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Exodus 21:18

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

If two men get into a fight, and one hits the other with a stone or with his fist, and the injured person doesn't die but has to stay in bed because of his injuries:

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse begins a law about what happens when someone is injured in a fight but doesn't die from their wounds.

📚 Historical Context

In the time of Moses, God was providing the Israelites with a detailed set of laws known as the Covenant Code to establish order and justice in their newly freed society after escaping slavery in Egypt. This verse specifically addresses physical altercations and their consequences, reflecting ancient Near Eastern legal practices adapted for Israel's moral and communal standards. These laws helped the Israelites maintain social harmony as they transitioned from nomadic life to a structured nation in the wilderness.

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