of the guilt, shall be put to death.
He that shall steal a man, and sell him, being convicted of the guilt, shall be put to death.
Revised Standard Version
"Whoever steals a man, whether he sells him or is found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
"Whoever steals a man, whether he sells him or is found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
THE MESSAGE
"If someone kidnaps a person, the penalty is death, regardless of whether the person has been sold or is still held in possession.
"If someone kidnaps a person, the penalty is death, regardless of whether the person has been sold or is still held in possession.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death.
"He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death.
Contextual Overview
12 "Whoever hits a man so that he dies will be put to death. 13 But if he did not plan to hurt him, but God allowed it to happen, then I will give you a place where he may run to be safe. 14 But if a man wants to hurt his neighbor and he plans to kill him, then you take him away from My altar and put him to death. 15 "Whoever hits his father or his mother will be put to death. 16 "Whoever steals a man and sells him, or keeps him for himself, will be put to death. 17 Whoever curses his father or his mother will be put to death. 18 "When men argue and one hits the other with a stone or with his hand, and he does not die but has to stay in bed because of it, 19 then if he gets up and walks around outside using his walking stick, the one who hit him will not be punished. He will only pay for the loss of his time. And he will take care of him until he is healed. 20 "When a man hits his male or female servant with a stick so that he or she dies, he will be punished. 21 But if he or she lives a day or two, he will not be punished, for his servant belongs to him.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
stealeth: Genesis 40:15, Deuteronomy 24:7, 1 Timothy 1:10, Revelation 18:12
selleth him: Genesis 37:28
found in: Exodus 22:4
Reciprocal: Genesis 17:13 - bought Genesis 37:27 - sell him Exodus 20:15 - General Nehemiah 5:8 - sell your Ephesians 4:28 - him that Revelation 18:13 - slaves
Cross-References
Genesis 27:38
Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one prayer for good to come, my father? Pray that good will come to me also, O my father." And Esau gave out a loud cry.
Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one prayer for good to come, my father? Pray that good will come to me also, O my father." And Esau gave out a loud cry.
Genesis 29:11
Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to cry for joy.
Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to cry for joy.
Genesis 44:34
For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I am afraid to see the sorrow that my father would suffer."
For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I am afraid to see the sorrow that my father would suffer."
Judges 2:4
When the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people cried in a loud voice.
When the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people cried in a loud voice.
Ruth 1:9
May the Lord help you to find a home, each in the family of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they cried in loud voices.
May the Lord help you to find a home, each in the family of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they cried in loud voices.
1 Samuel 24:16
When David had finished speaking to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul gave a loud cry.
When David had finished speaking to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul gave a loud cry.
1 Samuel 30:4
Then David and the people with him cried out in a loud voice until they had no more strength to cry.
Then David and the people with him cried out in a loud voice until they had no more strength to cry.
1 Kings 3:26
Then the mother of the living child had much pity for her son and said to the king, "O, my lord, give her the living child. Do not kill him." But the other woman said, "He will not be mine or yours. Divide him."
Then the mother of the living child had much pity for her son and said to the king, "O, my lord, give her the living child. Do not kill him." But the other woman said, "He will not be mine or yours. Divide him."
Esther 8:6
For how can I stand to see all the trouble that will come to my people? How can I keep on if I see them destroyed?"
For how can I stand to see all the trouble that will come to my people? How can I keep on if I see them destroyed?"
Isaiah 49:15
"Can a woman forget her nursing child? Can she have no pity on the son to whom she gave birth? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
"Can a woman forget her nursing child? Can she have no pity on the son to whom she gave birth? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him,.... One of the children of Israel, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, and so the Septuagint version: but though this law was given to the Israelites primarily, yet was made for men stealers in general, as the apostle observes, who plainly has reference to it, 1 Timothy 1:9:
or if he be found in his hand; before the selling of him, as Jarchi notes, since he stole him in order to sell him, he was guilty of death, as follows:
he shall surely be put to death; with strangling, as the same Jewish writer remarks, as on the preceding verse; and Jarchi sets it down as a rule, that all death in the law, simply expressed, is strangling.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The following offences were to be punished with death:
Striking a parent, compare Deuteronomy 27:16.
Cursing a parent, compare the marginal references.
Kidnapping, whether with a view to retain the person stolen, or to sell him, compare the marginal references.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Exodus 21:16. He that stealeth a man — By this law every man-stealer, and every receiver of the stolen person, should lose his life; no matter whether the latter stole the man himself, or gave money to a slave captain or negro-dealer to steal him for him.
