Exodus 21:2 outlines the law regarding Hebrew servants, stating they shall serve for six years and be freed in the seventh. Deuteronomy 15:12 reiterates this law, emphasizing the release of Hebrew servants after six years of service.
Exodus 21:12 prescribes the death penalty for anyone who strikes a person and kills them. Numbers 35:16-21 expands on this by detailing the laws concerning murder and the cities of refuge.
Exodus 21:23-25 introduces the principle of 'an eye for an eye,' a form of justice known as lex talionis. In Matthew 5:38-39, Jesus refers to this law and teaches a new way of responding to evil, emphasizing forgiveness and turning the other cheek.
Exodus 21:28-29 discusses the consequences for an ox that gores a person to death, including the responsibility of the owner. Leviticus 20:15-16 provides additional laws regarding the consequences of animals causing harm, emphasizing the responsibility of the owner.
Thematic focusResponsibility, Justice, Community Safety.
Exodus 21:32 sets the price of thirty shekels of silver as compensation for a slave gored by an ox. In Matthew 26:15, Judas Iscariot agrees to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, highlighting the value placed on Jesus' life by His betrayers.