Exodus 21:12 - Meaning and Application

Here is a law about murder. God had already said, “You shall not kill,” and now he explains how that command must be carried out. If someone strikes another person and that person dies, whether in sudden anger or planned hatred, the government must see that the murderer is put to death, according to the old law, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed” (Genesis 9:6).

God gives life and sustains it by his providence, so his law protects life as well. To show mercy to a deliberate murderer would be real cruelty to everyone else. God even says that such a man must be taken from his altar (Exodus 21:14), if he flees there for safety. If God will not shelter him, then he should flee to judgment, and no one should stop him.

There is also provision for someone who kills by accident, by misfortune, or in what our law calls chance-medley. This is when a person, while doing a lawful act and meaning no harm, accidentally kills another. Scripture describes this as a case where God “delivers him into his hand,” because nothing happens by pure chance. What seems accidental to us is ruled by God’s providence for wise and holy purposes we do not see.

In such a case, God provided cities of refuge for the protection of the one who caused the death without fault, Exodus 21:13. Among us, where the only avengers of blood are the magistrates, the law itself is a safe shelter for innocent minds, even if their hands are guilty. In that case, no other refuge is needed.

There is also a law about rebellious children. It is made a capital crime for children to strike their parents (Exodus 21:15), whether by drawing blood or leaving a bruise. It is also a capital crime to curse their parents (Exodus 21:17), especially if they profane God’s name in doing so, as the rabbis say. Such behavior shows a deep rejection of God, our common Father, and if people do not punish it, God will.

Those are completely ruined in virtue and given over to wickedness who break the bond of honor and duty to their parents so far that they abuse them in word or action. If someone throws off this first yoke, what burden will he bear afterward? Children should be careful not to let any thought or feeling grow in them that shows contempt for their parents, because the righteous God sees the heart.

There is also a law against man-stealing (Exodus 21:16). Anyone who steals a person, man, woman, or child, with the plan of selling them to the Gentiles, since no Israelite would buy such a person, was to be put to death. The apostle confirms this, too (1 Timothy 1:10), where slave traders are listed among those wicked people against whom Christian rulers must make laws.

The law also says that if a person is hurt, even when the injury does not lead to death, full payment must be made (Exodus 21:18, Exodus 21:19). The one who caused the injury must pay for the medical care and for the lost time. The Jews also added that he should pay something for the pain and for any lasting mark or injury, if there was one.

Finally, there is guidance for what should happen if a servant dies under his master’s correction. This servant is not an Israelite, but a Gentile slave, such as the enslaved people some masters owned in later times. The case assumes the master struck him with a rod, not with something likely to kill him. Yet if the servant died under the master’s hand, the master was to be punished for his cruelty, according to the judges, who would weigh the circumstances (Exodus 21:20).

But if the servant lived a day or two after the beating, the master was judged to have already lost enough through the loss of his servant (Exodus 21:21). Our law treats the death of a servant, when caused by a reasonable beating, as an accident. Still, masters should be careful not to act like tyrants toward those under them. The gospel teaches them to stop threatening and to use moderation (Ephesians 6:9), remembering with holy Job, “What shall I do when God rises up?” (Job 31:13-15).