And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
If a man strikes his male or female servant with a rod and the servant dies from the beating, the master must definitely be punished.
This verse establishes that masters who kill their servants through beating must face punishment, showing that even servants' lives have value and protection under the law.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context, Exodus 21 is part of the laws given to the Israelites through Moses on Mount Sinai after their escape from slavery in Egypt, forming a code that regulated daily life in a society where servitude was common. This verse specifically addresses the treatment of servants, requiring punishment for a master who beats a servant to death, which introduced a measure of protection for vulnerable people in the ancient Near East. It reflects God's concern for justice in a world where human rights were often overlooked.
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