KJV ORIGINAL
And if he smite out his manservant’s tooth, or his maidservant’s tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
And if he knocks out his male servant's tooth, or his female servant's tooth, he must set them free because of the tooth.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse teaches that masters who physically harm their servants by knocking out even a tooth must give them their freedom as compensation.
📚 Historical Context
This law was part of the ancient Hebrew legal code governing the treatment of servants and slaves. In the ancient Near East, servants had few legal protections, but God's law for Israel established unprecedented rights and protections for those in servitude. This specific provision ensured that masters could not abuse their authority without serious consequences.
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