Exodus 21:23-25

EXODUS—NOTE ON Exodus 21:23 Compensation for a life taken or harmed shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth... stripe for stripe (see also Leviticus 24:17). As it applies to human life, the rule is grounded in humanity being made in God’s image (see Genesis 9:6). The principle was meant to guide judges in assessing damages. It was not intended to be applied literally in every case, and it assumed that circumstances would be taken into account (see Exodus 21:12, Exodus 21:19, Exodus 21:21, Exodus 21:26, Exodus 21:30). In Matthew 5:38, Jesus shows that the “eye for eye” principle was never intended to apply to ordinary human relationships; rather, believers should seek to imitate God’s generosity.